III.

The Debate About Charter Schools

The rapid growth of charter schools in the United States has sparked controversy. Critics claim that charter schools drain funds from meager public school budgets because local school districts must often reduce their own budgets to fund the new schools. Some charter schools have faced criticism for using unreliable assessment tools to evaluate school performance. Critics also charge that charter schools often use dilapidated or otherwise inferior buildings because they lack sufficient funds.

Charter school advocates claim that providing competition among schools improves public education. They also cite the burgeoning numbers of charter schools as proof of widespread public support. Advocates claim that increased attendance and graduation rates at a number of charter schools demonstrate that charter schools bring increased educational opportunity to students who have not succeeded within public schools. Parents, students, and teachers have expressed relatively high degrees of satisfaction with charter schools. Most charter schools have waiting lists for admission.