Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 12:29:29 -0500
From: brian callahan <makhno2-AT-eartlink.net>
Subject: Re: Information request.


George writes:
>Is anybody aware of such a recently voted Law in the States...?  How
>accurate was this information (broadcasted from the Greek TV, someday
>during 1999), concerning the Law I am describing above?  Would it be
>possible to obtain more detailed information about this specific Law or
>any other similar?

Yes, such schools are usually called 'charter schools' because the
parents draw
up a charter that describes how the schools should work.  Education in
the US has traditionally been a local (city, town) and state matter, not
federal.  I live in Massachusetts, and the legislature here passed such
a law a few years ago that allows local communities to set up these
schools.  Unfortunately, these schools are publicly funding in such a
way that the money is often taken away from other public schools. 
Also,  the parents who set up and send their children to such schools
tend to be better educated, motivated and/or wealthier, which leaves the
unfortunate children whose parents have less left in public schools that
are deteriorating.  Also, some private for-profit companies have entered
into the movement and they are profiting from the collapse of the public
schools.  Also, teachers in charter schools are usually not covered by
the union contract that the other teachers in the city have negotiated.