PLEASE FORWARD THIS to more public charter school parents.
The Nampa Press-Tribune has published an anti-charter school editorial in today's paper:
I think it's our duty to react to this so other children can enjoy the benefits our children now enjoy. Never forget: there are 10,000 kids in charter schools in Idaho and 7,000 kids on waiting lists. That's wrong and a moratorium on creating new schools would be counterproductive, to say the least.Now’s not the time to create charter schools
Idaho's Department of Education commissioned a group based in Portland to conduct a study about expanding charter schools in the Gem State. According to a story by The Associated Press, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's survey recommends "Idaho lawmakers and education policy makers consider to what extent public charter schools can be expanded to meet a large demand."
For the record, the study was paid for by federal funds from the Charter School Program grant, so it didn't cost Idaho state taxpayers anything and it didn't take money away from the existing schools budget. And given Idaho Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna's support of expanding charter schools across the state and raising the cap on how many can be created, it's not a surprise such a study would be commissioned.
Nonetheless, the idea of aggressively expanding charter schools at the same time some school districts are giving their teachers pay cuts and eliminating positions is not good public relations. Charter schools are still public schools, after all, so the money needed to create them would have to come from the same public education budget that has already been slashed.
As a general rule, school choice is a good thing. Some students thrive better in nontraditional environments, and charter schools may be just the answer for some students who struggle in traditional schools.
But establishing them creates additional expense, and any such additional expense in an economy that's struggling as much as ours is right now should be held off. It just looks bad to be talking about new schools at a time when existing schools are cutting budgets for such basic things as books and building maintenance.
Idaho Sen. Dick Sagness, D-Pocatello, proposed a temporary moratorium on new charter schools for this very reason in this past session of the Idaho Legislature. The bill didn't make it very far.
The powers that be in Idaho education would be wise to take a deep breath and let the economy get back to solid ground again before raising the limit for new charter schools.
No doubt some of you are fired up and know EXACTLY what you want to write about. If you need some ideas however, here are some things you can talk about in a Letter to the Editor or a posting to the Press-Trib's website:
- Tell your personal story. Mention you know there are parents and students out there searching for better schools - perhaps a charter school will help them, too.
- There is strong bipartisan agreement that success should not have limits. The federal Department of Education and Congress have set aside $5 billion in competitive grant money exclusively for states that are pushing education reform. President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have said repeatedly reform includes the lifting "of caps on the number of allowable charter schools, wherever such caps are in place." (The President said this on March 10 of this year - Google it.) Why is Senator Sagness so far outside the mainstream of his party?
- Republicans get this, too. Governor Bobby Jindal of Lousiana signed a bill last year lifting his state's charter cap, and Utah lifted their cap as well. (Scroll to Recent State Highlights)
- Idaho charter school parents have a 97% satisfaction rate with their children's charter schools. (Google "Idaho department education Wang" and click on the first thing that comes up to see the study yourself.) Is there another institution that can claim a percentage like that?
- 7,000 Idaho children are waiting to get in a charter school. Parents want, demand, and are overwhelmingly satisfied with charter schools.
- The Legislature-created funding formula can be fixed by the Legislature. It's time to fix it to give parents and students what they want: more charter schools.
- Get other great writing ideas from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools website.
Here are the submission guidelines:
- Letters to the Editor must be under 300 words and signed with your name, address, e-mail and phone number.
- Shorter is better. They want to get in as many letters as possible and they're cramped for space since all newspapers are printing fewer pages these days.
- Submit the letter to op-ed@idahopress.com
- Please do it NOW while the editorial is timely.
Also feel free to go to the website and submit a comment in addition to your letter.
PLEASE e-mail me back or call me with any questions. Send me a copy of your letter. Thanks so much!
Briana LeClaire, President
Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families
208.724.6311
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