I gave a presentation this morning to some state- and district-level education leaders working on a state committee charged with addressing persistently low-performing schools. They asked a number of thought-provoking questions and made several insightful, real-world implementation comments that are typically missing in the 30,000-foot DC policy debate. I don't know if they got anything from me, but I was certainly better off for having met them.
But one thing continues to frustrate and flummox me. Toward the end of the conversation, when my argument turned toward the value of the chartering mechanism, several of them stiffened up. Eventually, one participant raised his hand and pointed out that a charter school can be selective in its admissions and easily dismiss students who don't do everything that the school wants. He concluded with, "Charter schools and other private schools have it easier than public schools."
Obviously he spoke for his colleagues; there were lots of nodding heads as he spoke.
Once in a while, it can be tempting to take a break and admire the woods--lovely, dark and deep : the charter world has made major progress and now has friends in many high places. But occasionally the harness bells shake--I suppose thankfully--and remind us that there are miles to go before we sleep.
