And weak laws provide no stimulus for local districts and unions. Having failed to block the charter idea, opponents are trying to stifle it by retaining district and union control over schools. School choice plans vary in their impact. Badly designed school choice plans promote in equity. Several Southern states used school choice to maintain segregation.
Many magnet schools receive more funding than nearby neighborhood schools.
Good charter laws prohibit admissions tests. Like charters, many distinguished public alternative schools serve all kinds of students. They anticipated, sometimes by 25 years, research supporting small, more individualized schools. Some union leaders are responding. Districts regularly assigned teachers to alternative schools via seniority, rather than agreement with the school's philosophy.