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This new feature of NCSC News brings you current
state news.
We welcome newsworthy contributions from our readers for this section.
Please send your state news to info@ncsc.info.
Alabama
Alabama will not be the first of the ten remaining states to enact charter
school legislation. Bowing to pressure from the State Department of Education,
the Alabama Association of Schools Boards and the powerful Alabama Education
Association teacher lobby, the House Education Finance and Appropriations
Committee decided to postpone hearing Representative Prattville's charter
school bill. The
Birmingham News (February 12, 2004).
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Arizona
Charter School Students Surpass Traditional Public School
Students in Overall Achievement Growth. A study
by the Goldwater Institute, Human Resources Policy Corporation president
Lewis C. Solmon and Pete Goldschmidt of the UCLA Center for the Study
of Evaluation provides strong evidence that the high performance of Arizona
charter school students is not due "creaming" the brightest students from
traditional public schools. Rather, charter schools generally enroll students
entering with lower test scores who demonstrate annual achievement at
an increase of three points more than their counterparts in traditional
public schools.
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Arkansas
Arkansas Virtual Academy (ARVA) lost its status as a
public charter school as well as state funding when the state legislature
rewrote a guideline governing virtual schools. As a result, the school
will rely on grants for program funding and may even be forced to close.368
students are enrolled at ARVA with another 1000 on the waiting list. The
school would have received $5400 per student (the same amount as traditional
schools). Each student enrolled receives a computer and Internet access
free of charge. iEdx
Eye on Education (March 2004).
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California
NewSchools Venture Fund announced the launch of Pacific Charter School
Development (PCSD) as part of a $40+ million initiative to increase the
supply of high-quality public charter schools in cities nationwide. This
new nonprofit organization will provide financing and facilities development
to high-performing charter schools planning to serve more than 11,000
students by creating 30 new buildings in the Los Angeles area. PCSD was
formed with the goal of enabling charter schools to better focus on student
needs by removing the responsibility for facilities development. Yahoo
Finance (April 13, 2004).
In a preliminary legal decision, Judge Robert Atack ruled that Alianza Charter School can sue Pajaro Valley School Board to retain the right to remain in its current downtown location. The board seeks to move Alianza across town to make room for a new middle school. The school’s charter petition, which received board approval, calls for the school to operate in its existing location until 2008. This case could set legal precedent in determining whether the charter petition is a legal contract. Santa Cruz Sentinel (April 13, 2004).
The California Teachers Association with substantial backing from the National Education Association (NEA) has launched an initiative to investigate unionizing employees in the state’s 471 charter schools. The NEA anticipates that the lessons learned in California will be implemented by union organizers in other states. NEA leaders state that unionized teachers in charter schools will result in greater public accountability, particularly in schools run by for-profit companies. The reception by the state’s charter schools has been mixed. While not supportive of the initiative, the California Charter School Association will not launch a counter offensive. Caprice Young, president of the association maintains that "the best defense against hostile unionization is to have people who are happy working in the schools." and points out that "High-quality charter schools have faculty that are integrally involved in the leadership of the school site," and are therefore satisfied with their working environment. Additionally, an article in the winter issue of the Charter Schools Development Center newsletter provided tips to charter school operators on maintaining a satisfied workforce. Education Week (April 14, 2004).
Administrators of the Global Youth Charter High School are working with the Peace Corps to create a school focusing on the importance of thinking socially, locally and globally. Students will be required to perform three hours of community service weekly and their parents must complete four hours a month. Officials hope to receive a grant from the Early College High School Initiative to enable students to obtain associates degrees while still in high school. Sacramento Bee (April 5, 2004).
A bill that would enable public universities and colleges to start and monitor charter schools was delayed by the Assembly Education Committee due to concerns that the legislation would reduce charter school accountability. Supporters say this legislation would increase oversight while encouraging students to continue their education. This bill is an outgrowth of recommendations from the Legislative Analyst Office report to expand charter school oversight beyond school districts. Mercury News (March 31, 2004).
Citing the need for high quality schools in the Los Angeles area, the Broad Foundation has awarded nearly 3 million dollars to Green Dot Public Schools, a non-profit charter high school network. Green Dot plans to open two schools this fall and an additional eight to 12 more in several years. Los Angeles Times (March 16, 2004).
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District is facing legal action from one of its own schools-the Alianza Charter School. At issue in this case is whether the district can move Alianza across town to accommodate the district’s need for another middle school. While district officials voted 4-3 in favor of the move, the school’s parents and teachers are critical of this decision as it threatens its innovative dual immersion language program. Legal advisors claim that the move violates the school’s charter which states that the school will be located at its existing site. Further complicating matters is the fact that the school’s money is channeled through the district to take advantage of the district’s financial expertise. The district has blocked the school’s access to funds to be used for legal representation. Santa Cruz Sentinel (March 12, 2004).
Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) prepares
its students for careers in the arts while providing them with strong
academic foundations. Students attend school from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30
p.m. and adhere to a strict behavior code. However the rewards reaped
are powerful. Recently dance students performed with the Savage Jazz Dance
Company, a professional group, while the visual arts students had work
displayed at the Oakland Museum. Additionally, OSA students earned the
highest scores on the California Standards Test in the Oakland school
district. Mercury
News (February 29, 2004).
In response to declining enrollment, Alum Rock Union Elementary School
District embraced change and voted unanimously to open its first charter
school, the KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Heartwood Academy.
For the past year, the academy’s future principal, Sehba Zhumkhawala
has been in training for her new position and marketing her school in
the community. The response has been good thus far with over 90 families
expressing interest and favorable comments from the teachers’ union.
The
Mercury News (February 27, 2004).
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) fears that Proposition 39 will enable charter schools to usurp district classrooms and land. Proposition 39 states that public school districts must provide equivalent facilities to charter schools within their boundaries with no qualification of the overcrowding issues that currently plaque some districts. LAUSD Superintendent Roy Romer while voicing support for providing space to charter schools when space is available, stated that his primary responsibility is protecting his schools. He said if necessary, LAUSD will look to the courts to resolve this issue. Los Angeles Daily News (February 26, 2004).
The successful High Tech High whose first class all graduated and enrolled in college will be the model for the two new schools that were approved by the San Diego Unified School District board of trustees. One of these schools will offer international studies, the other media technologies. SignOnSanDiego.com (February 25, 2004).
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Colorado
The State Assembly passed a bill enabling the new State Charter School
Institute to authorize charter schools. The bill also targets charter
school efforts towards helping underserved communities. 21st
Century Schools Project Bulletin: Vol. 4, No. 8 (April
20, 2004).
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Florida
Two charters are exploring the feasibility of creating an environmental
education program for middle and high school students. Hernando's
Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology, a middle school,
and Citrus County Academy of Environmental Science, a
high school, are discussing a partnership that would benefit students
and the schools in terms of academic programs, resources, enrollment,
and funding. Saint
Petersburg Times (February 28, 2004).
The Osceola School Board may file a lawsuit against the state Board of Education for overruling its decision not to authorize anymore charter schools locally due to a lack of state funding. The state has not increased charter school funding to accommodate the opening of new schools leaving many existing schools in a deficit situation. Osceola News Gazette (February 27, 2004).
Because charter schools operate as small businesses, the University of Northern Florida (UNF) will use a $368,000 federal grant to assist charter schools with start-up and management issues. The Florida Center for Independent School Management will be part of UNF's Small Business Development Center and will serve more than 200 charter schools in the state and hundreds of applicants seeking approval for new schools each year. Jacksonville Business Journal (February 10, 2004).
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Georgia
HB 1190 that includes many provisions endorsed by Governor Sonny Perdue
was approved by the house and moves on to the Senate. A feature of this
bill will make the application process easier for charter schools. Atlanta
Journal-Constitution (03/18/04).
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Hawaii
Governor Linda Lingle offers a compromise to legislators
in an attempt to save her plan to break up the statewide public school
system. In addition to breaking up the Board into four publicly elected
boards, the compromise called for capping the number of new charter schools
at 12—23 fewer than she had originally proposed. Charter schools
would be funded based on a formula that considers enrollment and student’s
special needs. House Education Committee Chairman Rep. Roy Takumi expressed
doubts that the governor dialogued with charter school owners prior to
crafting her proposal as they do not support the student-weighted funding
formula. Takumi also indicated that an agreement is close on the new education
reform bill and the governor’s proposal may not be a good fit. Star
Bulletin (April 9, 2004).
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Idaho
Sixteen charter schools united to form a Political Action Committee to
alert the legislature that their movement is growing, organizing and soon
will be requesting increased funding. Idaho
2 News (February 10, 2004).
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Indiana
Four of the charter schools sponsored by Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson
received grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The charter
schools receiving grants are two Indianapolis Metropolitan Career Academies;
the Flanner House Higher Learning Center; and Charles A. Tindley
Accelerated School. Ray McNulty, senior fellow for education for the
Gates Foundation says that 1,500 small high schools have received funding
from the foundation which has the goal of to creating 10,000 small high
schools nationally. Indianapolis
Star (April 7, 2004).
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Massachusetts
The house proposed a temporary fix that would fully reimburse school districts
the Chapter 70 money they would lose to a new charter school. State reimbursements
would drop to 60 percent in 2006, 40 percent in 2007, and to zero in 2008.
Charter school supporters are hopeful that this legislation will reduce
the opposition to charter schools. Marc Kenen, executive director of the
Massachusetts
Charter School Association, says that the reimbursement would have
a major impact on the charter school debate and hopes that it will reduce
the fight for a moratorium on the opening of new charter schools. Charter
school opponents want a more permanent solution and believe that districts
would still lose in the long run as the funding formula underestimates
the total cost of educating a student. Rep. John Rogers, chairperson of
the House Ways and Means Committee, said the House budget includes $37
million to provide full reimbursements. After passing the House, the legislation
would go to the Senate for approval. Berkshire
Eagle (April 21, 2004).
The approval of new charter schools may be severely restricted due to increasing enrollment combined with legislation requiring the board to grant three charters annually in districts where students are performing below average on Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests. David P. Driscoll, Commissioner of Education, said that 152 of the state's 372 districts are nearing their charter enrollment caps and the state Education Department announced that it would not consider charter proposals for Boston. Marc Kenen, Director of the Massachusetts Charter School Association disagrees stating that preliminary research indicates that availability for new charter schools exists in most of the major school districts although Boston, Cambridge, and Malden have reached their enrollment cap and Lawrence and Somerville are close. Boston Globe (March 31, 2004).
MATCH Public Charter High School in Boston is offering recent college graduates a unique opportunity to perform a yearlong public service fellowship in a high-poverty charter school. Fellows provide intensive tutoring for only four students. To minimize the challenges many new teachers face starting in urban, high-poverty areas, MATCH Corps gives top college graduates a chance to focus on student learning before they need to deal with classroom management. 21st Century Schools Project Bulletin: Vol 4, No 6 (March 23, 2004).
Contending that the application of the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School did not meet the standards set by the state Board of Education, three Marlborough school districts are seeking to sue the board over its approval. The school, slated to open in September 2005, plans to enroll approximately 275 sixth and seventh graders and will eventually expand to the high school level with the capacity to serve over 1000 pupils. District school administrators not only object to the review process, but also to the loss of funds that will follow students who withdraw from district schools to attend the charter school. Supporters applaud the innovative teaching methods used by charters as well as the opportunity to opt-out of low-performing schools. Boston Globe (March 21, 2004).
Charter school opponents may not immediately stop the expansion of charter schools as a bill to create a moratorium on charter schools is stuck in the Education Committee. While the moratorium is supported by suburban and rural areas, opposition is stiff in the Boston area. With the potential closure of Catholic schools, Boston parents will be looking at enrollment alternatives for their children. Governor Mitt Romney opposes a cap on charter schools and says he would veto legislation creating a moratorium. Supporters of a moratorium say the charter school funding system hurts traditional public schools which have fixed costs that don't decrease when its students withdraw and enroll in charter schools leaving less money for instruction and supplies for the district. Berkshire Eagle (March 18, 2004).
State legislators and school officials are seeking a moratorium on the opening of charter schools for three years while the benefits and financing of such schools are evaluated. Representative Karen E. Spilka has introduced a bill that would change the funding formula reducing amount of money charter schools receive in state aid. The Boston Globe (February 24, 2004).
Michigan
Up to 20 new charter schools could be opened this fall by Bay
Mills Community College, a tribal college. The new competition to traditional
schools is expected to create controversy as funding follows student enrollment.
While universities are limited in the number of schools they can open,
community colleges have no such limitations provided the schools opened
are within their district. Bay Mills, as a tribal college, has fewer restrictions
and can open schools statewide with additional limitations in Detroit
which has different regulations. Parent Mary Wood is fearful that charter
schools are unsafe and that those run by for-profit organizations are
prone to making decisions based on the bottom line. David Plank, co-director
of the Education Policy Center at Michigan State University, cautions
that there needs to be more accountability in charter schools. Dan Quisenbury
of the Michigan
Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA) points out that demand
is high; 70 percent of the charter schools statewide and 99 percent of
the Detroit charter schools have waiting lists.
Detroit News (March 24, 2004).
Detroit still has a shot at Bob Thompson’s $200 million plan to build 15 charter high schools in Detroit. However, after the debacle four months ago that sparked fierce opposition by the teachers’ unions, the mayor’s change of heart and the political posturing in both Detroit and Lansing, Thompson may decide to take his money elsewhere. Detroit News (February 25, 2004).
Central Michigan University (CMU), the largest university authorizer of charter public schools in the nation, recently announced the opening of its charter application process. Although no new charter schools can be authorized due to the state imposed cap, CMU wants to develop a pool of applicants for future review. Central Michigan Life February 20, 2004.
How much control can private companies have over public education? This issue may be decided by the judiciary when two fired board members of Metro Charter Academy bring their case to court. The Detroit News (February 17, 2004).
Minnesota
The Metro Lakes Athletic Conference will bring athletics to charter schools
in the Minneapolis area. Schools will compete in boys' and girls' soccer,
volleyball, basketball, and baseball. Star
Tribune (March 28, 2004).
New Hampshire
Despite passing charter school legislation in 1995, there are presently
no charter schools operating in the state at this time. However, this is
about to change as four schools have received local approval and are slated
to open soon and 15 more are working toward planning grants. Several grants
are available for exploration, start-up, and implementation. Union
Leader (March 1, 2004).
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New Mexico
Governor Bill Richardson proposed $27 million in capital spending to help
create charter vocational schools and to help equalize funding between charter
schools and traditional public schools. Education
Week. (February 4, 2004).
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New York
To inform New York State legislators of the benefits of charter schools,
the New York Charter Schools Association
has launched an "ad campaign" in the Legislative Gazette, a publication
that reaches most legislators and staff in Albany. The ads focus on parent
satisfaction, student achievement, and policy recommendations. 21st
Century Schools Project Bulletin: Vol. 4, No. 8 (April
20, 2004).
Senator Malcolm Smith has submitted an application to open a charter school in the Far Rockaway section of Queens. The Department of Education has already endorsed the application and spokesperson Jonathan Burman says the department does not view the senator’s sponsorship as an issue. However, the state School Boards Association has reservations. Smith’s school, the Peninsula Preparatory Academy Charter School, would be run by the Victory Schools Inc., which manages 10 other schools with a total enrollment of 4,500 students. The K-2 curriculum would focus on English, math and the arts. The state Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on the application April 20. WNBC.com (April 9, 2004).
Tensions increase between traditional and charter schools. The state Education Department needed to use the Comptroller's Office to deduct per-pupil aid from several districts that failed to transfer state funding to charter schools to finance the education of district students attending charter schools. Due to the participation of charter schools, the teachers' and the administrators' unions in Buffalo refused to participate in an annual fund-raiser for field trips and classroom supplies that had raised approximately $400,000 since 1999. In Schenectady, charter school parents said district officials have contacted them urging them to leave charter schools and suggesting that they might be given priority on the waiting lists for the most desirable district schools. New York Wire (March 27, 2004).
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Ohio
A recent report
released by the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation clarifies public school financing.
Bryan Hassel, Chester E. Finn and Michelle Godard Terrell, the authors of
this report, find per pupil funding in Dayton charter schools is lower than
that in district schools. Unlike district schools, in Ohio and many other
states, charter schools cannot generate revenue from local taxes leading
to large funding gaps for charter schools. In Dayton, for example, school
districts receive nearly 30 percent of their funding from local taxes. Therefore,
increased charter school enrollment would result in increased funding for
public schools. The report’s findings are applicable not only in Ohio,
but for charter schools located in other states as well. 21st
Century Schools Project Bulletin: Vol. 4, No. 8 (April
20, 2004).
The Community School Enhancement Act that passed last year sought to encourage more organizations to become authorizers, and to ensure that new authorizers have links to the communities where the schools operate. Organizations eligible to authorize community schools have been expanded to include educational service centers, public colleges and universities, and charitable organizations with an educational mission that have existed for at least five years, and have at least $500,000 in assets. In 2005, the Department of Education will no longer authorize community (charter) schools, but will oversee all of the state authorizers. Most of Dayton’s charter schools are currently authorized by the state’s Department of Education and will close if they do not find new authorizers. The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, located in Dayton, has stepped up to the plate and has applied for authorizer status. The Ohio Charter Schools Association has partnered with the National Association of Charter School Authorizers to open the Ohio Charter School Sponsor Institute to create a curriculum to support the development and training of authorizers. Connect for Kids (March 29, 2004).
Stop authorizing the opening of new charter (community) schools or we’ll pursue a statewide ballot referendum to close them, voted the Ohio Federation of Teachers on March 26, 2004. The resolution calls on the legislature to place a moratorium on the opening of new schools until the existing programs can be evaluated to ensure accountability. The proposed moratorium does not apply to the 46 schools sponsored by public school districts. Ohio has 179 charter schools operating this year and receiving approximately $290 million to serve enrolled according to Tammy Ridout, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Education. Toledo Blade (March 27, 2004).
Despite increasing popularity with both students and their parents, many cyber charter students in Pennsylvania and Ohio are not performing as well on standardized tests as others in their grade level attending traditional schools. Some attribute the low test scores to a number of factors including the operation of online schools by for profit organizations, a lack of accountability, and the higher percentage of at-risk students enrolled. Wired (March 15, 2004).
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Oregon
The Association
of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) and the Oregon
Department of Education (ODE) will sponsor daylong workshop
on April 22nd for school boards and charter school applicants. ODE currently
sponsors two charter schools and has turned down applications to sponsor
two more, including one by a Eugene group focusing on the philosophy of
peace. "I think we have reached a point where charter schools are no
longer controversial, but part of the fabric of public education."
states Rob Kremer, director of the Oregon Charter School Service Center
in Portland. However Kris Kain, the president of the Oregon Education Association,
has concerns that charter schools divert funds from public education. Joni
Gilles, ODE charter school specialist, will describe the three types of
charter schools that have evolved in her report to the legislature: those
based on specific instructional methods such as Montessori or phonics; those
targeting at-risk students; and those in rural areas that may be in danger
of closing due to declining enrollment and financial instability. Democratic
Herald (March 24, 2004).
Joni Gilles, charter school specialist for the Department of Education views the charter school movement as being firmly established with over 40 charter schools already in operation and another 15 tentatively scheduled to open next year. The state expects to receive $5 million in start-up money for charter schools next year from the federal government. Teachers’ unions are vocal critics of charter schools claiming that they divert funds from the public school system. However, charter school supporters point out that charter schools are able to serve students who might fail in traditional schools. To date, 13 charter schools have been in existence long enough to receive a state report card. Only 54 percent (7 charter schools) met Adequate Yearly Performance (AYP) requirements compared to 61 percent in traditional schools. Rob Kremer, director of the Oregon Charter School Service Center attributes these statistics to the fact that charter schools serve students who have already failed in conventional settings. KATU News (March 23, 2004).
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Pennsylvania
After being twice rejected by the Department of Education, charters were
awarded to two new cyber charter schools - the Achievement House Charter
School based in Rosemont serving ninth through 12th graders and the
Pennsylvania Distance & Electronic Learning Academy Charter School
based in Harrisburg serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
These two schools will join the recently approved Pennsylvania Leadership
Charter School in opening their doors for the 2004-5 school year, bringing
the number of virtual charter schools operating statewide to eleven. Philadelphia
Inquirer (April 8, 2004).
Despite increasing popularity with both students and their parents, many
cyber charter students in Pennsylvania and Ohio are not performing as well
on standardized tests as others in their grade level attending traditional
schools. Some attribute the low test scores to a number of factors including
the operation of online schools by for profit organizations, a lack of accountability,
and the higher percentage of at-risk students enrolled. Wired
(March 15, 2004).
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Rhode Island
Governor Donald L. Carcieri submitted legislation to the General Assembly
to lift the cap off the number of charter schools that can operate in each
community while retaining the cap of 20 charter schools for the entire state.
Presently each community is capped at two, except for Providence which is
entitled to four. WoodsocketCall.com
(February 29, 2004).
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Tennessee
A bill in the General Assembly seeks to ease the restriction on the charter
school admissions process. Currently enrollment is only available to students
in traditional schools who are not making adequate yearly progress (AYP).
This proposal will allow charters to admit dropouts, homeless or poor students
and those who receive special education or English as a Second Language
services. Additionally, it would require districts to allow charters to
use empty buildings rent-free. Tennessean
(February 28, 2004).
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Utah
The House Education Committee approved HB152, creating a Charter School
Board to evaluate and recommend the disposition of new charter school applicants.
The state Board of Education still determines the final outcome and school
districts can still charter their own schools. Salt
Lake Tribune (February 20, 2004).
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Virginia
The Senate approved the Charter School Excellence and Accountability
Act on March 10. Key provisions of this act would enable charter
schools to contract with private higher education institutions; allow applicants
to submit charter agreements to the Board of Education for review and comment
and to include the Board's findings in the application to the local school
board; delete the authority of school boards to limit the number of charter
schools, and increase the maximum charter term from three to five years.
Charter
School News Connection (March 17, 2004).
The proposed Charter School Excellence and Accountability Act headed for the General Assembly after passage by the education committee would upgrade the state’s charter school legislation. If passed, it would provide greater discretion to local school boards and better equip them to evaluate charter applications. Additionally, it would increase the renewal period to five years. Lexington Institute (February 18, 2004).
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Washington
Referendum 55 filed by the Washington
Education Association faces a legal challenge to its wording spearheaded
by Fawn Spady, co-director of the Education
Excellence Coalition. It could take up to two weeks to resolve the issue
leaving only 45 days to collect the 98,867 signatures required. "That is
a tight deadline unless you have your hired signature-gatherers and are
ready to go," Spady said. "Of course, they (the union) have unlimited amounts
of money, so if they really want to qualify it, they can." Petitions for
the referendum campaign have already been printed and would have to be reprinted
if the challenge is upheld. Nevertheless, the signature drive will begin
April 21 as scheduled, with a kickoff event on Capitol Hill. News
Tribune (April 11, 2004).
Not so fast says the state’s largest teacher union, the Washington Education Association as it voted on March 26th to challenge the new charter school legislation. To get this referendum asking voters to overturn the newly enacted charter school law on November’s ballot, the union must obtain over 98,000 signatures by June 9th. The union states that funding for traditional schools is inadequate and should not be diverted to an “unproven experiment”. Supporters cite the success of charter schools among the 40 states that currently authorize them and believe that their innovative curriculum and management will improve the entire public-school system. In addition to the referendum the union also voted to sue the state on the grounds that it's not fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to fund basic education. Other charter school opponents include the Washington Association of School Administrators, the Washington State School Directors' Association, and the League of Women Voters, and several school boards. The Washington Charter School Resource Center is planning a conference for charter school supporters on April 16-18 in Seattle. Co-director Jim Spady, who along with his wife Fawn, has dedicated much of the last ten years to the passage of this legislation, said he’s received many inquiries from teachers excited that charter-school legislation passed, and who want to start one. Seattle Times (March 27, 2004).
Washington becomes the 41st state to authorize charter schools! The charter school bill, approved by the legislature on March 10, 2004, awaits Governor Locke's signature. The governor has already pledged support for this bill and is expected to sign it before the end of March. The bill, which will go into effect on June 11, 2004 caps the number of new charter schools at 45 for the next 6 years, with an additional five in each of the three following years. This limit does not apply to conversion schools. Seattle Post-Intelligence (March 12, 2004).
Will Washington be the 41st state to authorize charter schools? After being voted down twice in the past, this issue is once again before the legislature and may be decided before adjournment on March 11, 2004. Under the bill, 45 charter schools could be established statewide during the next six years. Each school's charter would be up for renewal every five years. Additionally, the bill requires the Washington Institute for Public Policy to study the effectiveness of charter schools and to issue a preliminary report by March 1, 2007, and a final report by Sept. 1, 2008. Washington state residents wanting to call their legislators to weigh in on this issue should call 800.562.6000. For more information visit the Washington Charter Public Schools website.
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Washington, D.C.
KIPP DC Key Academy boasted the largest middle-school math achievement
gains among public schools in the District in 2002. KIPP officials attribute
this increase largely to the training of education consultant Harriett Ball
who advocates a "total body participation" approach to elementary education.
Her use of songs and rhymes to teach math engages and motivates students
helping them recall their lessons. Washington
Post (February 23, 2004).
Wisconsin
Governor Doyle vetoed a bill that would have increased the number of students
eligible to enroll in the 10 Milwaukee charter schools authorized by entities
other than the district school board. The legislation would have enabled
some out of district students to enroll in charter schools. Additionally,
it would have allowed students in grades higher than 4th grade to enroll
in charter schools without requiring that they first attend district-run
schools for one year. The governor explained the veto by saying that education
reform should improve education for all of Milwaukee’s schoolchildren.
Education
Week (March 24, 2004).
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Virtual Charter Schools
Officials in Pennsylvania, Idaho, Ohio and Florida want increased oversight
for how funds are spent at virtual charter schools. These publicly funded
schools are run by boards of directors who are responsible to the entity
that granted their charter. Some boards hire private companies to provide
services while others follow the more traditional practice of hiring staff
as employees of the state or district. Critics are uncomfortable with relationships
between the nonprofit school boards and the for-profit companies that are
contracted to provide services as board members are not prevented from having
ties to the school-management companies. In Pennsylvania, the auditor general's
office is now auditing all virtual charter schools that have been in existence
for two years. Additionally, the state has passed laws increasing the authority
of the Department of Education and making it more difficult for virtual
schools to obtain a charter. When the Idaho Virtual Academy ran out
of money, the legislature appropriated $1.6 million in emergency funding
to keep the school running. School officials say that the legislature deliberately
underfunded the school allocating only half of the funding received by traditional
schools. Idaho’s legislature is currently investigating the amount
of funding needed to operate virtual charter schools. Two pilot virtual
schools were opened in Florida in 2003 to save money and reduce class sizes,
however the legislature has not yet renewed their funding for the 2004-5
school year. Per student funding at these schools is $4,800 - $700 less
than what other public schools receive. Wired
(April 1, 2004).
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