The Washington Post has a good look at DC charter schools. The conclusion is that some are good and some are bad. Studies on student progress compared to public schools seem flawed since most of the charter schools draw from at risk and low performing students. We need a study that compares the kids who get into a charter with those that applied and didn't get in and thus stayed in the public school. That would be comparing apples to apples. Whatever the statistics show, the kids and parents are happier with the charters. That should count for something. As a teacher at a charter school, I am very sold on the value of charters. I just wish that North Carolina wasn't so stingy in giving out licenses for charters. We're only allowed to have 100 statewide.