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The Tennessean
“High bar for charters”
Editorial
November 29, 2006
http://www.tennessean.com

The latest difficulties experienced by would-be charter schools in Metro demonstrate the high stakes that go into providing a good education.

Three applicants were to resubmit their applications today after the school board rejected their proposals Nov. 14. At least one applicant complained that the approval process appears "extremely harsh" and suggested the board is not "charter-friendly."

But it is the very nature and purpose of charter schools that demand such high standards. Charters strive to provide an alternative path to education, with different curricula and disciplinary methods, but the goal is the same as that of other schools: academic success. Under Metro's guidelines, a charter would defeat its purpose of fostering new ideas if it employed the same curricula and methods as a public school. But charter students still are subject to the same testing standards as district students.

The fact that applications and revised applications are expensive to the charter founders is a valid concern, and over time the school board should consider how it could help reduce costs. But the need for a diligent approval process supersedes the cost factor.

The suggestion that Metro is hostile to charters seems unlikely. The existing KIPP Academy was invited to apply by Schools Director Pedro Garcia, and another of the three current applicants praised the board's review committee for suggesting changes to the school's application.

Charter schools must meet tougher standards than the average startup business. They begin with an independent proposal, to be sure, but are subject to many of the same regulations as public schools, especially those that want to be eligible for public funding. And if the charter school fails, the students will have to quickly find other schools.

The application process may be painful, but the rewards great. Metro schools should be commended for their insistence on innovation that does not sacrifice excellence.