Charter schools surviviing

Like all California public schools, Our Community School in North Hills has felt the sting of state budget cuts. Connie Llanos in the Daily News.

But after laying off three teacher assistants and canceling a popular dance program at the charter school, Principal Chris Ferris decided to approach her staff with a question:

Do you want to keep free health-care benefits or keep more teachers?

For many educators, the fact that charter schools like Our Community can even ask these tough questions puts them in a stronger position to weather the financial storm.