The Charter-School Pop Quiz

WHICH OF THESE statements

is true?

* Charter schools don't get enough oversight from the state and the various school districts, which has led to so many financial scandals.

* Charter schools are being overregulated -

and unfairly scrutinized - cramping the very strengths we expect from them: independence and innovation.

If you were in school, this would be an impossible test, since, in many ways, both answers are right. Then again, maybe it depends on who's marking the test.

State Sens. Jeffrey Piccola, a Republican, and Andrew Dinniman, a Democrat, for example, would want you to choose the first statement; both lawmakers announced plans last month to introduce a charter-reform proposal that will improve oversight and accountability. Their action was prompted by financial scandals and investigations at six charter schools, many in Philadelphia. The legislation would impose limits on charter administrators' hiring of family members or getting paid through contracts with the authorizing school district.

To those plans, we say: It's about time.

On the other hand, if you are a charter operator, especially in Philadelphia, you might lean toward the second statement. Especially after a rather testy City Council hearing Tuesday night at which some charter operators complained about a district proposal that would affect how frequently charters can come up for renewal.

Relations between the Philadelphia School District and the charters have often been adversarial, with charters complaining that the district makes them jump through paperwork and reporting hoops and holds them to a different standard from others.

The district in turn has maintained that while charters are independent models of innovation, that doesn't mean they get to escape oversight and accountability for the public dollars they receive and spend.

All this is a long-familiar debate. That's not to suggest we wish everyone would stop talking about it. To the contrary: We're pleased that Council took the unusual step of holding an education hearing, and hope this means they are getting more engaged in the issue . . . especially the charter issue.

We're also pleased that state lawmakers are paying attention and hoping to strengthen oversight of charters. Now, we just hope that state and city lawmakers, parents, charter operators and the school district find new ways of working together, not necessarily to end their debates - debates over the best ways to educate children are never a waste of time - but to make sure the adults are setting productive examples of listening to each other and finding solutions.

The history of charters, especially in this city, has been a mixed bag; for every academic triumph, there seems to also be a disturbing scandal about mismanagement of both public money and the public trust. The district should get credit for trying to impose some controls.

But charters also should get credit for trying to blaze new educational trails, under tough circumstances, that could benefit our children. The debates and the relations may never get less fractious, but they should stay focused on the bottom line: improving education.

To that end, we also encourage state lawmakers to take their education-reform discussion on the road; one public hearing on the charter-reform proposal was held in York, but these should be happening around the state. It might help shift the debate to more productive ground.