What is the problem with charter schools?

In a recent editorial, Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board, outlines the trouble with charter schools. Referencing Bill Gates' speech at the National Charter Schools Conference, Page talks about the fact that to be effective charter schools must sort of break the mold. The successful ones are doing things that upset many people and force change on the system.

In addition, another problem is that successful charter schools "got to shake things up" in the words of Bill Gates. The other problem is that good charter schools put students first. Gates also believes that this is a key of good schools.

While teachers are important, it's good teachers that are important, not all teachers. If a school doesn't put students first, then it isn't doing it's job and it must revise it's methods or else it will fail and will need to be closed.

Perhaps a problem with charter schools (as outlined in the editorial) is that often charter schools, once started, are difficult to close. Parents become attached to their schools, even if the school is not prvoding a good education for their children. Politicians and other leaders who are in charge of closing schools have a tough task. Just as teachers do not want to be judged on the test scores of their students, perhaps we need to find other ways to judge schools. This begs the question of what are the best ways and the most objective ways to determine when a school needs to be closed.

There is no question that not all charter schools should continue to exist. The question is what is the measure and how much leash do they get before they are put down.