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Too many charter school critics are confused by the distinction between accountability and being held accountable. The difference between the two lies beneath the volumes of paperwork produced by the traditional school districts, which is in stark contrast with the “voting with the feet method” used by charter school parents and students. Many, especially traditional school administrators, those within government organizations and teachers’ unions, view paperwork as an essential element in determining school accountability. It is not as though charter schools do not produce paperwork; they are just more attentive to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995! The lifeblood of a charter school is market-based. Schools survive by having student bodies in seats. Successful charter schools must meet or exceed parent and student expectations. Students and parents force charter schools to be accountable—unsatisfied consumers vote with their feet and take their business (enrollment) elsewhere. Still not convinced? Think about this scenario: you are the parent of a child who is not experiencing academic success and the school has been unable to remediate the problem. What course of action are you likely to pursue? Will you wait for the school to schedule meetings, collect data, conduct studies, and issue reports or will you make a swift and direct decision, such as removing your child from a school that does not meet your needs? Are volumes of reports a better gauge of accountability than parent and student satisfaction? I think not! Dr. Robert Maranto, who teaches Political Science at Villanova University, addresses the accountability issue in an article in this newsletter. Click here to read more. |