Three things charter schools do that the Detroit Free Press did not mention

The Detroit Free Press is running a series on charter schools in Michigan and you can click here to see what they have to say.  Thus far they are less than complimentary, but I am hoping they devote as much space to the positives associated with charter schools as they have so far to the negatives.  Whatever the case, I plan to beat them to the punch by discussing three things charters do that work together to increase the overall efficiency and effectiveness of primary and secondary education in Michigan.

            Charter schools drive experimentation.  Let’s face it, many, if not most, charters have a niche that attracts families to what they are offering.  Charter schools must offer something different or there would be no reason for families to move their students to charters.  But here is the great thing about charter schools, their very existence forced traditional public schools—as well as many private schools—to critically examine their practices and attempt to discover ways they can better serve the children under their care.  In this scenario the customer, Michigan’s families and their students, wins.

            Charter schools increase evaluation.  There is no doubt that more folks are “keeping score” since the advent of legislation that made charter schools possible.  Parents are more informed and more involved than ever before and this is a great thing as they subsequently become very informed consumers.  Thus, schools—charters, traditional public, and private—must consistently strive to achieve high results in order to attract more students to their respective buildings.  This is not a good thing, it is a great thing. 

            Charter schools spark evolution.  The experimentation and evaluation discussed earlier do not occur in a vacuum.  All schools are well aware of what their competitors are doing, or not doing, and they are analyzing, assessing, and critiquing their efforts and those of their competitors in an effort to become better tomorrow than they were today.    Charter schools played an integral role in making this happen and our students are better served as a result.

Absent charter schools I have little faith that much would have changed in education.  Monopolies do not change unless they are forced to and I suggest that traditional public schools were a very dominant monopoly prior to charter schools.  Charter schools changed the game, for the better.  Families now have choices and choices are among the best things in life to have at your disposal.  Previously only those families with significant financial means were able to consider options for their child’s education.  Thankfully, that option is now available to each and every family in our state.