Reading Arne Duncan tea leaves on charter schools

by David Safier

I'm doing my best to ferret out specifics of Arne Duncan's educational directions concerning charter schools. General directions are easy. Specifics are harder to figure out.

I hear good things in a short interview the Republic's Pat Kossan had with Duncan while he was in Arizona.

Shorter Duncan:

• We need good charters, not necessarily lots of them.
• Close bad charters.
• Charters need freedom with accountability.
• Charters for the gifted and the elite are OK, but what we most need are good charters for underserved communities and disadvantaged kids.

So, when the first $14 million of fed charter school money comes into Arizona, the bulk of it should go to schools serving the student populations in greatest educational need -- either existing schools with proven track records or new schools with real plans and real promise. If that doesn't happen, Arizona shouldn't get the other $40 million.

Here's an idea. Why don't the folks who have multiple charters that mainly serve gifted students open schools for underserved communities and disadvantaged kids? These people are serious about education and have excellent track records. Give them a chance to succeed with the hardest-to-reach students.