Is the D.C. Public Charter School Board limiting school choice?

November 5, 6:07 AMDC Charter Schools ExaminerMark Lerner

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The other day the D.C. Public Charter School Board released their guidelines for new charters applying to open in 2011.  Mr. Nida, the chairman of the board, commented, "with the existing 57 schools on 99 campuses, any new applications will have to be exceptional and compliment existing offerings or fill an unmet need,"

My question would be why is the board imposing these qualifications?  I'm sure that any new school would aspire to high academic standards.  Because there are already 57 other institutions trying to do the same thing does this mean that the application would be rejected because it is not filing an already unmet need? 

The fundamental basis of school choice is that the government should not be picking winners and losers.  It is extremely likely in an educational marketplace that a recently created business will figure out a better way of doing things compared to establishments that have been around for years. 

The power of competition to improve the status quo is dependent on not blocking new entrants into the system.