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CER Letter to the Editor
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS URGED TO ACCEPT CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION
By Jeanne Allen
The Montgomery County Sentinel, June 21, 2001
Editor -- The parents and teachers on the Jaime Escalante Charter School steering committee have submitted their second charter application to the Montgomery County school board. This application is based on the premise that the school board wants to ensure the best possible education for all children, and because of that, they will be open to inviting leading teachers to help them in their mission.
At a time when charter schools are fulfilling the needs of so many children across the country, the applicants should be given the opportunity to create a school that will couple high standards with an innovative curriculum to fulfill the needs of hundreds of Maryland's children.
With the backing of the National Council of LaRaza, the applicants deserve the opportunity to prove that their idea will work for all students.
The Maryland Department of Education recently announced that students in substandard Title I schools (8 of which are located in Montgomery County) will now have the opportunity to transfer to better performing schools. There is no better time than now to realize that the children of this state should have the opportunity to attend a school that not only performs well, but has high expectations for all its students.
Inadequate accountability is a major problem in our public schools, and this is why charter schools are in demand. Charter schools are more academically accountable than their traditional public school counterparts. Charter schools - and charter children - warrant attention and support. Even though Maryland lawmakers failed to pass charter legislation that would create truly autonomous public charter schools, it is important that teachers like those hoping to open the Jaime Escalante Charter School be given the chance to provide a better alternative to children who are consistently being left behind in the traditional public school system.
The Montgomery County school board has the unique opportunity to introduce the concept of charter schools to its increasingly diverse community. Perhaps if a model school of choice existed in Montgomery County there would be less unknown about charter schools in general. There is no better time for courageous and innovative action.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Allen
President
The Center for Education Reform
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The Center for Education Reform [CER] is a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization providing support and guidance to individuals, community and civic groups, policymakers and others who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. For additional information on education reform please call CER at (202) 822-9000.