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Lift The Cap - Let Common Sense Prevail

By Robyn Bagley, PCE Board Chair


Why does it seem like good old common sense never prevails?  
 
Recently, KSL reported that Utah Charter Schools are in high demand stating that, "Here in Utah, 15,000 students are on waiting lists for just 25 of the state's 72 charter schools." These numbers come from a report released by the Center for Education Reform. Kara Kerwin, director of development at the Center for Education Reform says, "There is a 21 percent surge of demand for charter schools over last year." "More and more low-income and minority parents are seeking to move their children from traditional public schools that are chronically failing and underperforming."
 
It's no secret that I am a strong proponent of school choice. That's a tough position to have when you live in a state where very little of it exists. This is a state where K-12 education is dominated by a powerful government monopoly with a stranglehold on the taxpayers' money. But we do have one shining public school choice option in our State - Charter Schools. And they are popular, successful and in high demand. In 1999, there were only seven charter schools with 390 students between them in Utah. In 2011, 80 schools will be open serving 41,000 kids.
 
So that begs the common sense question, why are charter schools capped here in Utah! They're public schools serving Utah students. Why are they treated like the ugly step child when it comes to funding? Charter school students already receive less funding than traditional district school students and are doing an excellent job meeting the needs of the students they serve despite the funding inequity, thank you very much!  
 
Charter schools give parents an important choice about where their children go to school. Let's just revisit those numbers again - 15,000 students are on waiting lists for just 25 of the state's 72 charter schools, leaving tens of thousands of parents and students across our state disappointed! As the 2010 legislative session gets under way next week, parents and students need to send a loud message to Capitol Hill - LIFT THE CAP, LEGISLATORS! - Give us the education choices we are seeking! Give Charter Schools the same respect that you give to the traditional public schools. Stop making excuses. Believe me, I've heard them all, and NO argument passes the smell test.
 
Policymakers need to embrace not reject or stunt the growth of those avenues of education where innovation and a focus on meeting the individual needs of students is thriving. Charters represent one of those avenues. Even the Obama Administration gets that. In remarks at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Conference, Secretary Arne Duncan said, "The charter movement is one of the most profound changes in American education, bringing new options to underserved communities and introducing competition and innovation into the education system." "What I like most about our best charters is that they think differently."
 
Lift the cap.

Click HERE to see the article on UtahPolicy.com