Commentary
Why Charter Schools–and School Choice–Matter
More than 100,000 kids in Pennsylvania attend charter schools—about 5 percent of schoolchildren.
For many of these kids and parents, charter schools are a lifeline to a safer, better future. But charter opponents call them a drain on traditional public schools and give a national spotlight to charters that have failed.
In this week's episode of Commonwealth Insight, we talk with Nina Rees, president & CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, about why charter schools matter, what to do about failing charter schools, and the elements that bring success to a charter school.
Then, James Paul, a senior policy analyst and education expert for Commonwealth Foundation, joins to discuss school choice in Pennsylvania—and why claims that choice drains resources from schools don't pass muster.