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I wish I could have taken parents and politician from around the nation to an awe inspiring event held last week in Forest Lake, Minnesota. More than 500 parents, grandparents, educators, kids, and community leaders packed a gym to dedicate the conversion of a former hospital and clinic into the beautiful home of Lakes International Language Academy – a three-year-old charter public school.

Parent Shannon Peterson, her coworkers, and Lakes International are a perfect example of what Minnesota legislators hoped would happen when they created the nation’s first charter public school law in 1991. Peterson, who mentioned that she was actually born in the room now serving as the school’s library, believed passionately in young children learning a second language (extensive research supports her opinion). She spent months on a task force trying to convince the district that a language-immersion option was a good idea. Ultimately, the district declined.

But Peterson won an ally in Cameron Hedlund, another task force member who had been a district teacher and administrator for more than 30 years. He joined her in her fight.  Now the school enrolls about 360 students with more than 450 students enrolled for next year.  I had the pleasure of meeting some of those amazing students and their families.

Forest Lake grandparent Shirley Hallberg proudly introduced me to her daughter and her granddaughter, a Lakes International student. Her oldest granddaughter, a bright youngster who loves math and history and is taking Spanish at a district middle school, smiled, explaining that her younger sister sometimes helps her with Spanish, which they both study.

Keith Berrier drives his youngster 12 miles from White Bear Lake because he says, “I’ve worked around the world, and learned how valuable a second language can be.”

Lakes International also enrolls some native Spanish speakers. One told me, “It’s good to see my culture studied and respected, along with the American culture, which I love.”

Peterson and Hedlund’s energy, passion, and persistence are what legislators hoped to tap into when they adopted the nation’s first charter public school law in 1991. The charter idea has now spread to 40 states and the District of Columbia. Charters now enroll more than 1 million students, according to the Center for Education Reform. That’s up from less than 100 students in 1992. In Minnesota, we’ve grown from 1 school to 131, and more than 23,000 students.

That growth frightens some educators. They joined last week with some Minnesota Senate Democrats to adopt a moratorium: No more charters beyond those already operating and approved.

Some legislators from both parties are speaking out against the moratorium. House Education Chair Mindy Greiling, a Democrat called the moratorium a “loopy idea.” Forest Lake legislator Robert Dettmer describes Lakes International as “a great option for families.”

A moratorium would also stifle the more than 30 other Minnesota educators and parents who are hoping to open innovative charters, including: a suburban charter helping students diagnosed with attention deficit disorder; a school using the Mississippi River as a theme to help interest students in science, history, math and other vital subjects; and a charter on the Leech Lake reservation in Northern Minnesota, where too many Native American students are failing.

I wish every legislator had been in Lake International’s gym last week. Minnesota and other states should encourage, not block enthusiastic, thoughtful parents and educators – whether in the district or charter public school systems.

Joe Nathan, a former public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change, Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota.