Like many parents, Cara Collins Remmert just wanted to find a good public school for her son. It didn't necessarily have to be a charter school. In fact, she tried one Albany charter school and wasn't particularly thrilled with the experience. "I liked the teachers, but I didn't like the school," Remmert said, citing a weak administrative team and generally poor communication with parents.

So Remmert shopped around until she found a school that was just right. Today, her son is a fourth grader at Brighter Choice Charter School in Albany, and she couldn't be happier with the results.

Because she has seen the impact that her choice has had in terms of her son's academic development in this public charter school setting, she doesn't understand what the fuss is among politicians about supporting what she knows is a good thing.

She even takes some ribbing from neighbors and acquaintances who believe bad things they hear about what charter schools are doing to the school system. But that kind of talk is what has helped turn her into an advocate for charter public schools.

"They talk about those terrible charter schools and how they are taking all the money," Remmert said. "I tell them they are misinformed… Who says all public schools have to be run by one person."

Remmert said she wished more policymakers would be interested in why charter schools are so popular with some parents. "They pay enough attention to the teachers union and everyone else. But what about the parents and the children who attend charter schools?"

"Every day in Albany we hear how charter schools are the tools of the devil himself. But the truth is they have done more for our students with less money than the rest of the system."