The Learning Curve: Race and Class Often Color the Debate Over Charter Schools

Mario Koran wrote for the Voice of San Diego about the debate over whether charter schools are good for public education.

Charter schools have existed in San Diego since 1994, but the debate over whether they’re good for public education shows no signs of slowing down.

Charter schools are publicly funded but independently run. In San Diego, there’s been a steady growth of students opting out of traditional schools and into charter schools. This year, roughly 20 percent of students living within San Diego Unified boundaries are enrolled in charters, and district officials expect the numbers to rise.