This article challenges the charter sector’s growing emphasis on “innovation,” arguing that while charters should modernize how schools are organized and operated, they should avoid experimental approaches to teaching and learning. Responding to claims that charters have lost their innovative edge, the author contends that the most successful charter schools focus on proven practices—strong curricula, effective teacher development, and clear academic expectations—rather than untested pedagogical trends. Ultimately, the piece makes the case that specialization and fidelity to what works, not experimentation, are what best serve students, especially during a period of academic recovery.