The N.C. Center for Public Policy Research says North Carolina’s 100-school cap on public charter schools should stay in place. I disagree, and so do the many North Carolina parents who want the alternative, but can’t get it due to a lack of seats. Locke Foundation Education Policy Analyst Terry Stoops, quoted in today’s Raleigh News & Observer story, makes the case.
“Predictably, the report does not address the growing demand for charter schools,” said Terry Stoops, an education policy analyst at the conservative-leaning John Locke Foundation in Raleigh. “Poll after poll shows that a majority of North Carolinians want more charter schools.”
Orange County has two public charter schools. Current turmoil in the Orange system highlights the gap between what the system wants, and what some parents want. A dispute resolution specialist was even brought in to try and resolve issues. Why shouldn’t these parents have more options, such as additional charters? Stoops analyzes the 10-year track record of N.C. charter schools and explains why the schools are good for North Carolina in this policy report.
So why is the education establishment largely opposed to public charters, and what are the typical obstructionist tactics used around the country? This piece in Education Next is an excellent overview.
