Charter schools drain much needed funds
Post a commentIN PHILADELPHIA, 2,700 blue-collar workers recently agreed to contribute more than $100 million from their own pockets to save the city's schools and help close the school district's budget shortfall. For these men and women who work every day to keep our schools clean and safe, this is a very real sacrifice. Most earn less than $40,000, even after years on the job.
Their sacrifice has brought an end to one battle for now. But the larger war against our public schools and the working people of our state goes on.
The immediate threat is to the 40 or more Philadelphia public schools that are on the chopping block for possible closure, putting at risk the academic future of the children who attend these schools and the jobs of the people who keep the schools running.
Philadelphia is the country's fifth-largest city and has the eighth-largest school district. But it is starved for cash largely because of the policies of Gov. Corbett and the Republican-controlled
Their sacrifice has brought an end to one battle for now. But the larger war against our public schools and the working people of our state goes on.
The immediate threat is to the 40 or more Philadelphia public schools that are on the chopping block for possible closure, putting at risk the academic future of the children who attend these schools and the jobs of the people who keep the schools running.
Philadelphia is the country's fifth-largest city and has the eighth-largest school district. But it is starved for cash largely because of the policies of Gov. Corbett and the Republican-controlled
Posted: August 22, 2012 - 12:06am
Between now and Nov. 6, you will hear a lot about the charter school constitutional amendment that’s on the general election ballot.
This amendment would authorize the Legislature and the governor to establish a state committee with the power to approve applications for charter schools turned down by local school boards.
Here is some information to keep in mind during the debate.
You will be told that the amendment is necessary so that parents have more “choices” for their children. You will also be told that local school boards and the “education establishment” won’t approve new charter schools.
In fact, the number of charter schools in Georgia has risen for more than a decade. There were