ABSTRACT
In 1993, Colorado charter schools came into being as a result of a grassroots effort organized by parents and a number of public school teachers, with the support of community and child advocacy groups, a bipartisan coalition of legislators, and Governor Roy Romer. Proponents argued that charter schools would help bring reform to the system of public education by introducing innovations in pedagogy and governance, lead to improved relationships with parents, and provide a vehicle to empower teachers. Initially, the legislation was strongly opposed by the Colorado School Board Association and the Colorado Education Association (the state’s largest teacher’s union). Questions raised by opponents included: Would charter schools draw the brightest students and most empowered parents away from neighborhood schools? Would they take financial resources away from neighborhood schools? Would they lead to vouchers and the privatization of education in Colorado?
