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Public
Charter School Act Returns to General Assembly
By
KRISTIN SETTE
Capital
News Service—ANNAPOLIS
Maryland
lawmakers are making a new attempt to pass charter school
legislation this year, despite the fact that bills regulating
the public, secular schools have stalled for the past four
consecutive years.
A new
bill introduced this week in both General Assembly chambers
gives county boards of education the power to approve charters
for the schools and set their admission standards.
Sponsors
of the Public Charter School Act of 2003 hope this year will
be different because Gov.-elect Robert Ehrlich supports the
idea. And, considering the state's budget problems, some believe
legislators might be more willing this year to approve legislation
that could provide access to federal grants.
To date,
Maryland is one of just 10 states without a charter school
law, according to the Center for Education Reform in Washington.
Since
1999, Maryland lawmakers have sponsored bills regulating charter
schools, but each has been unsuccessful. Last session, House
Bill 131 passed both chambers but died after being referred
to a conference committee.
Without
a law on the books, proponents say those interested in opening
charter schools in Maryland are unable to apply for federal
funding for start-up costs, and students enrolled in underperforming
schools are left without many options.
"This
is the year for it," said Sen. Janet Greenip, R-Anne Arundel.
"This year, we need the federal dollars."
Passing
the bill would indicate the state recognizes charter schools
as a legitimate alternative to public education, said Delegate
John R. Leopold, R- Anne Arundel. Leopold, who has backed
legislation since 1999, said he, too, hopes the bill will
pass.
"I'm cautiously
optimistic that with the support of a governor who is an advocate
of reform, we should be able to make progress," he said.
Ehrlich
clearly supports charter schools, a spokesman said Friday,
but the governor-elect is not commenting on this year's proposal.
Despite
legislators' optimism, both supporters and opponents of charter
schools see problems.
"There's
no meat to this bill at all," said Anna Varghese, director
of external affairs for the Center for Education Reform. "It's
a prime example of what should not reach the governor's desk."
Varghese
said she objects to language in the bill that places the power
to designate charters with local school boards. The bill also
says if a county board denies a charter school application
and the state board reverses the decision, the state shall
direct the local board to grant the charter.
But according
to Varghese, that provision still is restrictive.
The Center
for Education Reform supports legislation that allows various
entities to establish charter schools, such as universities
and public officials, Varghese said. She added that she'd
rather see no legislation passed than the bill proposed.
"States
that start off with weak laws, it's a really, really difficult
process to get them improved," Varghese said.
The Maryland
State Teachers Association might be more willing to support
legislation that holds charter schools and their employees
to the same standards as public schools, said President Pat
Foerster.
But at
the same time, Foerster questions whether charter schools
are really the answer for students who are struggling in the
classrooms.
"I think
it is important, first of all, to ask the question: Exactly
what type of problems do we have (in public schools) that
charter schools can make such a huge difference in students'
achievement?" Foerster asked.
"Are we
sure we cannot deal with some of the issues that charter schools
are supposed to deal with, within the regular school setting?"
Some supporters
of the legislation say MSTA's concern is that parents will
lose faith in public schools.
"If the
(charter) schools do better than the public schools, it makes
them look bad," said Sen. Alexander X. Mooney, R-Frederick,
whose district is home to Maryland's first and only charter
school.
The school
in Frederick was approved last year, thanks to a county law
that diverts public money to private schools. Outside of Frederick,
other boards have been reluctant to approve charters, as in
the highly publicized debate over The Jamie Escalante Charter
School proposal in Montgomery County.
The school
was denied an application several times.
Mooney
said it's time for Maryland to catch up to other states: "It's
something we're behind in doing."
1/10/03
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