ST. LOUIS CHARTER EXPERIMENT ATTRACTS MANY PRIVATE-SCHOOL STUDENTS

When charter schools open in St. Louis for the first time this fall, about 45 percent of students will come from private schools.

This statistic surprised just about everybody. In Kansas City, which already has charter schools, only 17 percent of students are from private schools. Nationally the average is closer to 11 percent.

It really shouldn't be that much of a shock. Many parents choose to shoulder the financial burden of private-school tuition in addition to public school taxes because they feel their children will get a better education and be exposed to fewer social problems there than in public school.

However, charters, which are taxpayer-funded but operate free of many state regulations, provide parents with an alternative to failed public schools without the high price tag that comes with a private-school education.

The situation in St. Louis demonstrates that parents in that community want real choice in public education for their children without having to pay twice.