16 Mar 2024 11:46 am
continued:
Another provision erases the ability of charters to expand cost-effectively. Public bodies, including school districts, often have underutilized or vacant properties. At the same time, many charter schools are growing, and they often have more students who want to attend than their buildings can accommodate.
Current law not only allows charter schools to use excess capacity in school districts, including vacant buildings, it requires school districts to make charter schools aware of these properties. The anti-charter bill would no longer require districts to provide this information and would preclude charters from using district facilities.
These are just two of the numerous anti-charter poison pills in the legislation. Taken together, the bill is educational malpractice and fiscally irresponsible.
The good news is that Gov. Polis, like other Democratic Colorado governors, is a supporter of Colorado’s public choice system, including our system of charter schools. He is also a proud charter school founder. Charter parents and educators across the state, especially in communities of color, are hopeful that he is ready to uncap his veto pen if this extreme, measure reaches his desk.
It is deeply disappointing that legislators who speak often about the need for greater diversity and equity across Colorado have launched this effort to close an effective and valued path to quality education options for diverse communities. This extreme measure, which puts special interests above the interests of kids, families and communities, should be solidly defeated.
Another provision erases the ability of charters to expand cost-effectively. Public bodies, including school districts, often have underutilized or vacant properties. At the same time, many charter schools are growing, and they often have more students who want to attend than their buildings can accommodate.
Current law not only allows charter schools to use excess capacity in school districts, including vacant buildings, it requires school districts to make charter schools aware of these properties. The anti-charter bill would no longer require districts to provide this information and would preclude charters from using district facilities.
These are just two of the numerous anti-charter poison pills in the legislation. Taken together, the bill is educational malpractice and fiscally irresponsible.
The good news is that Gov. Polis, like other Democratic Colorado governors, is a supporter of Colorado’s public choice system, including our system of charter schools. He is also a proud charter school founder. Charter parents and educators across the state, especially in communities of color, are hopeful that he is ready to uncap his veto pen if this extreme, measure reaches his desk.
It is deeply disappointing that legislators who speak often about the need for greater diversity and equity across Colorado have launched this effort to close an effective and valued path to quality education options for diverse communities. This extreme measure, which puts special interests above the interests of kids, families and communities, should be solidly defeated.