Since the General Assembly’s 2005 session opened this January, lawmakers have introduced more than 2,900 bills. Some bills are straightforward and popular: S1169 honors the UNC Tar Heels for winning the 2005 NCAA men’s basketball championship. Others, like S622, the state budget, are far more complicated and politicized. Yet, all proposed bills share a common denominator: a “cross-over” date of June 2. To remain viable, a bill must have passed through the House or Senate and “crossed over” to the other body by June 2.
What does this mean for North Carolina charter schools? Unless there is a flurry of activity before June 2, all legislative efforts to raise or remove the cap will be dead in the water. Since the state already has 98 schools − just two shy of the 100-school cap − thousands of families will miss out on the opportunity to choose a school for their child.
Among the charter school bills, S490, the “Charter Schools Managed Growth Act”, seems to have the most support. Yet, this legislation, which would raise the cap by ten schools per year, has languished in the Education Committee since March.
On the surface, this seems odd, as S490 enjoys wide-ranging, bipartisan support. Senator Larry Shaw, the bill’s primary sponsor, is a Democrat, and a number of Republicans are co-sponsors. The state Director of Charter Schools, Jack Moyer, and the Chairman of the State School Board, Howard Lee, have both voiced support for raising the cap by 10 schools a year. Further impetus for the passage of this bill comes from the fact that the state will lose approximately $19 million in federal funding if the cap is not raised in 2005. Add to this the reality that more than 50 North Carolina counties do not offer even one charter school, and many charter schools have long waiting lists. Finally, recent news reports have greatly enhanced the profile of North Carolina charter schools: the May 16th issue of Newsweek names Raleigh Charter as the ninth best public high school in the nation.
So, what gives? Republican Senator John Garwood, Co-Chairman on the Education Committee, has told me that the “leadership” is not interested in raising the cap. The unfortunate reality is that Senator Garwood, a former teacher, opposes giving any type of competition to the traditional public school system.
Just two weeks remain until the critical cross-over date of June 2. Does the Senate leadership possess the requisite moxie to buck the status quo and give this bill a floor vote? I certainly hope so. In the final analysis, however, our General Assembly “leaders” are “led” themselves − by the persuasive and vocal views of constituents and taxpayers. Whatever your views on charter schools, don’t sit this one out.
To learn more about charter schools, as well as the latest education news, visit the Alliance online at www.nceducationalliance.org. Check out the “Headlines” section of our home page, updated daily with articles from every major newspaper in the state. At the Alliance, we are committed to keeping you informed and empowered as we join together to improve education for the children of North Carolina.