Charters do not have a sense of "entitlement." To the contrary, they are started with the risk that if they are a failing school, they can be shut. This is part of the basic definition of a charter public school. Seven charters in Pennsylvania have closed since 1997. PCCS' basic position is that the process to achieve renewal or non-renewal needs to be transparent, consistent and equitable.

The school district, with more than 70 schools on Corrective Action II, III or IV under No Child Left Behind, is not in a position to provide transparent, consistent and equitable oversight free from a basic conflict of interest.

One example of this conflict is the need to apply the same standards to their own school schools. Truly, as all know, "McDonald's does not, nor could they provide, fair, transparent and consistent" oversight of Wendy's.

Other states have independent authorizers (for example, Ohio, Michigan and the District of Columbia) where accountability for charter schools is independently administered. Charter schools in these areas are given oversight, not managed, in a transparent, consistent and equitable fashion. Charter schools that do not perform in these three regions are closed.

Timothy Daniels, Exec. Director

Pa. Coalition of Charter Schools

Felon tax breaks

Mayor Nutter wants to extend tax credits to companies that hire ex-felons. So if there are two qualified candidates, one isn't an ex-con and the other is, with the tax credit of $10,000, who do you think would get hired first?

Mayer Krain, Philadelphia