Nuanced Differences Separate Ehrlich, O'Malley on Charter Schools
ANNAPOLIS (October 16, 2010)—Charter schools are here to stay in Maryland, no matter whether voters re-elect incumbent Gov. Martin O'Malley or former Gov. Bob Ehrlich. But the two would offer slightly different approaches for the future of this mainstay of education reform.
The distinction — notably less stark than the candidates' differences on issues like funding — lies in the emphasis the two assign to charter schools' place in the education system and their role in reforming that system.
Ehrlich, who signed the Maryland Public Charter School Act of 2003 into law, said he would aim to double the number of charter schools and to create a body independent of county school boards that can authorize charters.
"They've given a lot of poor children an opportunity to
The distinction — notably less stark than the candidates' differences on issues like funding — lies in the emphasis the two assign to charter schools' place in the education system and their role in reforming that system.
Ehrlich, who signed the Maryland Public Charter School Act of 2003 into law, said he would aim to double the number of charter schools and to create a body independent of county school boards that can authorize charters.
"They've given a lot of poor children an opportunity to