Submitted by Dianne Piche
on 10/12/04 12:36 PM
Paul is absolutely right; there may be little I can add but here goes:
First, to increase the supply of successful schools on a large scale requires a significant investment, one that to date has not been made. We need to figure out ways to provide funding for school districts and others [these others are important because districts have a poor track record and other entities are important to ensure competition and some positive outcomes] to replicate successful schools. This funding can and should come from a variety of places: e.g., the federal Title I program's set-asides for school improvement and professional development, federal funding to assist charter school facilities and start-up, state investments in comparable initiatives, public-private partnerships, and local sources.
Second, if this investment means a need for additional funding, we need to be clear that all schools, including charters and other innovations, will be held to the same standards of accountability. (While many will contend this investment in increasing supply can be made by redeploying existing money, I don't think this is likely to happen in very many places. In my experience, new initiatives need to bring new money to be appetizing to the system. Charters undeniably need new money for facilities and start-up.)
