I think that the article "Charter Schools: Can they meet the challenge?" in the May/June 1999 issue of American Teacher is very good. It does not attack Charter schools because we (public school teachers) do not like them. It discusses how people on both sides of the issue are judging their effectiveness.

People have been claiming that Charter Schools are successful because there are waiting lists of students wanting to enter them. But, many people, including some of the leaders of the charter school proponents, are questioning this type of measurement. Edward Kirby is the Acting Chief of the Charter Schools Office for the Massachusetts Department of Education. Edward states "The state has a responsibility to see that these schools (charter schools) offer a good academic program." He also states that it is also important to see if families stay or leave these schools.

Many charter schools are contracting out the school management duties. The nonprofit Charter Friends National Network is drafting a book that will help charter schools make contracts that tie student achievements to their performance goals. They believe that these management companies should not only be obligated to follow rules and procedures but they must have "to produce specific educational results, which lies at the basis of the agreement and justifies the schools existence.

-- Anonymous, June 16, 1999