A new bill by District of Columbia Councilmember Charles Allen, D-Ward 6, would seriously undermine charter schools’ autonomy. Where the D.C. School Reform Act frees charter schools of government intrusion, the Public School Transparency Amendment Act of 2019 would try to reimpose it.

Public school students in the District enroll in two types of public school. About half of them are enrolled in the city-run school system, D.C. Public Schools. The other half are educated at tuition-free, taxpayer-funded public charter schools. These are open to all District-resident students regardless of neighborhood or academic ability. Charters operate independently of DCPS and are held to strong academic, school governance and legal standards by D.C.’s independent charter board, which is in turn appointed by D.C.’s mayor and Council.