Wednesday, January 23, 2008

An important point has been overlooked in The Post's coverage of the events leading to the deaths of Banita Jacks's four children, who had previously been enrolled in charter schools ["After the Firings," editorial, Jan. 16].

For as long as the District has had charter schools, officials at these schools who have tried to get the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency to handle educational neglect and other child abuse cases have run into explicit or implicit policy barriers to the effect that the CFSA will protect children in traditional D.C. public schools but not in charter schools.

This has been reported frequently at the truancy reduction seminars for charter school leaders run during the past two years by the Student Support Center -- most recently in November -- and has been brought to the attention of the CFSA leadership without a response. The administration of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has the opportunity to eliminate once and for all any distinction by the CFSA and other city agencies between children being educated at traditional public schools and those at public charter schools, who now comprise 30 percent of all students.

CHUCK APPLEBY

Board Chairman

Student Support Center

Vienna