Having seen this movie about the problems with the educational system I really have a much better understanding of why it's impossible to change mainstream schools from within, at least with the current union rules and government laws. Charter schools are a band aid, at best. An even better option is for parents to band together and create DIY "home school" programs without any government involvement at all. There's one that some MIT folks started that may or may not be called Camp Kaleidescope (or was at least connected to that camp). It was a school run by maker types for maker types, from what I understand.

I'd love to see some mainstream programs allowed to stay in each school, and with the majority of the school being open-ended for pretty much anyone in the community to create classes and workshop spaces.