The aversion of our educational GOMs (Gatekeepers of Mediocrity) to any sort of progress, however small or incremental, never ceases to amaze me. Several weeks ago, I alerted you to an important piece of legislation, Senate Bill 490, The Charter Schools Managed Growth Act, which needed to be considered within two weeks to stay viable. This legislation, proposing to raise the current charter school cap of 100 schools by 10 schools a year, would infuse our state’s charter school movement with some much-needed energy and growth. Charter school advocates have labored to raise the cap since 1997, but have met with defeat year after year.
Unfortunately, the GOMs have struck again. The North Carolina General Assembly’s magical cross-over day, June 2 (the day on which all non-revenue and non-appropriations bills must “cross over” from one chamber to the next to maintain eligibility), came and went, with absolutely no activity on this critical bill. Despite the heroic efforts of Democratic Senator Shaw and Republican Senator Goodall, S490 failed to even spark discussion, a committee vote, or a vote on the floor of the Senate. What did earn the votes of our legislators? The “Crossover Bills List” on the General Assembly’s web site is filled with 26 pages of active bills, but none challenge the status quo or expand educational options for K-12 students.
This total lethargy toward charter schools is particularly surprising as circumstances this year warrant an increase in the cap. Nationally, the charter school movement is exploding: according to the Center for Education Reform, more than 450 new charter schools opened in 2004-05. A number of states have hundreds of charter schools; Arizona and California each have more than 500 charter schools. Additionally, North Carolina now has a financial incentive to change our 100-school limit. Under the U.S. Department of Education’s Public Charter Schools Program, states are eligible to compete for grants providing for the support and development of charter schools. But our chances of receiving this grant money for 2005 are minimal if legislators refuse to raise the cap, essentially throwing almost $19 million down the drain. North Carolina’s grant is already in the hands of Department of Education officials, but with the understanding that there would be an increase of 10 new charter schools.
Fortunately, there is still a chance for the cap to be raised, albeit through the back door. Actually, charter schools themselves came into existence with a bit of stealth and mystery. Back in 1996, charter school legislation had been discussed, but the idea appeared to be dead. However, the night before legislators passed the state budget, charter schools were added at the last minute, and North Carolinians awoke to the reality of new public schools of choice.
Senate Bill 490 could still become law, if legislators choose to make it part of the budget. Let’s hope they do. If our General Assembly cannot see the merits of adding just 10 new charter schools a year (and with the added incentive of $19 million dollars from the federal government), then the prospects of greater parental freedom in our state are slim indeed.