Lifting the cap on charter schools – which certainly are public schools – doesn’t affect Cape Cod, but it would mean everything to the families of the 32,000+ students who are on waiting lists for charter schools.
Unlike traditional public schools, charters are accountable for their financial management and academic performance and can be shut down if they fail.
They can opt for more instructional hours than traditional public schools.
They are managed by a Board of Trustees as opposed to a local School Committee.
Their teachers certainly can opt to belong to a union, although most do not, which puts charter school employee job performance expectations, rewards and consequences on a par with those of us who work in the private sector.
As a parent, grandparent and property owner, I see these differences as advantages to students, families and the community as a whole.