No state yet has in place a fully satisfactory plan, though several are making good progress. States face the dilemma that conventional tests and other standard instruments may not suit the programs or philosophies of charter schools. Individual schools accept the need for accountability and many are working on specific standards, measures, and mechanisms that feature real consequences for everyone involved. Some charter schools will fail and close or be closed. This is a plus for educational accountability and a model for public education generally.
Public authorities have an obligation to minimize harm to students.
This calls for an adequate monitoring program to provide early warning of troubled schools and a multifaceted intervention strategy. Failure should be tolerated, even welcomed. Many features of federal education programs are poorly suited to charter schools. In a number of cases, charter schools are carrying out the spirit of federal programs without following all the fine print. No one can say with confidence how large this movement may grow, but the demand for charter schools currently exceeds the supply.