In a News & Observer op-ed titled “The hijaking of charter schools,” Edward B. Fisk complains,
As a longtime supporter of charter schools, I am distressed to watch Republican legislators attempting to hijack this once-promising notion for school improvement and transform it into a force for undermining public education in North Carolina.
This may sound familiar. Fiske’s wife, Duke University professor Helen Ladd, has written a handful of pieces in the “I support charters, but…” mold. For Fiske and Ladd, charter schools are good insofar as the traditional public school system keeps a tight rein on them.
Charter school founder Baker Mitchell crafted an excellent response to Fiske’s op-ed. But, in reality, it is more than just a response to Fiske. Mitchell’s essay is a thoughtful primer on charter school law, governance, and accountability from someone who has been immersed in the subject for over a decade.
