An embarrassing article for charters – yes, some charters do this and it's not right.  I'm glad it's getting exposed (though see my last email about my discussion with Gary about the "creaming" that regular public schools do):

A South Bronx charter school has been put on probation for what city education officials called "serious violations" of state law mandating random admissions, including possibly testing or interviewing applicants before their enrollment.

The school, Academic Leadership Charter School, opened in 2009 and is the first New York City charter to be disciplined for violating the rules for random admissions.

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July 20, 2011

Bronx Charter School Disciplined Over Admissions Methods

By ANNA M. PHILLIPS

www.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/nyregion/bronx-charter-school-disciplined-over-admissions.html