THE REAL REASON “CHARTER REFORM” FAILED IN HARRISBURG

THE REAL REASON “CHARTER REFORM”
FAILED IN HARRISBURG

 (Harrisburg, PA)--The failed attempt by proponents of charter schools to force legislation through the House last week resulted in legislation that was so lacking in oversight it raised concerns among far-right Republican members, who eventually joined with Democrats to seriously question and ultimately kill the bill.

The so-call reforms didn’t go far enough or reform well enough to convince those who questioned the industry-lobbied bill on both sides of the aisle.

Some charter proponents insisted that they wanted to use the bill to incorporate "best practices” into their operations so they can perform better; but in reality, they don't need a new law to voluntarily implement any of the successful public transparency, accountability, governance and educational excellence practices already available in the public education system.

Any charter, for profit, private or religious school that receives public tax payer funding can publicly reveal how much of that taxpayer money they actually invest in educating students as well how much they keep as profit, and what kind of educational standards and outcomes the school produces.

Many charter schools do not exceed public school outcomes and in many cases they fall below public school student performances. These charter schools are also free to return surplus taxpayer money back to the public school districts and property taxpayers who fund public school districts across the state.

Any charter, for profit, private, or religious school receiving public taxpayer funding can easily adopt fair and non-discriminatory admissions and retention policies right now, without any new legislation at all. It doesn’t require legislation for charter schools to immediately and publicly reveal all the "great education ideas" they have developed, and the "wonderful education platforms" and best practices they have mastered while their “experimentation” has been completely financed with hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds.

They are perfectly free to reveal their corporate salaries, political contributions, and private contracting transactions right now. They can immediately pledge to operate under the requirements of the Open Meetings Law, the Right to Know Law, and the Ethics Act, just as any public school system in the state does right now.

Every taxpayer funded charter operation in Pennsylvania can voluntarily adhere to the same “sunshine” laws and regulations that apply to the public school systems right now.

Given the fact that, after hundreds of millions of dollars of public funds have been outsourced to these schools and they continually fail to meet the most basic, common sense disclosure and transparency standards, they must face the real reason why real reform of charter governance is a public necessity.

Most of the House, on both sides of the aisle, understand this basic fact of education accountability and that’s why the Senate bill failed in that chamber; and that’s why a new, clean, and balanced bill must be introduced to protect the public interest and protect the taxpayer’s investment in the educational future of the children of Pennsylvania.

About the Citizens Alliance for a Better Future

Citizens Alliance for a Better Future engages taxpayers in a meaningful discussion regarding the decisions being made by our elected officials that will impact all of us for years to come.  Recent cuts in education and other state funding have pushed the financial burdens onto local property owners.  At the same time, officials are implementing new laws that reduce the transparency and accountability of our taxpayer dollars.