He said it was a risk, with charter schools basing their funding on results, but said better results was exactly what Maori students needed to aim for.
"Show me the accountability for those schools who fail our kids, there isn't any."
Mr Bird said Maori under-achievement had been an issue for generations and making proposed charter schools accountable for getting results was a good step forward.
He said Maori organisations and iwi could have more influence in charter schools, similar to kura-a-iwi schools, and could have input into the curriculum, aiming for higher achievement. Under the charter schools model a school would receive a five-year contract which would be renewed only if the school met its targeted results, set out in its charter.
Partnership Schools Working Group chairwoman Catherine Isaac said charter schools were a tool for lifting educational achievement and addressing educational disadvantage.
The education authority also signed a Kawa Agreement with the Ministry of Education during last week's meeting, which strengthened the accuracy of information given out by the ministry about kura-a-iwi schools, gave support for kura-a-iwi schools and ensured better communication between the two groups.