The Facts About Non-Instrumentality Charter Schools

By Stan Johnson
WEAC President

Wisconsin has a long history of great public schools and innovations designed to make those schools even better. About 10 years ago, Wisconsin was one of the first states to create charter schools.

Charter schools are freed up from some state regulations to allow greater flexibility and creativity. They are operated by local school boards. School boards have the experience and expertise to run school programs and are accountable through our democratic process both for the money they spend and the success they achieve. WEAC supports the creation and operation of these public charter schools.

However, an entirely different set of charter schools has cropped up in Milwaukee and Racine. There are 11 charter schools operated by entities other than school districts, called “non-instrumentality charter schools.” They are not operated by school boards elected by the residents of their communities. They are not accountable to taxpayers.

In addition, these “non-instrumentality” charter schools are funded by public school districts throughout the state, thus forcing these cash-starved school districts to increase their local property taxes to fund these unaccountable schools in Milwaukee and Racine. The state reduces each school district’s state aids to fund the non-instrumentality charters.

A November 4, 2003, Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo to legislators said the state reduced aid to school districts throughout Wisconsin by $26.4 million this fiscal year because funding was diverted to non-instrumentality charter schools.

Some legislators are proposing to expand these non-instrumentality charter schools, a plan that would cost local taxpayers throughout the state even more.

Supporters of expanding non-instrumentality charters claim the program actually benefits districts throughout the state. The claim is based on the unproven assumption that all these students would go to regular public schools if they did not attend the non-instrumentality charters. In fact, the trend is for private schools to convert to non-instrumentality charter schools, a move that would further reduce state aids to schools.

Wisconsin teachers and education support professionals are dedicated to creating a great school for every child. We are dedicated to education innovation that is proven to help our children and create classrooms that work. We believe the way to create and maintain great schools is through class-size reduction programs such as SAGE, by placing a qualified teacher in every classroom, and by providing up-to-date textbooks and technology in every district.

WEAC also supports innovative charter schools, as long as they are public schools that are run by education professionals and are accountable to the people who pay the bills.

Posted January 15, 2004