It is important to distinguish between public charter schools (easily created under State law and ASD policy, whether or not they are cost-effective) and private school vouchers. Ms. Schuster has shackled herself to the Alaska Policy Forum talking points, promoting vouchers (outside the purview of ASD and of questionable value - see http://www.tpcref.org/policy-issues/privatization/research-findings-achievement-impact-of-private-school-voucher-students/ for one review of dozen) and arguing that ASD students score close to the last in the nation for performance while first in the nation for cost (NOT true and is based on her reliance on State-wide NAEP data).

I have tried to get Ms. Schuster to provide substantive responses with respect to the multitude of her claims, but the truth is that she has offered nothing substantive save that she is opposed to privatizing varsity sports, a very uncharacteristic position for someone who promotes choice and privatization.