Duncan Says Hands Off Charter Schools

While Ohio has spent a good deal of time debating the future of charter schools in the Buckeye State, United States Secretary of Education continues to make it clear that any state that impedes or obstructs the use of charter schools as a part of school reform efforts risks losing out on federal education funding. The Washington Post recognized and offered support for Duncan's position on charter schools.

An estimated 365,000 students are on waiting lists to get into charter schools. More than half of all charter schools across the country report having to disappoint parents who want their children in better schools. Yet many states, for reasons that have nothing to do with sound educational policy, discourage or even forbid the growth of charters. It's a ridiculous situation, and we hope that Education Secretary Arne Duncan is serious about not rewarding states hostile to charter schools.

Mr. Duncan recently put states on notice that they risk their shot at millions of dollars in federal stimulus money if they are not open to public charter schools. As a former head of Chicago's public schools, Mr. Duncan knows firsthand the benefits of charters. Freed from the constraints of union contracts and one-size-fits-all school policy, they've been able to innovate successful new approaches to learning. They give parents an important choice about where their children go to school and, in many cases, are the best bet for a decent education.

Tennessee appears to have taken Duncan's warning to heart. Legislation designed to expand charter schools in Tennessee that had been stalled in the legislature moved forward last week. The bill was approved by the legislature and awaiting a signature by Governor Bredesen.

A proposal to expand who would be eligible to attend charter schools in Tennessee was sent to the governor for his consideration on Thursday.

Charter schools are funded with state and local tax dollars but don't have to meet some of the state regulations regular schools do as they try to find innovative ways to improve student learning.

Under the proposal -- which passed the Senate 27-2 and the House 79-15 -- children in school systems with at least 14,000 students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches would be eligible to enroll. Preference would be given to students with failing grades or those from failing schools.

"I'm a strong believer that we need to have a variety of options in our portfolio for children," said Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Jamie Woodson, a Knoxville Republican and Senate sponsor. "One shoe doesn't fit every child, and it's just one more tool in our tool box to provide excellent choices for children in Tennessee."

The measure also would cap the number of charter schools in the state at 90, and limit the number to 20 in Nashville and 35 in the city of Memphis.

The only dissenting Senate votes were from Democrats Charlotte Burks of Monterey and Beverly Marrero of Memphis. Both have said charter schools absorb funding that should be going to regular public schools.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis agrees charters shouldn't replace public schools but said they have a place.

Sixteen charter schools operate in Tennessee and 10 have been approved to open in August.

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen has indicated he would sign a charter schools expansion into law.

"I think they can be an important contributor to the solution of the issues, particularly in areas where the public schools are not working the way they should," he said.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has warned that Tennessee could lose out on more than $100 million worth of federal stimulus money if it doesn't expand access to the schools.

What, if anything, does this mean for Ohio?

As you may remember, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland first proposed a substantial change to charter school funding that would cut funding to charters by 20%. After listening to literally hundreds of parents, teachers and students beg to maintain their schools and choice, the House cut funding to charters another $20 million dollars and added numerous restrictions aimed at closing Ohio charter schools. To no one's surprise, the Ohio Senate stripped the restrictive provisions and funding reductions from the budget bill setting up charter schools as a major point of discussion by the conference committee.

While we have not heard of any warnings directed at Ohio, it's hard to imagine that Ohio would get a pass from the federal government on this issue.

During budget hearings Representative Dyer suggested that with regard to charter schools we "need to begin the healing." I agree completely. Charter schools are a fact of life and they can play an important role in a larger reform strategy. More federal money to support innovative reforms would be nice, but Ohio has a better reason to move past the "charters versus no charters" argument: Our viability as a state depends largely on our ability to improve the performance of our entire education system -- and the clock is ticking.