School bells will soon be ringing and parents will once again be concerned with the quality of education for their children. This is not a problem for the affluent, who can afford the expense of private schools, but for others the choice is limited.
Now the evidence is in. According to a scientifically sound study by Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes, charter school students in Massachusetts have generally outperformed public school students. It is no wonder then that waiting lists for charter school enrollment have become unreasonably long.
The number of charter schools that can be established in any district is limited by law. Education reformers want to lift that cap in low-performing districts. There is no rational reason to deny students an opportunity for academic success where public schools have failed.
The proposed education budget for Boston for the 2013-2014 school year is $934.4 million of taxpayers’ money. Citizens have the right to demand that their funds be spent in the most effective manner. Clearly that would include the development of more charter schools.
