The first order of business in
creating a world-class system of education and learning is to
improve our public charter school law. The law that we passed in 2002,
while a good first step, has some serious flaws.
First, our public charter school law is too
restrictive. There are too many bureaucratic barriers that inhibit the
creation of public charter schools. So many barriers that only one-third
of charter school applications were approved last year. When a local
education agency denies an application, in many cases that decision is
final. They have no chance for review or appeal. We propose allowing all
denied charter school applications to be appealed to the state board of
education.
One of the strengths of our law is a provision
that allows public teacher training institutions the opportunity to
collaborate with local school systems to serve at-risk students. Why
should we not allow private institutions to do the same? In some states
these same institutions could actually grant charters.
Our plan would allow institutions like Cumberland
University, Vanderbilt University or The University of the South to
partner with school systems to serve our students.
It is also far too difficult for students to get
into charter schools. Our public charter school law is vague and
inconsistent on which students may attend a charter school. We will seek
to clarify the law and extend the opportunity to attend a public charter
school to more students.
