The movement to create a charter school in the Tooele Valley cleared another hurdle yesterday when the Utah Charter School Board recommended the project for approval. The proposal now goes on to the Utah State Board of Education for final approval next month.

If approved, Excelsior Academy would be the first charter school in the county, and as such might pave the way for other charter and private schools to establish themselves here -- a development we regard as positive and worthy of widespread support.

The idea is one whose time has come. Charter schools have proliferated nationwide in recent years, with 51 now in operation across Utah alone. Of those 51, 40 were opened in the past four years. Clearly, this concept is rapidly finding favor with parents and educators.

Charter schools and private schools shouldn't be universally regarded as a threat to the public school system. Nor should they be taken as a condemnation of that system. In fact, in many parts of the country, these schools augment strong public school systems by offering unique educational options unavailable elsewhere.

Some independent schools cater to children with specific learning disabilities, such as deafness or autism. Others offer all-boys or all-girls enrollment -- a movement in its own right that has regained traction nationally. Others serve a disadvantaged minority group or a particular creed or religious affiliation. Many simply exist because they educate within a different instructional philosophy, use non-traditional methodology and tailor a specific curriculum to a relatively small group of students -- something that is almost impossible for a large school district.

Opponents of charter schools and private schools often claim these institutions drain funds away from school districts by competing for students, and destroy the great melting pot that is the public school system. We say promoting competition and diversity are among the most cherished of American values. The competition a new charter school might represent could be an excellent external motivator to improve public schools. The establishment of such a school would also demonstrate a commitment to educational diversity and an acknowledgment that, when it comes to learning, one size does not fit all.