We spend ten billion dollars each year to assure that citizens are educated. The recent public debate over charter schools highlighted some strong differences of opinion about what the ideal education system should look like.

The chart below simplifies the discussion. A system of public education can have many or few who are permitted to offer education. Likewise, a system can have one or many acceptable learning outcomes.

Our current system in Washington is nearly a monopoly on providers and fairly uniform on learning targets. It is indicated by the red “X” in the #3 quadrant.

The introduction of charter schools moves the state closer to the #2 quadrant, since more providers will be allowed to offer services. The adoption of a 24 credit graduation requirement and the common core education standards moves the state closer to one learning target.

Which quadrant represents your ideals?