vision2020@moscow.com: Re: CHARTER SCHOOL LEGISLATION
Re: CHARTER SCHOOL LEGISLATION
John Danahy (JDANAHY@turbonet.com)
Tue, 25 Nov 1997 09:04:00 -0800
If someone wished to create a Charter school hear in Moscow, they
would have to apply to the Moscow School District Board of Trustees. This
would be true if it were a new charter school or a conversion of an
existing school. The reason for this is the trustees would be responsible
for the charter school.
As I understand the funding, the money for a charter school would come
from the state funds. In Moscow, that would equate to @$3000.00 per
student. No federal or local source funding would be distributed. For
example, in Moscow we have a $4.25 million override, or about $1400.00 per
student. None of that money would go to a charter school. Please note
these numbers are only guestimates.
Someone would have to assume fiscal responsibility for the state
funding. That somebody is the local school boards. The original draft had
the State Department of Education, (Anne Fox) able to grant a charter
without involving the local boards. The local boards would still have been
fiscally responsible.
What makes this interesting is not the funding, but the lack of any
rules. For example, you could create a charter secondary school which has
as its goal high SAT scores and successful AP test scores. Subjects that
do not contribute to these goals would not be taught. You could create a
secondary charter school which has as its goal graduation at age 16 with
students taught only those skills needed to enter the local work force.
You could design a charter school for 25 students that had only one
teacher. That teacher would teach an integrated program, thus eliminating
the need for specialists. Such a school could even be year round.
The problem with the legislation. at least locally, is where you could
put a new school. This is why the first charter schools will probably be
pre-existing private schools applying for a charter. Also we could see
preschools expanding up through second grade and applying for a charter.
Unfortunately, the SDE and the legislature feel that funding for charter
schools will come from existing education funds. But the students in the
above two examples are not currently covered by the existing funds. Thus
the legislature, if it passes this bill without designating a separate
funding source, will be expanding the total student population covered by
state funding, but not increasing the state funding to maintain current
levels. I.E. the $3000 per student I mentioned earlier could drop
significantly.
The idea is not bad. the need for competition in our schools is
great. But the drain on already limited resources could doom this quickly.
John Danahy
jdanahy@turbonet.com
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