In a time of state budget cuts, dwindling property taxes and other unexpected loss of funding, school districts are searching for unique ways to raise revenue, including embracing a charter classification.
San Carlos is home to six schools, of which five are charter schools, at least in classification. Only Central Middle School is without the distinction. Changing to a charter school could mean an increase in funding to the district, a transition currently being explored for that reason. Changes in the economy could mean the financial benefit won’t pencil out. Funding is not the only consideration in this idea that has yet to be publicly vetted by the Board of Trustees past a future budgetary line item.
Superintendent Craig Baker explained the district is working with the state to understand all changes that would occur if Central were converted since changing the school’s classification would also change the district to a charter district. Gathering the information has taken longer than originally anticipated. On Friday, Baker added the change may not occur for another year to ensure the right amount of research is done but that there clearly was an interest from both the community and the Board of Trustees.
Funding for school districts is complicated. California uses two methods: Revenue limit, or paid per student in the classroom, and basic aid, which is property tax-funded. Charter schools are funded like revenue limit districts, however the formula for per pupil spending is figured out differently. Instead of being granted the state-approved per pupil allocation, charter schools receive an average of the per pupil spending in the state — that amount includes districts with higher revenue so the amount of funding increases.
This was one of the original thoughts behind converting other San Carlos schools.
It seems simple enough, but whether a change would generate more revenue is in question given how drastically the economy has changed. Baker noted the average has dropped drastically in recent years. Savings may not make a change worthwhile.
California became the second state to allow charter schools in 1992, behind Minnesota. Originally, a 100-school limit was placed on such schools. San Carlos became the first to open a charter school with the San Carlos Charter Learning Center, which was granted a charter in
