Charters are "effectively public schools that do not have to follow many of the rules that regular public schools do..."?

Seriously?

Seriously?

Charters have to abide by every oversight and reporting requirement traditional public schools abide by... AND... they also have to answer directly to parents.  The ultimate oversight.

If a charter fails and does not meet the needs of children it closes.  Happens every year.  Parents vote with their feet.

When was the last time a Detroit Public School, with a 13% pass-rate on MEAP math tests, closed because parents demanded better?  (Give you a hint.  The answer is never.)

This lie that charters are "basically public schools" is also nonsense.  They ARE public schools.  They're just free to operate a little more efficiently... and at about HALF the funding level of a traditional public school.