Day one of the AFT/Quest Conference

AFT President Randi Weingarten lays out the union's line on charters

Weingarten said charter schools should be held to the same standards as other public schools and they "should not be pitted against each other."

"Successful charter schools should be applauded and should share their lessons; troubled charter schools that fail their students should be held accountable and closed; and charter school teachers should be supported and given the right to union membership and voice," she said.

Weingarten cautioned elected leaders not to walk away from their responsibility to help all public schools succeed "by turning entire public school systems into charter schools." (AFT-Quest 2009)