Why Not Religious Charter Schools?

Let religious schools become part of the charter system.

By Chester E. Finn Jr.

The tragedy of urban education is the dearth of effective schools for poor kids. That acute shortage belies the right nominally conferred by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, namely that parents can move their children from failing public schools to better ones. Many communities have nowhere near enough capacity in well-functioning schools to provide an education haven for those thousands of youngsters. (In cities like New York and Chicago, we're talking hundreds of thousands.)

Federal law also says such kids may go to charter schools, but there aren't enough of them, either, at least not the highly effective kind.

How to get more? Take advantage of the charter option and become more creative and open- minded. Many cities with weak public schools have strong churches and faith- based organizations. And one thing that many parents crave for their children is a school that not only teaches the 3 R's, not only keeps Tony and Tanika safe, not only gives them a teacher who knows their names and cares if they're learning—but that also supplies them with values, morals, a code of behavior, and a...