Charter_NN1 schools_NN2 hold_VV0 promise_NN1 ,_, but_CCB they_PPHS2 're_VBR no_AT magic_JJ bullet_NN1 Charter_NN1 schools_NN2 are_VBR on_II the_AT cusp_NN1 of_IO national_JJ stardom_NN1 ._. 
After_II gaining_VVG increased_JJ acceptance_NN1 in_II the_AT last_MD decade_NNT1 ,_, they_PPHS2 now_RT are_VBR central_JJ to_II school_NN1 reform_NN1 under_II the_AT Obama_NP1 administration_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ wants_VVZ states_NN2 to_TO remove_VVI any_DD limits_NN2 on_II their_APPGE growth_NN1 ._. 
Charter_NN1 schools_NN2 are_VBR publicly_RR funded_VVN but_CCB operate_VV0 free_JJ of_IO many_DA2 state_NN1 and_CC school_NN1 district_NN1 regulations_NN2 ._. 
The_AT idea_NN1 behind_II their_APPGE creation_NN1 was_VBDZ to_TO empower_VVI schools_NN2 to_TO make_VVI their_APPGE own_DA hiring_NN1 and_CC curriculum_NN1 decisions_NN2 in_II exchange_NN1 for_IF guarantees_NN2 in_II their_APPGE contracts_NN2 --_NN1 or_CC charters_NN2 --_JJ to_TO deliver_VVI high_JJ scholastic_JJ achievement_NN1 in_II a_AT1 certain_JJ amount_NN1 of_IO time_NNT1 or_CC risk_NN1 closure_NN1 ._. 
The_AT schools_NN2 were_VBDR intended_VVN to_TO model_VVI innovations_NN2 that_CST might_VM be_VBI replicated_VVN on_II a_AT1 grand_JJ scale_NN1 and_CC to_TO eliminate_VVI cumbersome_JJ labor_NN1 contracts_VVZ that_CST work_VV0 against_II better_JJR education_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 would_VM give_VVI disadvantaged_JJ students_NN2 their_APPGE first_MD real_JJ alternative_NN1 to_II violence-prone_JJ ,_, low-performing_JJ public_JJ schools_NN2 and_CC create_VV0 pressure_NN1 for_IF those_DD2 schools_NN2 to_TO bring_VVI about_RP quicker_RRR ,_, more_RGR dramatic_JJ reform_NN1 lest_CS they_PPHS2 lose_VV0 enrollment_NN1 ._. 
After_CS a_AT1 decade_NNT1 of_IO rapid_JJ growth_NN1 ,_, charters_NN2 have_VH0 begun_VVN delivering_VVG on_II some_DD of_IO these_DD2 promises_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 were_VBDR among_II the_AT first_MD smaller_JJR ,_, more_RGR personal_JJ schools_NN2 ;_; "_" smaller_JJR "_" has_VHZ become_VVN a_AT1 rallying_NN1 cry_NN1 among_II urban_JJ school_NN1 districts_NN2 ._. 
Families_NN2 in_II low-income_JJ areas_NN2 flocked_VVD to_II the_AT new_JJ schools_NN2 ,_, where_CS expectations_NN2 were_VBDR higher_JJR and_CC children_NN2 felt_VVD safer_RRR ._. 
Some_DD have_VH0 delivered_VVN impressive_JJ test_NN1 scores_NN2 ._. 
All_DB of_IO these_DD2 accomplishments_NN2 have_VH0 been_VBN particularly_RR noticeable_JJ in_II Los_NP1 Angeles_NP1 Unified_VVD ,_, where_CS reform_NN1 in_II the_AT traditional_JJ public_JJ school_NN1 system_NN1 has_VHZ come_VVN slower_RRR than_CSN in_II other_JJ large_JJ urban_JJ districts_NN2 ,_, and_CC where_RRQ charters_NN2 have_VH0 been_VBN a_AT1 lifeline_NN1 for_IF students_NN2 trapped_VVN in_II schools_NN2 with_IW high_JJ dropout_NN1 rates_NN2 and_CC miserable_JJ achievement_NN1 levels_NN2 ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ why_RRQ this_DD1 page_NN1 has_VHZ supported_VVN the_AT growth_NN1 of_IO the_AT charter_NN1 movement_NN1 in_II L.A._NP1 ,_, as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 a_AT1 new_JJ district_NN1 initiative_NN1 that_CST will_VM open_VVI perhaps_RR 250_MC schools_NN2 to_II outside_JJ management_NN1 ,_, including_II charter_NN1 operators_NN2 ._. 
Drastic_JJ change_NN1 is_VBZ needed_VVN ,_, and_CC the_AT record_NN1 of_IO several_DA2 local_JJ charter_NN1 organizations_NN2 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 Green_JJ Dot_NN1 Public_NN1 Schools_NN2 and_CC the_AT Alliance_NN1 for_IF College-Ready_JJ Public_JJ Schools_NN2 ,_, at_RR21 least_RR22 offers_NN2 hope_VV0 for_IF better_JJR management_NN1 ._. 
Less_RGR clear_JJ ,_, though_CS ,_, is_VBZ whether_CSW charter_NN1 schools_NN2 offer_VV0 real_JJ ,_, long-term_JJ solutions_NN2 to_II fixing_VVG public_JJ education_NN1 in_II America_NP1 ,_, or_CC whether_CSW the_AT Obama_NP1 administration_NN1 should_VM be_VBI relying_VVG on_II them_PPHO2 so_RG heavily_RR as_II a_AT1 means_NN of_IO turning_VVG around_RP the_AT nation_NN1 's_GE record_NN1 of_IO academic_JJ mediocrity_NN1 ._. 
Studies_NN2 of_IO charter_NN1 schools_NN2 have_VH0 been_VBN mixed_VVN ;_; some_DD researchers_NN2 give_VV0 higher_JJR marks_NN2 to_II charters_NN2 ,_, others_NN2 to_II public_JJ schools_NN2 ._. 
One_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT recent_JJ and_CC most_RGT comprehensive_JJ longitudinal_JJ studies_NN2 ,_, released_VVN by_II Stanford_NP1 University_NN1 in_II June_NPM1 ,_, found_VVD that_DD1 charter_NN1 schools_NN2 were_VBDR uneven_JJ ._. 
More_DAR than_CSN a_AT1 third_MD perform_VV0 worse_JJR than_CSN nearby_JJ public_JJ schools_NN2 ,_, and_CC about_RG half_DB do_VD0 about_II as_RG well_RR as_CSA public_JJ schools_NN2 ,_, the_AT study_NN1 found_VVD ._. 
Only_RR 17%_NNU provide_VV0 students_NN2 with_IW a_AT1 "_" superior_JJ educational_JJ opportunity_NN1 ._. "_" 
Built-in_JJ advantages_NN2 Clearly_RR ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ difficult_JJ to_TO generalize_VVI about_II charter_NN1 schools_NN2 ._. 
By_II their_APPGE very_JJ nature_NN1 as_CSA independently_RR run_VV0 schools_NN2 ,_, they_PPHS2 vary_VV0 widely_RR in_II their_APPGE programs_NN2 and_CC goals_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB they_PPHS2 're_VBR all_DB supposed_JJ to_TO do_VDI a_AT1 good_JJ job_NN1 of_IO educating_VVG students_NN2 --_NN1 in_II most_DAT cases_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 better_JJR job_NN1 than_CSN surrounding_JJ schools_NN2 ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ especially_RR true_JJ considering_CS21 that_CS22 ,_, at_RR21 least_RR22 theoretically_RR ,_, charter_NN1 schools_NN2 have_VH0 a_AT1 built-in_JJ advantage_NN1 ._. 
In_II California_NP1 ,_, most_DAT charter_NN1 schools_NN2 fill_VV0 their_APPGE seats_NN2 through_II lotteries_NN2 ,_, to_TO give_VVI all_DB students_NN2 an_AT1 equal_JJ chance_NN1 and_CC to_TO prevent_VVI the_AT schools_NN2 from_II enrolling_VVG only_RR the_AT most_RGT promising_JJ students_NN2 ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ a_AT1 fair_JJ system_NN1 ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 skews_VVZ enrollment_NN1 because_CS the_AT lotteries_NN2 attract_VV0 motivated_JJ ,_, involved_VVD families_NN2 ._. 
In_RR21 addition_RR22 ,_, charter_NN1 schools_NN2 can_VM require_VVI extra_JJ responsibilities_NN2 for_IF students_NN2 and_CC parents_NN2 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 volunteering_VVG time_NNT1 on_II campus_NN1 ,_, and_CC can_VM close_VVI enrollment_NN1 when_CS they_PPHS2 are_VBR full_JJ ._. 
They_PPHS2 also_RR have_VH0 more_DAR authority_NN1 to_TO expel_VVI students_NN2 who_PNQS do_VD0 not_XX meet_VVI their_APPGE standards_NN2 for_IF behavior_NN1 ._. 
Families_NN2 that_CST are_VBR unable_JJ or_CC unwilling_JJ to_TO invest_VVI that_RG much_DA1 in_II their_APPGE children_NN2 's_GE education_NN1 will_VM end_VVI up_RP at_II public_JJ schools_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ have_VH0 to_TO accept_VVI all_DB students_NN2 within_II their_APPGE boundaries_NN2 ._. 
Middle_JJ schools_NN2 operated_VVN by_II the_AT respected_JJ Knowledge_NN1 Is_VBZ Power_NN1 Program_NN1 ,_, for_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, run_VV0 a_AT1 highly_RR regimented_JJ program_NN1 during_II their_APPGE 9.5-hour_JJ school_NN1 days_NNT2 and_CC longer_JJR school_NN1 year_NNT1 ._. 
KIPP_VV0 schools_NN2 dramatically_RR outperform_VV0 public_JJ middle_JJ schools_NN2 that_CST enroll_VV0 students_NN2 of_IO similar_JJ demographics_NN2 ,_, and_CC that_DD1 's_VBZ due_JJ in_II large_JJ part_NN1 to_II the_AT extra_JJ instructional_JJ time_NNT1 and_CC the_AT intensive_JJ teacher_NN1 training_VVG the_AT charter_NN1 chain_NN1 invests_VVZ in_RP ._. 
But_CCB KIPP_VV0 also_RR draws_VVZ the_AT parents_NN2 and_CC students_NN2 who_PNQS are_VBR willing_JJ to_TO accept_VVI regimentation_NN1 ,_, high_JJ expectations_NN2 and_CC long_JJ hours_NNT2 ;_; its_APPGE formula_NN1 might_VM be_VBI less_RGR successful_JJ at_II public_JJ schools_NN2 ,_, where_CS many_DA2 families_NN2 might_VM be_VBI less_RGR enthusiastic_JJ about_II its_APPGE methods_NN2 ._. 
In_RR21 addition_RR22 ,_, the_AT KIPP_NN1 program_NN1 spends_VVZ significantly_RR more_RRR per_II student_NN1 than_CSN the_AT public_JJ school_NN1 system_NN1 does_VDZ ,_, relying_VVG on_II private_JJ contributions_NN2 to_TO make_VVI up_RP the_AT difference_NN1 ._. 
Its_APPGE educational_JJ model_NN1 could_VM n't_XX be_VBI expanded_VVN to_II all_DB of_IO the_AT state_NN1 's_GE middle_JJ schoolers_NN2 even_CS21 if_CS22 every_AT1 preteen_NN1 yearned_VVN for_IF it_PPH1 ._. 
Another_DD1 unknown_JJ is_VBZ the_AT extent_NN1 to_II which_DDQ charter_VV0 schools_NN2 serve_VV0 as_CSA models_NN2 or_CC competitors_NN2 and_CC encourage_VV0 positive_JJ change_NN1 at_II public_JJ schools_NN2 ._. 
Along_II21 with_II22 the_AT trend_NN1 toward_II smaller_JJR schools_NN2 ,_, the_AT success_NN1 of_IO charters_NN2 has_VHZ prodded_VVN several_DA2 school_NN1 districts_NN2 ,_, including_II L.A._NP1 Unified_VVD ,_, to_TO start_VVI "_" pilot_NN1 schools_NN2 "_" --_JJ schools_NN2 that_CST stay_VV0 within_II the_AT district_NN1 but_CCB have_VH0 more_DAR autonomy_NN1 and_CC accountability_NN1 ._. 
At_II the_AT same_DA time_NNT1 ,_, now_CS21 that_CS22 the_AT number_NN1 of_IO charter_NN1 schools_NN2 is_VBZ reaching_VVG critical_JJ mass_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 are_VBR having_VHG a_AT1 disproportionate_JJ negative_JJ impact_NN1 on_II funding_NN1 for_IF public_JJ schools_NN2 ._. 
Through_II the_AT lottery_NN1 system_NN1 ,_, charters_NN2 enroll_VV0 students_NN2 from_II various_JJ schools_NN2 and_CC grades_NN2 ._. 
Most_DAT of_IO the_AT state_NN1 funding_NN1 for_IF those_DD2 students_NN2 follows_VVZ them_PPHO2 to_II their_APPGE new_JJ schools_NN2 ._. 
The_AT public_JJ schools_NN2 they_PPHS2 leave_VV0 receive_VV0 less_DAR money_NN1 ,_, but_CCB their_APPGE operating_NN1 costs_NN2 do_VD0 n't_XX necessarily_RR go_VVI down_RP ._. 
Giving_VVG one_MC1 student_NN1 the_AT opportunity_NN1 to_TO attend_VVI a_AT1 charter_NN1 should_VM not_XX mean_VVI leaving_VVG another_DD1 with_IW fewer_DAR resources_NN2 ._. 
Showing_VVG the_AT way_NN1 at_II Locke_NP1 That_DD1 's_VBZ why_RRQ Green_JJ Dot_NN1 's_GE takeover_NN1 of_IO Locke_NP1 High_JJ School_NN1 last_MD year_NNT1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 pioneering_JJ step_NN1 for_IF charter_NN1 schools_NN2 ,_, in_II31 terms_II32 of_II33 both_DB2 leveling_VVG the_AT playing_JJ field_NN1 with_IW public_JJ schools_NN2 and_CC minimizing_VVG the_AT disruption_NN1 caused_VVN by_II student_NN1 transfers_NN2 ._. 
Under_II its_APPGE agreement_NN1 with_IW L.A._NP1 Unified_VVD ,_, Green_JJ Dot_NN1 agreed_VVD to_TO enroll_VVI all_DB students_NN2 within_II Locke_NP1 's_GE attendance_NN1 boundaries_NN2 ._. 
That_DD1 meant_VVD taking_VVG the_AT gang_NN1 members_NN2 ,_, the_AT teenagers_NN2 who_PNQS rebelled_VVD against_II the_AT uniforms_NN2 and_CC hundreds_NNO2 more_DAR students_NN2 than_CSN it_PPH1 had_VHD room_NN1 for_IF ._. 
It_PPH1 also_RR meant_VVD taking_VVG less_DAR money_NN1 from_II other_JJ public_JJ schools_NN2 in_II the_AT area_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB Green_JJ Dot_NN1 's_GE goal_NN1 is_VBZ different_JJ from_II that_DD1 of_IO many_DA2 charter_NN1 operators_NN2 ._. 
Its_APPGE management_NN1 is_VBZ n't_XX looking_VVG to_TO supplant_VVI public_JJ schools_NN2 ,_, but_CCB rather_RR to_TO push_VVI L.A._NP1 Unified_VVD into_II following_VVG its_APPGE blueprint_NN1 for_IF educating_VVG disadvantaged_JJ children_NN2 :_: small_JJ schools_NN2 with_IW a_AT1 high_JJ emphasis_NN1 on_II safety_NN1 that_CST give_VV0 teachers_NN2 a_AT1 stronger_JJR role_NN1 in_II decision-making_JJ but_CCB require_VV0 more_RGR flexible_JJ contracts_NN2 ._. 
Green_JJ Dot_NN1 also_RR spends_VVZ the_AT same_DA amount_NN1 per_II student_NN1 on_II day-to-day_JJ operations_NN2 as_CSA L.A._NP1 Unified_VVD ._. 
At_II the_AT end_NN1 of_IO the_AT year_NNT1 ,_, Locke_NP1 's_GE test_NN1 scores_NN2 were_VBDR at_II the_AT same_DA bottom_JJ level_NN1 the_AT school_NN1 has_VHZ long_RR been_VBN known_VVN for_IF --_NN1 in_II marked_JJ contrast_NN1 to_II achievement_NN1 at_II other_JJ Green_JJ Dot_NN1 schools_NN2 that_CST drew_VVD students_NN2 through_II lotteries_NN2 and_CC were_VBDR able_JK to_TO control_VVI their_APPGE size_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB Locke_NP1 did_VDD become_VVI safer_RRR and_CC more_RGR orderly_JJ ,_, with_IW lower_JJR truancy_NN1 rates_NN2 and_CC higher_JJR student_NN1 retention_NN1 ._. 
Students_NN2 almost_RR universally_RR praised_VVD their_APPGE new_JJ teachers_NN2 ._. 
In_II theory_NN1 ,_, such_DA changes_NN2 should_VM lead_VVI over_II time_NNT1 to_II better_JJR learning_NN1 --_NN1 and_CC test_VV0 scores_NN2 --_NN1 for_IF all_DB students_NN2 in_II the_AT neighborhood_NN1 ,_, not_XX just_RR those_DD2 whose_DDQGE parents_NN2 took_VVD the_AT initiative_NN1 to_TO sign_VVI them_PPHO2 up_RP for_IF a_AT1 lottery_NN1 ._. 
Still_RR ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ puzzling_VVG that_DD1 Green_JJ Dot_NN1 has_VHZ announced_VVN that_DD1 founder_NN1 Steve_NP1 Barr_NP1 is_VBZ "_" taking_VVG on_RP a_AT1 leadership_NN1 role_NN1 in_II the_AT national_JJ dialogue_NN1 on_II education_NN1 reform_NN1 "_" and_CC drafting_VVG a_AT1 plan_NN1 for_IF state_NN1 and_CC national_JJ educational_JJ policy_NN1 based_VVN on_II the_AT Green_JJ Dot_NN1 experience_NN1 ._. 
The_AT charter_NN1 operator_NN1 might_VM well_RR prove_VVI to_TO have_VHI valuable_JJ lessons_NN2 for_IF real-world_JJ public_JJ education_NN1 ,_, but_CCB we_PPIS2 wo_VM n't_XX know_VVI unless_CS and_CC until_CS Locke_NP1 's_GE academic_JJ achievement_NN1 improves_VVZ ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ not_XX to_TO diminish_VVI the_AT credit_NN1 Barr_NP1 deserves_VVZ for_IF his_APPGE efforts_NN2 to_TO improve_VVI education_NN1 under_II the_AT same_DA conditions_NN2 public_JJ schools_NN2 face_VV0 ,_, and_CC we_PPIS2 're_VBR glad_JJ that_CST L.A._NP1 Unified_JJ is_VBZ planning_VVG to_TO replicate_VVI that_DD1 model_NN1 in_II the_AT 250_MC schools_NN2 under_II the_AT new_JJ initiative_NN1 ._. 
Organizations_NN2 that_CST apply_VV0 to_TO run_VVI schools_NN2 would_VM have_VHI to_TO agree_VVI to_TO give_VVI preference_NN1 to_II students_NN2 within_II each_DD1 school_NN1 's_GE attendance_NN1 boundaries_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ would_VM require_VVI a_AT1 waiver_NN1 from_II the_AT state_NN1 's_GE lottery_NN1 rule_NN1 ._. 
Another_DD1 promising_JJ sign_NN1 :_: L.A._NP1 Unified_JJ will_VM favor_VVI the_AT applications_NN2 of_IO charter_NN1 operators_NN2 with_IW stronger_JJR records_NN2 of_IO achievement_NN1 ._. 
In_II setting_VVG out_RP goals_NN2 for_IF states_NN2 that_CST want_VV0 to_TO apply_VVI for_IF more_DAR than_CSN $4_NNU billion_NNO in_II new_JJ federal_JJ education_NN1 grants_NN2 ,_, the_AT U.S._NP1 Department_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 has_VHZ called_VVN for_IF one_MC1 important_JJ change_NN1 on_II charters_NN2 ._. 
In_II31 addition_II32 to_II33 requiring_VVG states_NN2 to_TO take_VVI down_RP barriers_NN2 to_II new_JJ charter_NN1 schools_NN2 ,_, it_PPH1 wants_VVZ to_TO see_VVI their_APPGE plans_NN2 for_IF shutting_VVG down_RP ineffective_JJ ones_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB ,_, while_CS seeking_VVG to_TO boost_VVI charter_NN1 schools_NN2 throughout_II the_AT nation_NN1 ,_, U.S._NP1 Secretary_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 Arne_NP1 Duncan_NP1 has_VHZ not_XX addressed_VVN other_JJ key_JJ issues_NN2 :_: modifying_VVG enrollment_NN1 practices_NN2 to_TO level_VVI the_AT playing_JJ field_NN1 between_II charters_NN2 and_CC public_JJ schools_NN2 ;_; ensuring_VVG that_CST students_NN2 at_II public_JJ schools_NN2 do_VD0 n't_XX lose_VVI out_RP when_CS new_JJ charter_NN1 schools_NN2 open_VV0 ;_; and_CC determining_VVG whether_CSW innovations_NN2 can_VM be_VBI usefully_RR replicated_VVN elsewhere_RL ._. 
Charter_NN1 schools_NN2 have_VH0 played_VVN an_AT1 important_JJ role_NN1 in_II reform_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT best_JJT of_IO them_PPHO2 have_VH0 transformed_VVN the_AT educational_JJ futures_NN2 of_IO their_APPGE students_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB so_RG far_RR they_PPHS2 have_VH0 not_XX proved_VVN a_AT1 panacea_NN1 for_IF what_DDQ ails_VVZ public_JJ education_NN1 ._. 
