Charter Schools Gaining Ground

The education reform battle, (or movement if you prefer) has been gaining momentum, even when the hardest legislation to pass has yet to come. There are several aspects to the education reform movement, which include school choice, merit pay for teachers, transparency, charter schools, and alternative teacher certification. Missouri managed to pass the alternative certification bill...this is a huge victory, although some may not see the significance.
Another instrumental portion is charter schools. Currently, only Kansas City and St. Louis allow these schools.
A recent article in Springfield's News Leader illustrates the energy charter schools are maintaining. More people are placing their children in charter schools, thereby pulling them out of traditional public schools.
This academic year, about 23 percent of schoolchildren in the Kansas City public school district are now getting their education at one of the city's 18 public charter schools.
Kansas City has more than 7,000 students in those schools.
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranks the city sixth among U.S. communities in the percentage of public school students at charter schools.

Nationally, more than 1.4 million students are enrolled in more than 4,600 public charter schools.
The Kansas City schools are down about 800 students this year. State officials say the enrollment growth might be due to new schools and existing charters opening new campuses.
Charter schools are public schools run by independent boards and supported by the state.

What does it say about the public schools?
Another interesting story...I know a mother in Kansas City, who also happens to be a teacher in public schools. She is largely in favor of school choice, but in fear of the teacher unions, does not want to make this public (which is a shame). Nevertheless, she cannot afford the private school much longer but wants to place her child in a charter school (the name currently escapes me).

More and more parents are putting their children in charter schools or moving to better districts. How bright does the red flag need to be before people realize parents want choice?