Charter schools work in rural areas, too

Much of the discussion about public charter schools involves the impact these schools have on urban areas. And there are some great success stories, including those involving Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) academies in some of the most challenging inner-city areas in America.

However, as the putkidsfirstky.org Web site notes, "In Kentucky, many rural areas are more impoverished than our urban areas and, unfortunately, are experiencing crime rates."

According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, around 20 percent of the nation's more than 5,000 (and growing) public charters are located either in rural areas (696 charter schools) or small towns (387 charters).

The evidence suggests that charter schools would provide a viable option both for parents being harassed by educrats in both Kentucky's big cities and rural areas.

Charter schools could re-empower parents in both Louisville's West End and Knox County's rural areas the ability to emancipate their children from miserably failing school districts.