No future for charter schools

There was an interesting spat yesterday between the Greens and Labour over National's charter schools: the Greens have promised to integrate them into the state school system, while Labour wants to simply close them down. Despite all the noise, this is an argument over means, not ends, over whether re-integration and being subject to state school standards and requirements or just locking the doors is the best way to clean up the mess that National is going to leave. But underneath that dispute, there is a solid agreement that National's charter schools have no future and are going to be eradicated. Those thinking of investing in them, and those parents thinking of sending their kids to them, should take note.