...The problem with charter schools is that they pull much-needed tax money away from the public school system, leaving the public school students with fewer resources...
That's the usual complaint, but it depends on several factors. Bottom line: charter schools ARE public schools, and if they can perform better then that should be a choice available to families. What's most important is what's best for the students in any given district.
What's best for ALL students is access to text books, computers, small classes and all of the resources that Charter Schools provide. Instead, tax dollars go to fund a good education for a cherry picked few, and an inferior schooling for the rest of the district.
It is also to be noted that Charter Schools provide these things at the expense of teacher salaries and benefits - paying substantially less than public schools. Public School Teachers are already one of the lowest paid professions requiring a post-graduate degree and training. Reducing wages doesn't attact the best people.