pic from PBS HAWAII.ORG

The lack of sufficient improvement in the education system has given rise to charter schools which function as semi-governmental entities.  These charter schools are more accountable to higher standards, creating results and delivering what the market forces want from the education system.   

While district schools have a school committee that is elected by the voters, a charter school has a board and staff that are accountable to the students attending the school, as well as to their parents.  Each student is the customer and the educational achievement of each individual student is the goal.  That is what is called choice.  If the charter school does not adequately meet the needs of the student then the student has the right to go somewhere else.  The end result is that the charter school loses the funding attached to the student. 

Some larger urban district schools have begun to allow students to change their school, but have run into the problem that the schools being saught after are full.  Students seeking slots at charter schools with successful records have found a similar problem. 

The fact that some district schools have turned to setting exams to be admitted to some of their schools seems to go against equal access to an education.  Charter schools are prevented from taking such action and I am in agreement that no student should have to take an exam to get into a public school. 

The one fact that is hard to overcome is that there is not enough room for every student to go to the school of their choice.  The result is a lottery system, and luck plays into whether a student gets what they consider to be the best education. 

“The Race to the Top” should create opportunity to shut down low performing schools and reinvent them with the high expectations of performing schools.  If the statistics show that it takes at least an associate’s degree to obtain a job that pays a living wage, why would anyone allow an educational system to do less?  Allowing students to graduate with a D is not preparing students for college. 

Charter schools represent an opportunity to bring the higher standards to education and hold specific public entities accountable.  It is faster and cost effective.  Choice in the public education system is the fastest way to change it across every state and local educational authority.