The Wilmington, North Carolina, Star-News published an editorial recognizing the danger of taking money away from public schools and giving it to charters, vouchers, and private vendors.
The editorial begins:
“Private schools and charter schools may satisfy individual parents, but they will not improve the public schools. They take not only money out of the system but also those students whose parents have the means, work flexibility and determination to take their children to another school, participate in classroom activities and supervise homework.
“It is clear from legislation that is making its way through the General Assembly that the Honorables are not really interested in improving the public schools. If they were, they would be trying to help schools get the resources and high-quality staff needed to help each student meet expectations. They would be increasing expectations, even in schools with children who may have to work harder to meet high standards.”
No state will improve education by funding a dual school system. That’s where North Carolina is heading, and it is not about the kids. It is not about education. It is about a radical ideology that places the values of the market over the values of community and education. The market will favor some groups–the swift and able–and turn the public schools into dumping grounds.
That would be a tragedy for North Carolina and every other state now gripped by free market radicalism.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I dunno, too many buzzwords for my taste: “high-quality staff”, “increasing expectations”, “high standards”. The editorial writer(s) may support public education (which is good), but he/she/they don’t have a good handle on all the issues involved. I need to see things like “equitable funding” and “needed services” before I really cheer.
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Somewhere along the lines average American families (some) have become convinced Charters are the thing. I think it’s because people feel common when they use or support public school (if you come at from a psychology standpoint). I just overheard a mother at my son’s preschool saying (about the City schools public school lottery, which apparently includes the Charters–and please note we have a city district and a county district here in Western NC from integration resistance days) “well we wanted a charter, but I think we got —-” (a perfectly good public school).” I think it is a house wife trend, among some, to feel sorta kinda better, or rich, or something to want something other than the big bad public schools. We just need a cool trend setter to speak out about public schools and it will change. It’s not what is hip. (Even though it will always be hip with some).
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I agree that many people feel their child is so special that they just can’t settle for a neighborhood school. However I hear this equally from dual income and single income families. The other issue is they seem to think little Susie and Johnny will learn bad behavior from their public school peers.
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Also I think many families think charters will provide them a better sense of community. But that is only because they the skills in seeking out community in a public school setting–it can be done no matter the population, to some extent.
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Lack the skills
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For me, the appendix in this study is very telling.
Click to access PEFNC-tuition-data-paper-2013.pdf
Notice the “potential savings” in bold. This seems to be the politicians biggest concern – saving money. I also question the median tuition costs, some private schools in my county have only 20 students.
What will be the social costs down the road? Assuming that eligible families can come up with the difference between tuition and the voucher amount (and, in my opinion, that’s a big assumption), they be putting that money towards their own retirement. Any financial planner worth their salt will advise saving for retirement over a child’s college and these guys are basically telling people to spend their money on K-12 education.
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they should be putting…
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“The market will favor some groups–the swift and able–and turn the public schools into dumping grounds.”
Well put.
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Conversely, does the lack of a market hurt the swift and able?
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No
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I am curious about why you think it does not hold.
It seems to me if situation A is better for students of type 1 and worse for students of type 2 and situation B is better for type 2 and worse for type 1 we have to choose which type of student to advantage. Do you disagree with the premise that a choice environment favors the swift and able?
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It is up to each and everyone of us to have a dialogue about our schools and what is best for our students! Charters are not the answer if they are only to get money into the hands of companies. It is having a school that teaches students what they need to be able to do including to think, analyze and create.
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Seems to me, that if this privatization trend continues, we are headed in a direction far worse then pre – Brown vs. Board of Education.
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