Charter School Backers Claim R.I. Law Is Too Restrictive

Even as plans for what could be Rhode Island's first charter school move ahead, the 1995 state law allowing such schools is under fire from some charter school proponents.

The state school board gave preliminary approval to a charter application from the city of Woonsocket last month. But some local school board members who like the idea of charter schools say a publicly supported independent school cannot be independent enough under the current law.

Although a majority of Woonsocket's school board members support the plans for a charter school--and their approval isn't necessary to move ahead--Vice Chairman John Ward warned that the state charter law could eventually cause insurmountable obstacles for the group hoping to...