New Charters Threatened

Here’s a video clip about a plan to prevent new charter schools from opening in St. Louis. The proposal would allow only charter schools sponsored by the city or state boards of education. That would mean no KIPP schools and no new versions of Lift for Life. The clip includes a quote from Eric Hanushek, who recently spoke at a seminar cosponsored by the Show-Me Institute. Hanushek suggests that the district stop worrying about charters and focus on spending its money more efficiently.

SLPS’s response to Hanushek’s criticism is that they’re working on making the traditional public schools "more attractive." That’s a positive step — and one that I’m sure was prompted by the large numbers of students leaving the district every year. Limiting new charter schools would remove this incentive for SLPS to try to appeal to parents.