The polarized rhetoric about charter schools obscures the work both “sides” ought to be doing to better serve all kids.

Communities across the country are embroiled in charter school battles, from a D.C. debate about charters, data and transparency to the latest round of Chicago teacher strikes. These debates almost always devolve into the familiar charter-versus-district narrative that paints a false choice between the two school models.

Bellwether partner Andrew J. Rotherham was interviewed by Greg Richmond, formerly of Chicago Public Schools and more recently the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools. They talked about how education is such a powerful a lever for change, what Andy’s learned since he was younger, and why data are so often weaponized in this sector.

Pesidential candidate Sen. Michael Bennet’s leadership as superintendent of Denver Public Schools from 2005 to 2009 was a major turning point in the city’s educational trajectory, marking the beginning of a reform strategy that fundamentally changed the shape of the school system and contributed to notable gains in graduation rates and student achievement.

So how does Bennet view those district reforms now, and how does he propose to translate the lessons from Denver to the national level?