The war on educational freedom
Published March 21, 2019
by Bob Luebke, Civitas Institute, March 20, 2019.
North Carolinians like their charter schools.
A January 2019 Civitas Poll found that 76 percent of respondents “somewhat” or “strongly” supported charter schools. Only 16 percent of respondents opposed charters.
Since 2008 enrollment in charter schools has increased 252 percent.
Since lifting the cap, the number of open charter schools in North Carolina has almost doubled.
Such numbers indicate better educational opportunities for students. They also point to the high levels of satisfaction among students and parents alike.
However, success has its enemies. Many of them are wed to the public schools and view charters and traditional public schools in a zero-sum tussle.
That opposition crystallized last week when Senators Dan Blue, Jay Chaudhuri and Mujtaba Mohammed introduced legislation (SB 247) calling for a joint legislative study committee to address—among other things – how charters impact local school administrative units and how charter schools compare academically with local public schools. Most importantly however, the legislation also caps charter school enrollment until after the proposed study is completed.
Of course, capping charter growth is the real goal. It’s interesting to note that bill sponsors made sure Democrats had a majority (6) of appointments on the Joint Legislative Study Committee, while Republicans only had four appointments.
Such provisions may be necessary to ensure the outcome anti-charter advocates want, but they may also work to kill the bill.
The legislation raises concerns about charter schools’ impact on public schools, transparency and accountability. These are tired, flawed arguments which have already been addressed.
However, a larger question begs to be asked – and answered; why are so many families seeking other educational options for their children?
Ignoring that question and focusing on the impact of charters on traditional public schools reveals the real concern of the bill’s proponents, which is protecting a failing system – not finding out why a steady stream of parents are seeking other options.
Regarding questions of accountability and transparency, of course, charter schools need to be both. However, there is more than one way for schools to be accountable. Since parents choose charter schools and can pull their child from a school if they aren’t satisfied, schools are ultimately accountable to the parents. Regrettably that’s not the case with many traditional public schools.
Charter schools are public schools but are different. They have different regulations, curricula and governance. Comparing charters using the metrics of traditional public schools is a disservice to both.
That charter schools have a waiting list of approximately 55,000 students speaks volumes.
SB 247 limits the educational freedom that North Carolina parents want and tells families that we know best how and where your child should be educated.
It’s a view that has been tried, failed and is out of step with North Carolinians.
March 21, 2019 at 10:32 am
George Barr says:
One possible solution is to put traditional schools and charter schools on equal footing with regard to regulation, that is, unfetter traditional schools. I think that there is already some movement in this direction in our Legislature.
March 24, 2019 at 10:52 am
Norm Kelly says:
Democrats are beholden to their teachers & state employees for support. Without teachers, how many democrats would win election?
It's obvious that at every turn democrats work for the teachers and unions that continually support them with money and votes. As much as democrats claim they are 'for the children', their actions prove otherwise. As has been said many times, and usually proves true, follow the money. As democrats get paid to run for office, they end up supporting those who paid them to be there.
This is true of most politicians. I know. I can hear all the libs who stumble across my response making comments about how Republicans do the same thing. Only real challenge is socialists only whine when it's pointed out that democrats did it first, did it more & longer, and only complain when the same tactics are being used against them. Bottom line still is that democrat pols are NOT for the children but instead are out for themselves. Again, follow the money.
If pols were interested in education of children, wouldn't they want to allow more parents to choose the school that best fits the child and provides the best education for the child? Of course. But the point is socialists insist on indoctrination not education. Why do you think so many millenials support socialist candidates, and why the democrat party has moved so far toward socialism? Cuz public school indoctrination is working. And democrats don't want to give up their control. Look at their policies - all of them increase democrat/socialist control of day-to-day life! Starts with education. Expands to health care. Then comes religious beliefs. Watch what socialists are doing, and you'll see they are well on their way to having a trifecta!
Only well-educated, actually taught to think, voters will maintain our republic. Only indoctrinated, under-informed, willingly misled voters will endorse and support the failing socialist system. Hence democrat support for public schools only, no parental choice.
