Close failing schools, whether district-run or charter

When the Philadelphia School Reform Commission recently voted to close two underperforming charter schools, it was making a decision that was in the best interests of students.

The Keystone Alliance for Public Charter Schools applauds the SRC; however, the alliance believes that the commission should go further and close the other underperforming public schools in Philadelphia: district-run schools.

Across the state, students and parents expect and deserve the opportunity to receive a high-quality education, whether it is obtained at a public charter school or a traditional public school.

Many parents choose to enroll their child in a charter school due to the continued failure of some traditional public schools to meet their child's academic needs in a safe environment.

Statewide, tens of thousands of students are on charter-school waiting lists hoping for their opportunity to escape a failing school.

Based on the 2013-14 School Performance Profile, 208 Philadelphia district-run schools earned scores that ranged from 13 to 90.8, resulting in 55 district-run schools - more than 25 percent - earning below 50. These schools enrolled more than 33,000 students - nearly 25 percent of the district's student population - in the 2013-14 school year.

If the SRC is going to hold charter schools accountable, which the alliance fully endorses, it must take similar actions with its own low-performing schools.

The alliance is comprised of accountable, public charter schools across the state that believe underperforming charters do not serve as quality public school alternatives.

Let's not forget: When students transfer from an underperforming traditional public school to a charter, they are often one or more years behind in academic achievement. Not only does a charter school have to educate students based on their grade level, they also have to bring the children up to grade level to make up for the unmet deficiencies from the child's former school.

Each year, Pennsylvania taxpayers invest more than $27 billion into the state's public education system, and students, parents, and taxpayers deserve a return on this investment.

Why does it matter if students are educated in a public charter school or a traditional district one? It shouldn't, as long as students have access to high-quality educational programs in a safe and secure environment.

We do not have the luxury to redo a child's education. If a school continually fails its students, parents must have the ability to choose an alternate public education option. This is where charter schools fill the void.

Why must students be forced to attend a school that is incapable of educating them? Why should a family's zip code relegate their children to a subpar education?

Surely, we all can agree that students shouldn't be consigned to a failing public school.

If the SRC would also focus on closing underperforming district-run schools, perhaps cities across the nation would follow Philadelphia's lead to improve educational opportunities for all students.

If we focus on doing what is right and in best interest of students, all students across the city, the state, and the nation will receive the education they need and deserve.

The SRC needs to move quickly to close failing schools. Let's not relegate another generation of children to failure.