Charter schools and accountability
I must respond to one of the assumptions Geov Parrish made in his discussion of charter schools [Impolitics, "Political education," 9/7]. That is that Paul Allen and his financial interests would not necessarily benefit. Though charter schools in most states are chartered by nonprofit organizations, many are turned over to for-profit firms such as Edison for day-to-day management. There is no prohibition of this practice in the initiative we vote on in November.
In Michigan, the state-mandated evaluation study done by Western Michigan University found that there was virtually no accountability for the fees paid to management organizations. Several charter schools had administrative fees in the 30 percent range, about three times the administrative cost in regular public schools. Test scores of charter students lag behind comparable students in regular schools. Because the for-profit managed charters rely on young, inexperienced, and underpaid teachers, they have spawned "cookie cutter" schools with highly scripted lessons and a revolving door for teaching staff. The same study found teaching staff in charters had little confidence that they could fulfill their mission.
Most disturbing is the "balkanization" taking place. Schools such as the Arab-American school are being formed by ethnic and religious groups under the guise of being nonprofit/nonreligious and are segregating communities by "choice" into schools made up entirely of a single racial, religious or ethnic group. Can we afford this type of divisiveness in an era of increasing diversity? I think not.
Before casting your vote on 729, check out the opposition position (supported by the League of Women Voters, Special Education Coalition, and other groups) at www.I729.org. You will find that the reality of charter schools is far from the rhetoric we'll be hearing for the next two months.
PAT GRIFFITH
SEATTLE
Charters and Allen
Geov Parrish's column last week regarding Initiative 729 and Charter Public Schools [Impolitics, "Political education," 9/7] contained a number of inaccuracies and misconceptions. It is just not true that charter schools take away the best students and most involved parents. Evidence from states in which charters currently are operating show that low-income and minority students enroll at a greater rate than their percentage of the population. A recent study by the US Department of Education documents that reading levels among poor and minority students in charter elementary schools have improved dramatically. Further, in areas with charter schools, test scores have improved for all students in public education, not just for those enrolled in charter public schools.
Charter schools are public schools, open and free to all. They operate with the same state per-pupil funding as every other public school. The state public school funds are directed to the student, not the school. Therefore, if a child is in a regular public school or in a charter public school, the same funding levels apply.
Charter public schools will not drain away the most innovative teachers. It is true that charter schools tend to be started by innovative teachers, but I don't consider that a disadvantage, especially since students and parents would have the ability to choose what school to attend.
The column also made a number of charges against Paul Allen that are unfair and untrue. Mr. Allen can no more buy an election, or a vote, than any other citizen. He didn't buy mine on the stadium, and my support for I-729 is based on my belief that this initiative is a plus for all public school students. The fact that Mr. Allen has generously chosen to financially support this initiative and Initiative 728 demonstrates his commitment to improving public education, just as his many philanthropic endeavors have done in our region. Allen's record as a benefactor of education at all levels is commendable and well-known.
I encourage Mr. Parrish and others who share his misconceptions to check the facts. Please go to our Web site at www.yes729.org to get the whole story about charter public schools so you can make an informed decision on November 7.
JUDITH BILLINGS
CO-CHAIR, GOOD CHOICES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Charters and certification
Parrish says that charter schools "drain the best students, the most innovative teachers, the most involved parents, and needed money away from the regular public school system" [Impolitics, "Political education," 9/7]. Not so. The per-student allotment would follow the student to her new charter school, but the costs of educating her would follow her also. So there would be no financial strain at all. But for each student leaving to go into a charter, someone's empire of captive students would shrink by one.
Here Geov Parrish has given himself away by repeating the WEA line. He is masking categorical opposition to charter schools by portraying Paul Allen as a Great Menace to Democracy. Parrish also calls Edison Schools 'private charter schools.' That's an oxymoron. Charter schools are public alternative schools with independent administrations. I-729 would enable public alternatives for those who are fed up with a dysfunctional school districts. Those who are not fed up can always stay and enjoy spoon-fed pablum and Channel One.
Unfortunately, the initiative does have two major flaws. First, it allows only school districts or universities to sponsor charters. School boards and district administrators are sworn enemies of charter schools, so no intelligent nonprofit is going to ask a school district to be a sponsor. And there aren't enough universities to sponsor all the charter schools we need.
