A reader in California asks for help to fix one of the charter reform bill that has a big loophole.
He writes:
“Thank you for all you do for public education. In California right now are 4 assembly Bills – AB-1505 – AB-1508.
“AB-1508 in particular is intended to enable local school districts to consider the financial, program and facilities impacts when approving/denying new charter petitions. This leaves a huge gap for districts to have a say in renewing charters that were imposed on the districts by the California State Board of Education despite denial at the local and county levels.
“Would you be able to alert your readers in California to contact the bill’s authors before it goes to the floor for a vote to add language to AB-1508 to apply to charter renewals as well as new petitions?
“If enough Californians can respond, we may be able to make this proposed law even stronger to bring back local control over the 1323 charter schools in operation in the state.
“AB-1508 sponsors are CA Assembly Members Kalra (author), Bonta, McCarty, O’Donnell, Smith and CA Senators Beall and Skinner.”
Reblogged this on Crazy Normal – the Classroom Exposé and commented:
Help save California’s public schools from the corrupt corporate charter school vampires.
This idea is righteous, and should have been, from the get go, part of charter legislation enacted in the past. Right now, though, I have to say I am pleased with the current wording of AB-1508. It’s a powerful bill, but not so strong as to put off potential fence sitters in the California Legislature. Right now, making it possible to close existing charters on financial instead of “performance” concerns would give the CCSA too much ammunition to fight it. Right now, the CCSA’s claim that charter regulation is a “scorched earth” endeavor is a big ole’ lie. I’d say let’s keep it that way, for now. I don’t want to see charter parents justifiably protesting the possible closing of the schools to which they already send their children. We should push for, and are pushing for restrictions on charter growth. Restrictions on existing charters should be a fight for a day soon to come, but not just yet.
@Ash_Kalra @RobBontaCA @AsmKevinMcCarty @AsmPatODonnell @AsmChristySmith @Jimbealljr @NancySkinnerCA Close the loophole! Add language to AB-1508 to apply to charter renewals as well as new petitions.
Thanks for the twitter handles. I will tweet them now!
The original charter law should have listed as a justification for denying a charter language such as the proposed language from AB 1508.:
“The charter school would have a negative financial, academic, or facilities impact on neighborhood public schools or the school district.”
This may be the time to get AB 1508 past that justifies rejection of a charter if it harms public schools, but not the time to win passage if charter renewals are also included in the legislation.
The wealthy forces of privatization nearly won State Superintendent race. Adding on renewal to AB 1508 may not been so much a closing a loophole but means of mobilizing the privatization forces to defeat AB 1508.
It makes more sense to me to create a separate bill than to include by amending AB 1508 charter renewals and putting AB 1508 at risk of defeat.
Also, consider, that under California Education Code, student achievement is “the most important factor in whether to grant a charter renewal”. Therefore, adding additional justification for rejecting renewal will be subordinate factor and not have the same weight as in rejecting a start-up charter petition wherein all factors have the same weight.
California Ed Code 47607(3) (A) “The authority that granted the charter shall consider increases in pupil academic achievement for all groups of pupils served by the charter school as the most important factor in determining whether to grant a charter renewal.”