Public charter schools could win funding for Alabama
By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-11-18 15:37:19 | Word Count: 778
During a year when a recession has ravaged Alabama's education budget and jeopardized its nationally recognized education initiatives, the federal government is dangling a carrot that is at once hard to resist and even harder for Alabama to get. Alabama is in the running for as much as $175 million of a $4.35 billion pot of education money known as the Race to the Top Fund. But the state's lack of legislation allowing the opening of charter schools could work against it in its application if it doesn't make some changes quickly.
The federal government will award the funds to states in two rounds, with some applications due in mid-January and others on June 1.
[ advertisement ]
Charter schools, which are public schools that are free from many of the rules and regulations that traditional public schools follow, are usually allowed autonomy in hiring, school leadership, location and what kind of curriculum it will use to teach the standards that all public schools must meet. Teachers, parents, local school districts, universities, non-profits and some for-profit organizations have started them.
While 40 states have charter school legislation, it has been a controversial issue in Alabama. But the state's quest for its slice of the Race to the Top Fund is putting the contentious issue of charter schools on the front burner during the 2010 legislative session and election cycle.
A sense of urgency
State Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattville, tried to introduce charter school legislation a few years ago and "the whole education family came down around my neck," he said.
Gipson said he was hit with accusations that he was trying to re-segregate schools and that charter schools would take money from public schools. He said that, contrary to the prevailing myth, charter schools are public schools, and he believes they could be beneficial in districts such as the Birmingham City Schools, which have struggled to perform.
He also said that the re-segregation of schools was never his intent and he had offered a bill hoping the education community would help him shape it into something more acceptable.Instead, the bill never made it out of committee.But the allure of millions to save existing programs and overhaul under-performing schools is so great that Gipson is willing to bring the legislation back.
State Sen. Steve French, R-Birmingham, will pre-file a bill for the 2010 legislative session permitting the establishment of charter schools. He said the Race to the Top Fund is the reason why the charter school issue cannot wait.
"You have the federal government saying that here is something that Alabama can participate in if it is dedicated to innovation and changing the status quo," he said. "That's a pretty serious challenge and it would be a mistake by our state if we don't rise to that challenge and put ourselves in a posture to enjoy these funds."
French said he hopes that a sense of urgency would garner bipartisan support, but it is an election year for all members of the state Legislature. He said the biggest opponent of any charter school legislation would be the influential Alabama Education Association.
Though the AEA has put money in both Republican and Democratic races, it has historically backed Democrats for public office.
"It's not by chance that they enjoy legislative success," he said of AEA. "They put a lot of time and a lot of money in during the election year."
AEA is watching this issue closely and it doesn't appear happy with what it's heard thus far, particularly from gubernatorial candidates who have voiced their support for charter schools.
AEA Assistant Executive Secretary Mary Bruce Ogles said AEA would oppose the use of funds from the Education Trust Fund to establish charter schools. It also would oppose anything that would re-segregate schools or leave teachers unprotected.
A pressing issue
Charter schools have become an issue in the 2010 race for governor, with the majority of the now 10 candidates running voicing some level of support for allowing the schools.
While Alabama Republicans don't agree with the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama on much of anything, several like French, Gipson and many of the Republican gubernatorial candidates say the administration is on target on this issue.
