Comments on: Local: School is still out on charter schools

By: Rixblix

Rixblix — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:09:03 +0000

My oldest attended a charter school in Wisconsin prior to our move here. Charter school law in Wisconsin is different than in Illinois; the schools are still managed by the school district, but there is a board of directors who handle the decision making. Teachers are still part of a union, benefits, etc… The charter school experience was wonderful. I wish there was something similar around here.

By: matt jones

matt jones — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:55:10 +0000

And yet in Chicago, where Charter Schools are the most active here in Illinois, EVERY charter school is superior to every neighboring school. They draw from the same student population (no cherry picking students) and on every measurable score, beat the regular public schools in proximity to them. Its hard to argue that if the parents were as involved in the traditional public schools as they are in the Charter schools, their child’s performance would not be improved, but the facts speak for themselves. I urge you to visit a Charter school, talk to the students, parents and teachers before dismissing the idea. (disclosure, one of my clients is the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, the advocacy arm of the Charter movement here in Illinois, however, I am not involved in the efforts here locally.)

By: diane vespa

diane vespa — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:29:18 +0000

I like the idea. Choice=good