My friends at the Independent Weekly recently published a three part examination of charter schools in North Carolina. There is not much to say about it. The piece simply provides a narrative for the standard Democratic talking points, including the requisite reference to Art Pope.
One of those talking points is that charter schools promote racial segregation. I addressed concerns about charter school diversity in a superb report, available here. As far as I can tell, the Independent Weekly does not mention it.
Anyway, “progressives” who truly worry about segregated schools are spending too much time focused on charter schools and not enough time addressing the “segregation problem” at many of the state’s district schools. After all, this year approximately 570 district schools across the state have minority student populations that exceed 70 percent. Around 230 of them have minority student populations that exceed 90 percent. Districts will operate 2,412 traditional public schools this year. You do the math.
So, Independent Weekly reporters, this new assignment awaits! Good luck.
