The Abell Foundation report on charter schools cites a 2013 CREDO study on charter schools in 27 states ("New effort underway to change Maryland charter schools law," Jan. 20).
It should be noted that that study found that 59 percent of those schools had low achievement in reading and 64 percent had low achievement in math.
While it is true that some charter schools do very well, they should not all be viewed as desirable, nor should their demands necessarily be regarded as appropriate.
The legislature should do nothing in haste. Instead it should seek counsel from the professionals in the state Department of Education who are familiar with the professional literature and the complexities of the question. Otherwise it could jeopardize the future of Maryland children.
Katharine W. Rylaarsdam