Friday, June 22, 2012

Thinking About Charters | Taking Note

Thinking About Charters | Taking Note:


Thinking About Charters

John's thoughts off the NCSC in Minneapolis.

I have been hanging around charter school operators for the past few days, and the experience has left me with some complicated — and perhaps contradictory — thoughts about a movement that I have been following since 1988.
I love the energy, intelligence and dedication of the people I spent time with, but I left the annual meeting of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools in Minneapolis with some concerns. I think they need to do a better job of choosing their friends and of refining their message, among other issues.
For what it’s worth, here’s my thinking.
Remember: the “charter movement’ is a still blip on the screen. It consists of 5,000 charter schools and