Proposed Changes in Charter School Law Raise Educators'Concerns
A bill expanding Wisconsin’s charter school law “could lead
to dire unintended consequences,” according to WEAC/WFT testimony
at a legislative hearing December 2.
Main provisions
of AB 631 - Repeals requirement for charter schools to be instrumentalities
of school district and for personnel to be district employees.
- Eliminates requirement for preference in awarding contracts
to charter schools that serve children at risk.
- Allows private non-religious schools to convert to charter
schools.
- Permits CESAs to create charter schools.
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The Assembly Education Committee heard testimony on Assembly Bill 631,
which eliminates the requirement that charter schools be instrumentalities
of school districts, and increases autonomy of charter school operators.
WEAC representatives told the committee the bill may seem to increase
educational opportunities, but in reality could harm children’s
learning opportunities.
“By any standard, the existing charter schools in Wisconsin are
innovative, creative and leaders in the areas of educational reform,”
according to prepared testimony by WEAC IPD Director Katie Stout, IPD
Consultant Russ Allen and Legal Director Bruce Meredith. “AB 631
must be scrutinized carefully to prevent a system where entities that
sponsor a charter school are given so much autonomy that they go beyond
the true intent of serving the public interest.”
The three told legislators that charter schools “provide districts
with an opportunity to establish innovative programs in Wisconsin’s
public schools. The present charter school law works because of a strong
commitment in maintaining accountability to the students, parents, educators,
school boards, politicians, and the broad-based community that create
them.”
WEAC and WFT believe the existing law should not be changed. “The
role of charter schools should be to enhance the excellent system that
we already have,” Stout, Allen and Meredith told the committee.
“When charter schools are instrumentalities of the local school
district, they are in a position to have a positive effect on the children
who remain in the public schools. When they become divorced from the
public schools, they run the risk of undermining our current system
of public education.”
WEAC and the WFT pointed to Arizona’s experience as reason to
proceed cautiously.
Arizona’s charter school system, which has few restrictions, has
experienced serious problems, including the improper use of public dollars.
“Our children should not become part of a poorly designed, trendy
experiment,” the three said.
The committee did not immediately vote on the bill.
Posted December 5, 1997