Charter schools, financed by public funds but managed by private groups, often focus their curricula on specific subjects or interests such as technology, science, theater. Some parents consider them an attractive alternative when the regular public schools don't provide the courses they want or the discipline they are looking for. Classes are usually smaller, and parents have more input.

Most charter schools are promoted as holding higher academic standards than their traditional counterparts, but the federal study of charters in Texas, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts and North Carolina indicates fewer of them, on average, meet state achievement requirements than regular public schools. Even adjusted for such factors as race and poverty, the charter schools fell short more often.

The results of that study follow on the heels three months ago of National Assessment of Educational Progress tests in which charter school students nationally scored lower than children in traditional public schools. How well charter schools in other states are doing presents a cautionary tale for parents in Utah.

Charter schools, like vouchers or tuition tax credits, take funding from regular public schools when children transfer to them. Relatively new in Utah, their effects on regular schools have not been fully assessed.

They do provide parents with a choice and the promise of more parental control, but they are not a panacea for the problems of public education.

National studies showing a level of underachievement could mean charter schools' focus on specific areas results in children not learning other subjects as well as they should. Those studies could also mean that public schools are doing a better job of teaching children than some parents realize.

There are 30 charter schools operating in Utah. Their scores on federally mandated tests are comparable to other schools; some schools are doing better and some not as well as traditional public schools. Some are too new to have baseline scores from which to chart progress.

The question is, are charter schools fulfilling their promise of higher academic achievement to a degree that justifies siphoning funds from regular public schools?

Early indications show parents should be cautious about abandoning traditional public schools. As a solution to the challenges of public education, charter schools may be oversold.