Charter Schools Black Eye

The public school supporters are cheering; charter schools were just delivered a black eye. Over the weekend a multi-part story ran in the Philadelphia Enquirer about financial irregularities of the charter school program in Pennsylvania. The full story can be seen here: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/education/20081228

The story itself is typical of human action regarding the pursuit of money, and not one you would be surprised over. There are innumerable stories of corruption involving public funds in every sector of human endeavor.

The real interest in this story is going to be its impact upon the school reform movement. There is already a turf war from the public school point of view, because charter schools intrusion has drained, in some areas, significant funds from their coffers. Pennsylvania has had the loosest regulatory laws regarding charter schools, and that is certain to end, but if the public schools have their way, they will gain the ability to shut those schools down for similar infractions in the future.

This blog is not making any moral, ethical, or legal judgement in whatever case is brought about against any of the charter schools under scrutiny in this report. There is insufficient data in the report to determine any legal matter. It is the PR damage 'fallout' of the story which calls to question the operation of the schools at this time.

Throughout the week I suggest you bounce around to various education related blogs to see how the story is viewed. Initial reaction from the public school supporters is a good amount of cheering, though there is nothing to cheer about. Charter school supporters are silent, but there is nothing to be silent about either.

Education has become more about money for adults than it is about education of our youth, and that is true at all levels in all areas. The reactions to this story will prove it so, and were we an ethical people we would be shamed.

Alas, we are not.