1. I'm going to respond to this @DFER_DC criticism of my WCP article (washingtoncitypaper.com/news/article/2…) because it's not just factually wrong, but it gets at something much more serious that deserves attention. 
2. @DFER_DC defends idea that some charters shouldn't have public inspections, citing potential displeased landlords. Let's be clear: There are public inspections for privately-owned buildings all over the city. Restaurants, apartments, etc. And those are *privately-funded.*
3. The argument being advanced here is that there should be exceptions made for publicly-funded schools, that lease from private landlords. Because, that could possibly, maybe, be a barrier for a good charter that wants to open.
4. Today @DFER_DC is defending the right of charters to avoid public facility inspections. Earlier this year it said charters should not be subject to FOIA, as it would "add needless bureaucracy" and be "counter to the interest of ensuring government resources are well spent."
5. So let's get to the larger point. Right now charters get $3,193 per-pupil as a "facilities allowance" but they don't have to actually spend that money on their facilities. If we had clearer information on the condition of their school buildings, then there might be more
6. questions about how and where that taxpayer money is actually going. But charters don't want to get in the position where they have to defend and explain how they spend their funds. And city leaders frankly don't want to tell charters how to spend their money either.
7. In many ways it's easier for all involved to just not collect certain kinds of information. If we had the information, there would be greater pressure to do something about it. That's accountability.
8. This was something debated during PACE Act hearings. Charter-sector leaders said the sector was not getting enough money for facilities, but the city doesn't know how charters are spending the money it's already getting, and what the condition their facilities actually are in.
9. A lot of these issues were more easily dismissed when charters accounted for a smaller fraction of the local school system, but they educate nearly half of the city's students at this point, and it's very reasonable to expect growth to continue in the coming years.
10. Also I want to quickly respond to the 'one-sided' criticism. Josh Henderson baselessly says I didn't interview parents who went to the MFP public engagement sessions. I did, and I attended the August round myself. Some are even included in story:
11. Gonna wrap this up but will just say I work extremely hard to do my job fairly, and to the best of my ability. Some won’t like it, and I appreciate critical feedback. But I’m also aware some don’t want much more transparency at all. 🤷🏻♀️/ end
