A public school student is a public school student. Whether they attend Wai'anae, Kalani or Laupahoehoe, those students are entitled to equal support from the state. No-brainer, everyone agrees.

A difficulty arises when government officials ignore the "public" in "public charter school student," and treat students differently based on the type of public school they attend. Charter schools are public schools, and these students are public school students no different than students in Department of Education schools. To purposely discriminate with funding levels is unfair. Yet that is exactly what happens year after year at the Legislature.

The U.S. Census recently reported that Hawai'i spends $11,060 per public school student, except that public charter school students are funded at $5,536 per student — more than $5,500 less. State officials explained it away by saying that that the DOE provides special education and other services to charter schools, but that isn't a completely accurate picture.

Yes, the DOE provides most special education services to public charters, accounting for about 25 percent, or $2,750 out of the state's $11,000 per student. It is important to note that under the law, the DOE is the state educational agency responsible for provision of special education services — which is why special education money is taken out of the equation. Recently, however, the DOE eliminated support for the student services coordinator positions at public charters — a position created under the Felix Consent Decree specifically because of special needs students. In numerous other situations, public charter school principals have had to advocate vigorously for support from the DOE for special needs students attending their schools, or reduced service, or no service at all would be provided.

As for "other services," public charters have to "buy back" services from the DOE, including payroll, courier, Lotus Notes (e-mail) and data collection systems. Most people are unaware that the DOE's state and local education agency status means they are the responsible party in charge of receiving federal funding. In addition, the Legislature provides state funds to the DOE based on needed capacity to provide services to the 180,000 student DOE system. Since charters account for only 8,500 students, Hawai'i's single statewide system should be able to absorb most if not all added impacts from the public charter schools.

Other states have shown they have capacity to service public charters with in-kind services without having to charge fees or buy-backs. In truth, charter schools have been paying the DOE for basic services since 2003, so the "other services" assertion rings hollow.

Therefore, that public charter school students are funded at only 50 percent of the DOE's resources simply defies explanation. Charter school leaders have never, ever come to the conclusion that we receive $5,500 worth of special education and other services. That fact begs many, many questions.

Finally, it is a clearly defined policy of the Obama administration to entice states to improve their support of public charter schools. Yet Hawai'i continues to treat its charter school system as an unwanted guest. That is one prominent reason why Hawai'i is in a situation where so-called "Race to the Top" funds are probably out of reach: The president is seriously interested in how states treat their public charters.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan recently pointed out that a major failing of public education comes about when state and local education agencies develop into systems that "served the interests of adults better than it did its students."

It really is time for sincere and honest soul searching in all of public education policy, from the offices of the superintendent and the Board of Education, on to the Legislature and into the governor's chambers. Does the current setup serve adults or children better, and why?

The disparity in funding of public charter school students and DOE students should be a major red flag that kids are being treated differently — discriminated against, to be perfectly blunt. If that is so, it seems clear that adults are turning their problems into kids' problems. And that's just not right.

A public school student is a public school student — no difference.

Curtis Muraoka is director of West Hawai'i Explorations Academy Public Charter School. He wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.