By Angela Hatton
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky legislators are debating the merit of adding charter schools to their application for Race to the Top funds, but a new study out today shows national interest in these schools has risen 21 percent in the past year. Charter schools are schools that trade greater accountability for a freedom from some state regulations. The report from the Center for Education Reform says the number of children on charter school wait lists would be enough to open five thousand more institutions. Some Kentucky legislators say charter schools would take away too much public funding from traditional schools, while others argue not including them in the application would be an oversight. Kentucky is one of ten states that do not allow charter schools. The application deadline for Race to the Top funds is next Tuesday.