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Of all the bills floating around the General Assembly in Richmond this week, few have sparked more debate than those linked to charter schools.

Last Thursday, a Senate committee advanced legislation that supports the creation of charter schools in just about every corner of the state.

Supporters, led by Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R), contend charter schools score on two critical fronts. For starters, more charter schools translate to more education money for Virginia. President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan are using the leverage of federal dollars to fuel an increase in charter schools, which some have described as the reinvention of public education.

Proponents also point to a system that tailors education to a student's strengths rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. Virginia currently has three charter schools, which are publicly funded but operate under less restrictive rules. In return for that instructional freedom, the schools are expected to hit specific educational benchmarks or have their charters revoked within five years.

While expanding the state's charter-school network would likely result in more federal dollars -- under a portion of the Obama administration's Race to the Top funding, Virginia could gain $2 million a year for four years for charter startups -- opinions vary widely on their overall impact on public education. It's interesting that two of the largest studies done on the subject, both conducted by educators at Stanford University, reached completely different conclusions.

Part of the reason for the mixed reviews is the lack of long-term data. Charter schools arrived on the scene less than 20 years ago to help reform school systems that were falling far short of attendance and achievement goals.

It's safe to say there is no such thing as a typical charter school. Some are started by parents or teachers; others by community organizations or for-profit companies. Some are large, but most have fewer than 200 students. Some cover all core subjects, while others focus on specific areas such as math, science or technology.

Some states have seen test scores rise at charter schools. Others have not.

Although charter schools weren't necessarily created to compete with high-achieving school systems like the one here in Fairfax, that shouldn't mean shutting the door on an idea that might benefit several thousand students. It also shouldn't result in the vilification of those who present charter schools in a positive light.

There's a good chance many charter schools will crop up across Virginia over the next decade.

While we're not prepared to assign a letter grade to the idea, it's certainly something that deserves further study and debate. State and local education officials should move at a reasonable pace and not rush to put a school up on every block by the start of summer. If research finds that charter schools can save millions of dollars while complementing existing public-school offerings, put them in play.

If not, let's move on.