The money grab thinking behind charter schools

From Sarasota Phoenix, Issue 2, May 2018, by Jon Susce: “Orchestrated Chaos: Is local school board dysfunction part of larger scheme to discredit public schools?”

“David Brain is the head of a large real-estate investment firm called Entertainment Properties Trust. In 2012, Brain appeared on CNBC to discuss the real estate outlook nationally and with a specific eye on charter schools around the US. He explained that charter schools are ‘….a very stable business, very recession-resistant. It’s a very high-demand product.’ Later on during his interview, Brain was asked about the most profitable sector in commercial real estate investment in the US right now. Considering the gradual death of retail, it was an important question at the time and remains so today.

“Brain’s response to this question was pretty shocking: ‘Well, probably the best place to invest right now is in the charter school business. It’s our highest growth and most appealing sector right now of the portfolio. It’s the most in-demand and the most recession-resistant. And a great, sustainable opportunity with 500 schools starting every year. It’s a two and a half billion dollar opportunity set in rough measure annually.’”