- we have institutionalized inequality in public schooling, and vouchers and charter schools are going to be an attractive alternative for parents living in underfunded districts.
These things might seem more attractive, but vouchers take money from already underfunded districts, and charter schools appear to be more corrupt and no more effective than the worst public school districts.
I only skimmed the linked article, but I think throwing charter schools under the bus because some have engaged in sketchy behavior is dangerous. Our kids have done public neighborhood schools and are now in a charter school. I can tell you, both systems SUCK ASS. The first public school my kids attended was great - but we were renting a home in a nicer neighborhood. When we bought our home, and moved, of course we couldn't afford to stay in the nicer neighborhood and despite our new neighborhood school being brand new, it was garbage. The local funding is hugely problematic. The charter school, though it is a great fit for our current situation, is horrifically underfunded and I feel this constant anxiety that if we don't fund raise half a million dollars every year - my kids are back in the crap-ass neighborhood school. But lest we think funding will solve the education problem in america, the real thing that is needed is better parents. Sorry. We suck at it. I don't mean my wife and I (although I have my shameful moments). Funding is part of the overall equation, but it starts at home. That is the root cause of the education problem in america (IMO). The problem is then magnified by improper funding, fraud, greed, and mismanagement. but that's just an idiot parent's rant.
It's odd, my parents were both teachers and usually voted Democratic, and they supported property tax based funding, partially because they moved to a better district for that reason.