Bart Peterson
September 2003
Among the most interesting charter sites in America is Indianapolis, where (Democratic) Mayor Bart Peterson is making expert use of his office's opportunity to sponsor such schools. The first three Peterson-authorized charters completed their first year of operation in spring 2003 (two more opened this autumn, two more are in the works) and he has now issued a first-rate report on them that should serve as a model for charter sponsors throughout the land. In 24 pages, it tells the reader just about everything that's important to know about these schools, organized under four big (and profound) questions: Is the academic program a success? Is the organization viable? Is the school meeting its operations and access obligations? Is the school providing the appropriate conditions for success? The accountability framework then spells out 24 key sub-questions, some of which cannot yet be answered. It's rapidly apparent that one of the three schools had a rockier start than the other two - and also clear what areas it needs to address. The significant point from our perspective, however, isn't how the Mayor's schools are doing so much as that he and his expert helpers have developed a superb accountability model for charter schools at a time when that issue is on everybody's mind. You can find it at http://www.indygov.org/mayor/charter/accountability_report/index.htm.
