In the Suburbs, Charter Schools Raise Concerns About Local ControlCan a local school district block a charter from opening or refuse to fund it?
- Credit: Marilyn Joyce LehrenLili Meddahi, a Maplewood third grader, decorates a protest sign against charters.
When a charter school opens in a gritty urban neighborhood, few parents and officials argue that kids in the district don't need an alternative to the local public schools. In a leafy New Jersey suburb -- which may be home to some of the best schools in the country -- charters can spark off a battle between skeptics and believers. The former often dismiss charters as "boutiques," and argue that they'll sap increasingly scarce dollars from local schools. The latter want their kids to have more choices and challenges -- like Mandarin language immersion -- and think their school taxes should pay for them.
Ultimately, the issue comes down to local control. Should