Why the Charter School Debate Matters In states where the Charter School Industry benefits from knowing people in high places, the pleas of parents seem unlikely to generate any sort of action. Charter school proponents are quick to counter the concerns these parents have by arguing that if charters aren’t needed, then parents wouldn’t be choosing them. They maintain that charter schools don’t hurt public schools because when parents transfer students to charters, the money follows the child, and the public school can lower its costs . But the Wake County parents aren’t persuaded by these arguments when they see firsthand the adverse effects of under-enrollment in their children’s schools, increased segregation of students, and the growing presence of predatory, for-profit operators."