Charter critics shift focus to transparency

Eliza Shapiro

With the growth of New York City's charter sector now essentially guaranteed under a new state law, critics of the schools are calling on their operators to make the institutions more transparent.

The Annenberg Institute for School Reform, a left-leaning, charter-skeptic education advocacy group, has issued a new report that provides recommendations for how charters should improve accountability practices. Meanwhile, the City Council education committee is holding an oversight hearing today to focus on charter transparency.

"Public money for charters is increasing, public space for charters is increasing," said Megan Hester, a principal associate at the Annenberg Institute. "But charters don't have the same level as public accountability as district schools. It doesn't make sense to continue to have charters operate as if they aren't part of the system, as if they are just experimental. They are the system."

Daniel Dromm, the chair of the Council's education committee and a frequent critic of charters, said charters have lagged behind the rest of the school system in accountability practices for years.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/05/8544838/charter-critics-shift-focus-transparency