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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Yes, charters are a part of the solution because they keep middle class families in DC and increase economic integration in public schools.[/quote]

I don't think that was the policy intent (although I can't claim to have lived here when the charter school system was foisted on DC). The idea is a different one: Charter schools have one important leg up over one's average, even if excellent, neighborhood school, namely the ability to specialize and respond to educational market trends a little more flexibly where needed. This would theoretically allow them to serve particular pockets of needs (gifted children, children with learning differences, children who're exceptionally strong in math/science, children who're through the roof in language/arts, language immersion needs, etc.) and some do. [b]But by enlarge they're all trying to be everything to everybody[/b] (just look at the Basis' marketing for example). We only need to look around us to see where that's headed, namely for all of them to be average. For analogies, think about your phone company, internet service providers, cable TV, your grocery stores, your department store, your online suppliers etc.
With few exceptions, the only way they can claim to do better is by "adverse selection"; in plain terms, by helping those somehow performing better self-select out of the rest of the lot. So be it, you may say. But there is actually no added benefit to the individual child, it's just a statistical artifact. In other words, one and the same kid may not do any better here or there, they just sort themselves out into different pockets, which we then equate with "better school".[/quote]

No, by and large, they are specializing their programs and succeeding beyond what DCPS can do.  You have this completely ass-backwards.

Appletree?  Early-learning, pre-school only
Bridges?  Inclusion
EL Haynes?  Year-round program
Elsie Stokes?  French and Spanish immersion
Excel Academy?  All-girl's school
Inspired Teaching?  Demonstration school for the Center for Inspired Teaching
LAMB?  Dual-language immersion
Mundo Verde?  Spanish immersion, green school focus
ROOTS?  African-centered school
SEED?  College prep boarding school
Two Rivers?  Expeditionary learning
Washington Latin?  Classical education
Washington Yu Ying? Chinese immersion IB

etc. etc. etc.

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