Starving Charters

- From Review & Outlook, Wall Street Journal, 8/29/05

STARVING CHARTERS

"The 2002 No Child Left Behind Act says students in lousy public schools can transfer out, which has intensified the need for additional charter (schools). And while more states are giving kids the option to pick a charter alternative, demand far exceeds supply and waiting lists are common.

"One problem is that teachers unions use their political clout to weaken state charter laws or limit the ability to attend the schools. Some states cap charter enrollment (New Jersey), refuse to grant new charters to for-profit outfits (Connecticut), or restrict which official bodies can authorize charter school petitions (Arkansas and Georgia).

"But the worst tactic is simply to starve charter schools of money, says Chester Finn, who heads the Fordham Institute...

"The funding gap ranges from a few hundred dollars to upward of $5,000 per student; the national average is $1,800, or 21% less money for charters than for a district school. For a typical 250-student charter, this translates into a $450,000 budget gap, or eight more teachers or an after-school program with tutors for a small school."

- Review & Outlook, Wall Street Journal, 8/29/05