(From The Tennessean, June 11, 2009)
By JOE WILLIAMS
The threat of losing $100 million in federal stimulus money because Tennessee has a bad charter-school law is one reason to think twice about killing a pending law change that would have improved the law — and public education — considerably.
But there is an even better reason for Tennessee Democrats to support expanding innovative charter school options: It is the right thing to do. As Democrats, we have historically been proud supporters of public education. Unfortunately, we have sometimes backed ourselves into a corner by defending schools that aren’t working for the children we champion. When we are the ones standing between the families we claim to represent and the public school options for which they clamor, we have to re-examine our priorities.
In places like California, New York and Boston, public charter schools have shown they aren’t killing public education. In fact, as some of the brightest stars in the modern day education reform constellation, public charter schools are now leading the charge to save public education.
Popular school models like KIPP, Achievement First, Green Dot, Aspire and others are serving as proof points nationwide for what is possible in our schools. Look no further than last week’s graduation ceremony at the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering for clear signs that these options need to be expanded and replicated to reach more students. Every single one of the high school’s 89 seniors graduated — defying local and national odds that are working against similar students. Statewide, 100 percent of this year’s charter high school graduates have been accepted to college.
And we want to put a limit on how many students may attend these types of schools?
Amid mounting evidence that successful public charter schools are breathing new life into public education, this is no time to be putting on the brakes.
If anything, Tennessee should lead the way in allowing all students to have equal access to these high-performing public schools and seeing to it that equal dollars follow students to all public schools, including charters.
Don’t just take President Obama’s word for it that charter schools work. Democratic governors and leaders nationwide have looked to charter schools to meet the demand of a public that wants better schools.
It is time for Tennessee Democrats to take education reform to the next level by allowing more families to access these excellent public-school options. Not just because it will help the state compete for federal “Race To The Top” dollars, as noted by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, but because Tennessee’s families deserve better.
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