When Michelle Rhee’s Students First lobbying organization released its first state policy “report cards” this week, one of the fiercest critics to emerge was an important policy player from her old backyard: The D.C. Public Charter School Board.

In exchange for public funding and operational latitude, charters promise innovation and academic success. When that success is not forthcoming, the experiment must come to a close.

CER President Jeanne Allen joins John Stossel to discuss the charter BLOB.

Alison Consoletti, vice president of research for The Center for Education Reform, a Washington, D.C., advocacy group, said the lack of autonomy is part of why Iowa has lost three charter schools in the past two years. Three are still operating.

CER President Jeanne Allen reflects on the state of education reform while attending the national Excellence in Action summit, noting "you can't have parent power and have teacher union power."

Research suggests that neighborhood schools are valued highly by urban residents and represent an important part of neighborhood identity. Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy is a neighborhood school right here in our community building a new sense of pride, culture and identity.

A coordinated series of draft and introduced bills could reshape public education in Michigan, giving students more options and re-routing taxpayer money.

Mitch Daniels used his first term to get Indiana's fiscal house in order. His second term sealed his reputation as the education reform governor.

A recent effort by Pennsylvania officials to re-examine the state's charter school laws highlights the challenges states may face as they try to change the policy and political environment for charters.

For the past few years, states have been busy writing and revising their laws on charter schools—in most cases, with an eye toward expansion. Today, a pro-charter advocacy group released a guide meant to give states some direction in this regard.