Education Secretary Arne Duncan is dangling some big grants to states that permit charter schools. Washington doesn't, and it has beat back earlier efforts to allow them, led by Jim Spady.
Some kids' reading and math scores are going up, but it's because some of their teachers and school principals are cheating for them, and for their own benefit.
Some local high schools have dramatically improved graduation rates, and they've done it without the big structural changes grabbing attention around the country.