Published: February 1, 2000

A Fighting Chance: October 1995

"I'm in it for the long haul. And it may be a very long haul."

Those prophetic words were spoken more than four years ago by Cordia Booth, a Denver middle school teacher who dreamed of opening a charter school in the Mile High City. After a long and difficult battle, Booth, now 56, may finally get her chance.

Booth, along with colleague Noblet Danks, first conceived of Thurgood Marshall Charter School in 1993 when Colorado lawmakers passed legislation allowing the creation of up to 50 new charter schools statewide. As envisioned by Booth and Danks, Thurgood Marshall would serve about 200 students. Classes would be small, with 20 pupils or fewer. There would be no counselors, no librarian, and no security guard so that as much money as possible would go toward classroom instruction. The curriculum would be rigorous. Discipline...