Reply to WaPo Editorial today on DCPS/charter collaboration

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Reply to "WaPo Editorial today on DCPS/charter collaboration"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]No, in DC they are nonprofits, not private companies. Some contract with a management company to provide some services but I think BASIS is the only one like that that is popular on DCUM. The others are strictly  nonprofits.[/quote]

OK, charters are private non-profit companies that run public schools (even Basis here is non-profit as that's DC law).

The sometimes shady arrangements with for profit management companies is another aspect, but they are all non-public companies.  The point is that the public no longer owns them once a charter school does.[/quote]

Just saying, just because something is publicly funded but privately run doesn't mean it is ineffective, and just because something is publicly/government-run doesn't mean it is effective at its purpose. I'm as liberal as they come but I'm not "anti-corporate" or "anti-private" on principle. For example, I'm a big supporter of Planned Parenthood, which is a "private nonprofit corporation." Doesn't mean it's evil...

Honestly I get a little tired of the "charter schools are evil corporations trying to profit off kids" rhetoric. Yes in SOME states with bad charter oversight there are shady for-profit companies, and we had the Kent Amos scandal here in DC, but I don't think it's far-out to say that *by and large* charters here in DC are run by non-profits with ethical principals and boards, with educators who are trying to do right by kids. [/quote]

I never said that "charter schools are evil corporations trying to profit off kids", and I don't believe that.  I just think that there should be a fundamental public schools system not owned by private (read private, not evil) companies.  I like charter schools for experimentation or specialized instruction.
There's a difference between being evil and being publicly accountable.  Charter schools are accountable to the DCPCSB (which in turn is not publicly accountable) on performance, but not overall policy and direction.  IMO general policy and direction should be set by the government.

It seems like a philosophical disagreement between a centrally controlled system and a free market system... I land on centrally controlled.[/quote]

Have you ever been to a meeting for DCPCSB?  I think they are more accountable then Kaya seems to be.  She seems to be traveling around the country, going to fancy meetings (Las Vegas?  Really?)  While DCPCSB seems to be working here in DC for our kids.

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