If government doesn't like results, change the standards


Los Angeles charter schools
Los Angeles public schools are not happy with charter schools.

But the explosion of charters concerns the Los Angeles Unified board. The growth in the number of charter schools has caused enrollment to drop in the nation's second-largest school district, which has to compete with the independent campuses for students - and funds.

District officials, as well as the president of the teachers union, bristle at assertions by the Charter Schools Association that middle and high school charters are significantly outperforming their district counterparts.

A fairer comparison would be with the district's magnet schools, which outperform charters, school board member Jon Lauritzen said.

"I think it's basically unfair to compare an entity that is able to take their entire budget and focus it entirely on their own schools," he said. "They have some real advantages over our schools in the flexibility of actually providing the type of education that a particular community wants, whereas we are trying to provide a curriculum that works for everyone all across the school district."

Earlier this year, Lauritzen was unsuccessful in his bid to place a moratorium on approving additional charters.

Other board members have indicated they may support legislation that would make it easier for school boards to deny charters that would have a negative fiscal impact on the district.

Notice that no one is talking about which is better for the kids.

Notice that it's not "fair" to compare the charter schools to the regular schools, the measurements have to be changed to favor public schools.

Notice that what the community wants and what parents want is downplayed.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Mon - October 30, 2006 at 05:38 PM  Tag


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