The Galveston County Daily News

After Hurricane Ike, Galveston became a laboratory for those who are interested in charter schools. Across the state, 3 percent of the students in public schools are in charter schools. In Galveston, that number exceeds 10 percent.

If the Legislature removed the cap on the number of charters the state will grant, the percentage of students in charter schools in Galveston would be even higher. At the two independent charter schools on the island — Odyssey Academy and Ambassadors Preparatory Academy — the waiting lists of children hoping to attend are long. The lists of those waiting are about as long as the lists of those enrolled.

The two independent charter schools have had spectacular results academically.

When people across the state were debating whether to allow charter schools, one of the strongest arguments against them was the analogy of the cherry pickers. The critics said the charter schools would pick students from the best demographics and leave the regular school districts to deal with the rest.

Actually, that didn’t happen in Galveston.

The charter school students in lower socioeconomic groups are performing at admirably high levels. The charter school students who are members of minority groups are performing at admirably high levels.

A few years ago, it would have made sense to argue about whether charter schools should have a place in Texas. In places like Galveston, the debate is over.

The debate — at least in places like Galveston — is whether charter schools are getting the resources they need.

In Galveston, Odyssey Academy and Ambassadors Preparatory Academy have to lease space. Officials with both schools asked the Galveston school district, which has vacant buildings and which is losing enrollment, to lease vacant campuses.

The campuses, built with taxpayers’ money, could have been used to benefit students who are getting a public education. But officials with the school district view both independent charter schools as competitors and said no.

The independent charter schools are getting no state funding for facilities. The public school district gets money for facilities, even when it’s hampered by the costs of maintaining buildings that are empty.

Do you see anything fair about that?

If you don’t, write your representatives. The question of equitable funding ought to be taken up by the Texas Legislature, which convenes in January 2011. We know that seems like a long way off. But key legislators are setting the agenda for that session now. The question of equitable funding ought to be on the agenda.