|
|
 |
Advocacy Issues and Legislation
The MCPSA is tracking two bills closely on Beacon Hill.
The first would lift the cap on charter public schools in high need communities.
Currently, state laws cap charter school enrollment in individual communities. House Bill 510, filed by Representative Eugene O'Flaherty D-Chelsea, and Senate Bill 314, filed by Senator Jack Hart D-South Boston, would lift the cap allowing more charter schools to open in communities that need them most.
The second piece of legislation we are tracking would drastically change how charter schools are funded.
House Bill 526, filed by Representative Karyn Polito R-Shrewsbury and crafted by school superintendents, would create a separate and unequal funding system for charter public schools.
Facts About the Proposed Change in the Charter Public School Funding Formula
The new formula proposal would create a separate and unequal funding system for the Commonwealth's most challenged students
- The proposal would shift one-half of charter public school funding ($5,000 per student) out of the Chapter 70 formula and into a separate budget line-item, exposing half our funding to annual attacks by the teachers union, superintendents and school committees.
- Essentially, this would create one funding system for district students (Chapter 70) and a separate and less secure one for charter students (a split between Chapter 70 and a budget line-item). Charter public schools are located primarily in urban areas and serve twice as many minority students (51%-26%) and significantly more low-income students than districts (43%-26%). Why should these students be treated differently?
- The $5,000 per student that charters would still receive through the Chapter 70 formula represents less than "Foundation Aid" levels ($8,300), which the state considers to be a minimum level of financial support.
- A charter public school's ability to secure private financing for facilities would be impaired as well; charters save the Commonwealth hundreds of millions of dollars by accessing private financing for facilities, rather than relying on the School Building Assistance program.
The Superintendents are not dealing in good faith
- The Legislature adopted a new charter public school funding formula in September 2004 that was designed by the superintendents. It resulted in $20 million in additional funding for districts. They said then it would ease tensions. Two months later, they proposed this new formula, which would give them an additional $44 million.
- The Commonwealth already has the most generous reimbursement program in the nation, sending money back to the districts after students leave. They get all their money back the first year, 60% the second and 40% the third. This recognizes there are fixed costs and gives districts time to adjust their budgets or backfill seats, in which case they don't lose any state aid. If they feel this is unjust, they should seek higher reimbursement levels - not concoct a plan to jeopardize the future of their only competition.
- Under this proposal, districts are essentially demanding to be paid for half the costs of students they are no longer educating.
Too often state government is criticized for the way it spends taxpayers' money. Charter public schools have provided true value and - through MCAS test results - a measurable return on investment that is often difficult to achieve. Please help us defeat House Bill 526, which will significantly impair efforts to continue this progress.
|
|
|
