Mayor Dismisses Study That Shows Little Advantage At Charter Schools
CHICAGO (CBS) -- In the wake of a study that found charter schools perform little better than neighborhood schools, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the focus should be on how every school is doing.
WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports the mayor didn't dispute a published study showing privately-run charter schools might be performing no better than regular public schools.
Emanuel said that's yesterday's debate. He said the issue is making sure every school does a good job.
"The goal is to have a quality education that prepares a child for college, and a career. That's our goal," he said. "I've told two charters, 'You're going to close this year.' We put 11 on warning."
The mayor said parents should have a choice between charters, neighborhood schools, international baccalaureate programs, military schools, and specialized schools like the Austin Polytechnical Academy – a high school that focuses on manufacturing and engineering.
Emanuel said all schools should be of high quality.