Per student CCA spends less to provide an education--regardless of departmental allocation, which is the number that truly matters, and their test scores beat CCSD. The budget for CCA comes directly from state, and not out of any county "allotment," so the argument that the charter school "costs" other public school students valuable dollars is rather weak. Why exactly is this option so evil to the school board? Let them be and focus on helping the students you do serve.