Herdt: Charter schools: Are they always a salvation?
It’s popular in political circles these days to speak of charter schools as the most important educational development since the advent of compulsory education.
Everybody loves charter schools. The Obama administration insists that if states want a piece of its Race to the Top education grants, they can place no limits on the number of charters they allow. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has become a national cheerleader for the movement.
In California, every candidate for governor advocates expansion of charter schools; as mayor of Oakland, Jerry Brown was instrumental in creating a couple, of which he is fiercely proud..
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a big fan. He’s stacked the state Board of Education with appointees who are unabashed advocates, including several who are directly involved in running or consulting with charters.
In a nod to Los Angeles’ burgeoning Parent Revolution, the Legislature earlier this year