Few would deny that there is something not quite right with many of the schools that exist in larger cities.  Merely "meeting standards" on state tests has become the measurement for a "successful" school.  But for many families in our cities, this expectation falls significantly shorter than what we hoped for our children.  Some reform minded parents and educators have explored charter schools as a way to overcome the lack of acceptable choice.   Charter schools are able to maintain the focus on their  own mission and vision, rather than  that handed down by the district.   They have a governing board whose primary focus is that one school, not all 50 + schools within a district.  A school leader is chosen because of their heart for the mission and teachers choose to move there because they want to be a part of fulfilling that mission.  To me, one of the main reasons that charter schools are important to a community is because they can have no academic or behavioral criteria for admission.  No 80%, no letters of recommendations, and students are not "kicked out" if they don't perform and no exclusion of kids who aren't quite meeting the mark. To me, that means that kids who don't have all the advantages, also get a shot at a great education.  How do I know?  Because our charter states that if we don't exceed state(not district) standards, they won't renew our charter.  What district school faces that level of accountability?  So, why is everyone against charter schools?