LFC: Charter schools get disproportionate amount of funding
Though New Mexico’s charter schools only serve 7 percent of the student population, they have received 46 percent of public-school funding increases over the past seven years, Legislative Finance Committee staff members told lawmakers Monday.
The Public Education Department countered that the statistics are explainable because charter school enrollment increased by more than 100 percent during that period, and that the state’s funding formula for schools follows the students.
But the issue could lead legislators to again seek changes in the way the state divvies up education funding to school districts based on the number, grade level and types of students they serve. Students who need extra services, such as special education students and English-language learners, are given more under the formula.
During the hearing at the Capitol, Legislative Finance Committee members discussed whether charter schools receive disproportionate funding. The talk focused on the performance, cost and governance of charter schools.
The funding formula gives additional weight to small schools. That benefits charter schools with smaller enrollments, the staff report says.
“Charter schools dilute the amount of state money available to all public schools through size adjustment program units, enrollment growth, transportation, funding and overall cost per student,” LFC analyst Yann Lussiez told the committee Monday.
But the Public Education Department, in a three-page response to the LFC findings, countered that “districts receiving small school size adjustments receive more per student than charters receiving small school size adjustments.”
Using data from six charter schools from around the state, the LFC report also focuses on a number of challenges facing charter schools, such as gaps in oversight and proficiency levels that are, in general, not much better than traditional public schools.
New Mexico has about 100 charter schools. Charters can be authorized either by the state Public Education Commission or individual school districts. Santa Fe, for example, has four charter schools in this district, only one of which — the LFC: Charter schools get disproportionate amount of funding - The Santa Fe New Mexican: News:
SANTA FE – Rapidly expanding charter schools in New Mexico are spending more per student with academic results similar to those of traditional public schools, state program analysts told lawmakers on Monday.
The evaluation of six selected schools out of 97 in the state by staff at New Mexico’s Legislative Finance Committee warned that charter schools are diluting the amount of funds available at all schools as charter schools continue to be authorized independently of the state’s budget process.
The study found that charter schools received $8,663 per student, while traditional district schools received $7,597 during the budget year that ended in June 2015. New Mexico’s charter schools have received nearly half of school funding increases since mid-2007, while serving about 7 percent of all students, the report said.
Presenting the findings to lawmakers, program evaluator Yann Lussiez said state-authorized charter schools with the highest grades tended to have the lowest percentage of economically disadvantaged students.
The study looked specifically at six charter schools with divergent educational approaches and structures. The presentation touched off a discussion among legislators about governance and accountability at charter schools that do not have publicly elected boards.
Representatives from the New Mexico Department of Education agreed with the findings about academic results, but insisted charter schools can better engage students and provide special opportunities.
Matthew Pahl, policy director for the department, said greater administrative oversight is planned.
“We’re working at hiring an auditor that just looks at charter schools right now in recognition of the fact that there should probably be some more oversight,” he said.
The Legislative Finance Committee agreed to sponsor legislation that would prevent double funding of certain students at charter schools under a formula that recognizes rapid enrollment increases. The committee also supports a bill to avoid overfunding of transportation at charter schools.
Charter school directors said they have not received enough recognition for the various ways they address the special needs of their students.
New Mexico had 97 charter schools serving about 22,000 students last year, up from 59 in 2010 and just two in 2000. That steady growth mimics the growth of nationwide attendance at charter schools, which surpasses 2.5 million students.
The state evaluation raised specific concerns about costs and performance at so-called virtual charter schools that provide remote online courses. New Mexico has two virtual schools – New Mexico Connections Academy and New Mexico Virtual Academy – that both have ties to for-profit organizations.
The virtual schools have an average of 41 students per teacher, with much greater demands on middle and high school teachers, and did not provide expected savings on infrastructure costs. The evaluation recommended the creation of new statutory requirements for funding and student achievement at virtual schools.