[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Historically in Texas...essential 1/3 of all charters awarded have subsequently been removed

Note that this number includes schools which merged with another charter school, moved, or closed for any reason. It does not mean one out of three charter schools was forced to shut down by the government.

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Nevertheless, passing rates for AEA charters were lower
than those for standard charters and traditional school districts in all subject areas.

As you note above, AEA is primarily in charge of "alternative" education. These are the high risk/difficult/borderline-penitentiary schools. They are deliberately put into their own category so their stats can be viewed in the appropriate light. Traditional charter schools, as you see from your source, do about as well as public schools from a testing standpoint.

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Likewise, the is very little support for the idea that charter schools are academically better than tradition schools.

Correct, because as I noted earlier, they're not taking the "cream of the crop," they're taking students who can clearly do just fine when they're in the right environment, and yet for some reason are willing to fight a low-odds lottery to get out of their assigned public environment, and drive across town to get to school every day once they are in. There must be some draw.

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

From the above, I don't feel it is realistic to say that charter schools do not select their students.

I'm not sure where you get that deduction at all, since all your information seems to indicate that the students at traditional charter schools are perfectly average, not of a select breed. But regardless, your feeling is wrong according to the law:

Must an open-enrollment charter school be open to all students?

Yes. In general, an open-enrollment charter school may establish no admissions requirements except that students meet the age, grade level, and residency requirements specified in its charter.

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Charter and Public schools receive state funds based on daily student attendance,
but public also receive funding for buildings/maintenance,student transportation and student health requirements

Right, meaning public schools receive more money for offering the same educational service, as I said. It's actually kind of surprising to consider that charter schools do just as well as public schools, even though they have to pay for their own buildings and buses and nurses. I wonder what the testing scores would be like if charter schools did receive as much money as public schools?

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Charter schools (on average) pay $8,000 staff more than public schools,

They choose to invest their money in higher-quality teachers and lower teacher/student ratios. I approve.

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

yet there is a much higher turnover of teachers among the charters.

Because they can and do fire any teacher who isn't maintaining their educational standards. There is no tenure, no godawful "last-in, first-out" policies when it comes to layoffs, and no 55-year-old math teacher who hates kids and is just riding out his miserable career until he gets his Teacher Retirement Fund fully vested. I also approve.