One Man's Trash

Norman Leahy

Give Charters a Chance

The Richmond school board has just approved the state's fourth charter school -- a rare victory over political forces that sacrifice children's welfare at the altar of  left-wing ideology.

Heading into the weekend, I thought this column would be about the Republican convention – what happened, what it all might mean, would any of it make a difference.

But no. What happened over the weekend will matter very little in the long run to most people, or at least those unaffiliated with a particular political campaign. Instead, what matters a great deal more, and will affect people for some time, regardless of politics, is a story that got precious little coverage outside of Richmond .

Which is somewhat surprising, because it’s a story about children, and even more about education, an issue that polls show is more important in voters’ minds than traffic, taxes and those pesky illegal immigrants.

The story centers on the effort to create a charter school in the city of Richmond on the site of the now-closed Patrick Henry Elementary school .

The city closed the school a couple of years ago due to falling enrollment. But a group of parents decided they wanted to re-open the facility, except this time, it would operate as a charter school.

The city school board initially denied the charter application, citing what it perceived as substantial flaws in curriculum, funding and access. Others, including the Virginia NAACP, the PTA Association and the Richmond teachers union also opposed the charter. The NAACP’s King Salim Khalfani thundered that “…the closing of Patrick Henry Elementary School was planned and deliberate to set up the process for the charter application." Wade Ellegood, the teachers’ union president, was said to be unconvinced that the charter group “…was prepared to deal with issues such as transportation and students who have special needs or are gifted. He also was unclear of the status of benefits for teachers."

Usually in the face of such opposition, school boards fold. But the Richmond board, not previously known for bold thinking, gave its tentative approval to the charter.

And with that, the number of charter schools in Virginia rose to… four.

Only four. In the whole state.

What does this say about the long-term possibilities for additional educational reforms like Patrick Henry? That we have much farther to go than anyone is willing to admit. If anything, the Patrick Henry experience should serve as a warning to anyone who believes in fundamental educational reform: The forces arrayed against you remain potent, and unless and until the law is changed to allow for wide- ranging school choice that encompasses all children, everywhere, even the most incremental and innocuous of reforms will be very hard to achieve.

Part of that stems from Virginia ’s existing charter school law. As a report from the Center for Education Reform finds, Virginia 's charter school law is among the weakest in the nation, fettered with collective bargaining rules, local school board oversight and a provision that the schools must still meet both SOL and SOQ requirements. Oh, and at least half of such schools must cater to "at risk" youth. Given these constraints, it’s little wonder that charters are as rare as hen’s teeth in the commonwealth.

But the problem goes far deeper than merely a weak law. As the opposition to Patrick Henry showed, there are other issues – some possibly legitimate and some beyond goofy – standing in the metaphorical school house doorway. It’s not just the fear that charters will weaken public schools or somehow undermine the integrity of the existing system (which is laughable). As with so many things in Richmond , and Virginia , the matter of educational reform is framed by the bloody shirt of racism… that somehow, charters or school choice are merely code words for the creation of posh, white-flight schools that will coddle the few at the expense of the many.

There is no rational argument that can counter, let alone change, this thinking. Those who believe the government schools we have now – regardless of their ability to teach kids effectively – are the best of all possible worlds are beyond reasoning. 

But I’ll give it a try by doing something that’s not very Richmond : Looking elsewhere to see what’s happening with education reform.

Here’s a good example: New Orleans.

New Orleans has completely revamped its school system since Hurricane Katrina . How those changes are paying off. The biggest change? Getting rid of the old teacher corps (and breaking the union) while creating charter schools throughout the city. As the New York Times reported:

Since Hurricane Katrina, most of the schools here have been taken over by the state… [or by] citizen-controlled charter schools. The local school board and administration — long notorious for corruption and political interference — have been neutered.

Classes are smaller, many of the teachers are youthful imports brought in by groups like Teach for America , principals have been reshuffled or removed, school-hours remedial programs have been intensified, and after-school programs to help students increased.

Clear out the deadwood and corruption and what happens? Measurable progress. In a school system where student achievement was an unreachable goal, test scores under the new system are already rising. Do they have father to go? Absolutely. But the progress has been real and the effects will be long-lasting.

Building upon this example, Gov. Bobby Jindal won approval of a wide-ranging school choice bill that offers tax credits for families who wish to send their kids to better, or more suitable, schools. Georgia followed suit not long ago. And Florida has expanded its statewide program as well.

Where else is choice taking root? In the notoriously decrepit D.C. school system, where even former Mayor Marion Barry has come out in favor of continuing the District’s limited voucher program. And to show just how much the idea is catching on up north, the Washington Post had good things to say about it in an editorial warning to congressional foes of the effort:

Of all the arguments against vouchers, the most pernicious is that they hurt public schools. Never mind that D.C. public schools benefit financially from the funding formula. Public schools failed long before vouchers were even conceived of, and no less an authority than D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee dismisses that argument out of hand. As she told the Wall Street Journal, "I would never, as long as I am in this role, do anything to limit another parent's ability to make a choice for their child. Ever." Let's hope Congress feels that same compunction.

That some would go out of their way to limit parents’ ability to choose the educational environment that they think is best for their children is deeply troubling. There is no more fundamental, parental responsibility than to ensure that their kids don’t merely attend school, but get the best education they possibly can. There is no legitimate or rational reason to believe that geography alone should determine where a child goes to school. That’s the mindset of serfdom.

Only when Virginia comes to the realization that education is too important to be left solely in the hands of bureaucrats, lobbyists, union organizers and full-time grievance mongers will real achievement be possible.

But that is as much a political matter as it is a cultural one. The mummery at the GOP convention or with the months-long parade of inanities we will face during the impending Senate contest will not begin the process. 

Instead, it will most likely begin with next year’s gubernatorial race.  It would behoove those who have declared their candidacies to say that they stand with parents and children on education… and make it very clear that they will work to give those families the opportunities -- and choices -- in education they deserve.

-- June 2, 2008