Charter vs. Public Schools

Charter vs. Public Schools: It's a tough choice for parents

by Casey Ferrand

Parents in two Caddo Parish school districts will have a tough choice to make next school year. They must decide to send their children to a charter school, operated by the state, or to a new middle school established by the Caddo School Board.

Bill Minix is a board member with the MLK Neighborhood Association, says the school board's decision to open to new middle schools to compete for students in the Linear and Linwood districts may be the competition the students need.

"I think choice breeds competition and in the end all of the schools will get better if people are competing to do the right thing and that's to provide high quality of education," Minix said.

Minix questions if parents should continue to send their children to Caddo schools. "These schools have been failing for more than a decade and I don't see where any parent would make the decision to send their child to a failing school,' Minix said.

Minix says it's best for parents to become educated on both charter school and the plan Caddo Parish is offering. Then, weigh the options before deciding what is best for your student.

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