Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 2, 1995 TAG: 9501030020
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
State Sen. Brandon Bell believes that most fears of charter schools are unfounded.
By the end of the General Assembly's upcoming session, he predicts, critics will realize that charter schools aren't a threat to the state's public schools.
Bell, R-Roanoke County, has come under fire for his support of the charter school proposal, which has been hailed as the way to free schools from bureaucratic rules and regulations.
Freed of burdensome restrictions, charter schools can choose their curricula, teaching methods and school programs to achieve their educational goals, Bell said.
Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, has blasted the charter school proposal. He has accused Gov. George Allen of trying to undermine public schools.
Cranwell, House majority leader, said charter schools would steal money from other public schools.
"This is an all-out assault on education in Virginia," he said.
Despite the opposition by Cranwell and other Democrats, Bell still plans to introduce a bill for charter schools.
Bell is working closely with Allen's staff to draft the bill. He said members of the education committees in both the House and Senate are keeping an open mind on the issue.
Ten states have approved charter schools; several others are considering them. Teachers and parents operate the schools, which are independent of the school division where they are located.
Several states prohibit private schools from applying for charter status, but most states leave considerable leeway for a variety of organizations to develop charter schools.
Georgia and New Mexico restrict charters to local schools, and Minnesota allows only licensed teachers to apply for charters.
In Massachusetts, the Edison Project, a private, for-profit corporation, has been awarded a charter to create three elementary schools.
At this point, it is uncertain whether Virginia's legislation will prohibit private schools from becoming charter schools.
Allen's Commission on Champion Schools recommended that anyone, including private schools, could apply to become a charter school.
Private schools would have to agree to become public schools if they sought charters.
It is unlikely, but possible, that any private school would want to become a charter school, said Randolph Beales, executive director of the Commission on Champion Schools.
Private schools would have to eliminate tuition fees and have an open-enrollment policy before they could become charter schools, said Beales.
Allen is reviewing the commission's report and has not announced whether he will accept the recommendation that could allow private schools to become charter schools, Beales said.
Allen has included $552,000 in the state budget for the next school year for grants to help cover the start-up cost for charter schools.
The American Federation of Teachers support charter schools in principle. But the union's president, Albert Shanker, has raised questions about them.
Shanker, who is credited with popularizing charter schools, said they won't succeed unless they have challenging academic standards, incentives for the children and a system of accountability for both students and teachers.
Problems have developed in several charter schools that have raised doubts about the concept.
In Los Angeles, the Edutrain Charter School has come under scrutiny because the principal was driving around in a sports car leased by the school and receiving $500 a month toward his rent.
The school, which is aimed at dropouts, spent $7,000 for a retreat for staff members, while teachers complained they lacked sufficient textbooks and supplies.
Enrollment has dropped from 500 to 100 in a year and the Los Angeles school is $1 million in debt.
In Colorado, a charter school has come under attack for failing to provide services to special-education students.
In Michigan, a court has ruled that the state's charter law is unconstitutional.
The court said charter schools do not qualify as public schools because they are not under the exclusive control of the state and therefore can't receive public funds.
The Michigan case involved the attempt by an entrepreneur to seek charter funding for a network of home schools.
by CNB