Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 4, 1995 TAG: 9509050001
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: DAN CASEY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
- Michael Spinelli, Roanoke
The background:
Nineteen states have passed legislation allowing groups of parents and teachers to set up ``charter schools'' - publicly funded schools that are in many instances free from policies established by the local school board and regulations handed down by state governments. Ten more states are considering it. Proponents argue that charter school programs put control of local schools in the hands of parents and teachers, rather than bureaucrats. But opponents claim that funding for charter schools often comes at the expense of other public schools. And they fear that it will lead to resegregation, with whites gravitating toward charter schools and blacks being left in a public school system from which funds have been drained.
The General Assembly's role:
Charter schools will be allowed only if the General Assembly approves the idea. It has shot down two previous attempts. But a panel of delegates and senators is looking at the idea.
The answers
The question was directed to the candidates for the state Senate seat which covers Roanoke and most of Roanoke County:
John Edwards (D):``I agree completely with the reader. That is why I oppose charter schools. They would divert public funds from public schools to private schools and weaken the public school system. If the reason given for charter schools is to provide more choices, we can and should offer more choice in our public schools so that all children can benefit. In fact, in Roanoke, there are a number of choices available in our public schools to students: the magnet schools, the Governor's School, the Center for Instructionally Talented Youth, and others. The public schools should be strengthened to provide these choices for all students, not weakened by charter school programs. This is one of the main issues in the campaign. I'm saying that the charter schools that [Bell] has proposed will weaken the public schools system, and that's the wrong way to go.''
Sen. Brandon Bell (R): ``In addition to raising academic standards and holding administrators accountable for students' performance, the advantages of charter schools should be applied to all existing public schools. Charter schools allow parents and local teachers, the ones who care most, to be directly involved. But more importantly, it allows them to tailor schools to meet the specific needs of children. With education reform, we should be prudent, and charter schools allow us to use the best ideas of local parents and teachers which can then be implemented in all schools. Nationwide, over 200 charter schools are operating, most with a waiting list of students whose parents want to improve their children's education. Our education system has a great deal of room for improvement. Although it's not the only solution, a charter schools program is one answer for real improvement for our public schools."
Also on the record:
Bell in 1994 and 1995 was chief sponsor of legislation that would allow charter schools to be established in local school districts with the permission of local school boards. Proponents also could sue local boards that rebuffed attempts to establish charter schools. The 1995 bill, which was referred to interim study, was endorsed by Gov. George Allen. In its ``wish list'' for the 1995 Assembly session, Roanoke City Council initially agreed with the School Board's endorsement of charter schools, provided they are subject to local school board control. But the ink was hardly dry on that document when both the School Board and council reversed themselves and issued condemnations of the charter school concept. On council, Edwards led the charge against charter schools, albeit somewhat belatedly.
What other candidates say:
Almost everybody seems to have taken a stand on this one, mostly along party lines. In general, Democrats side with the view of Del. Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County. He believes charter schools will set up turf battles and inequities within the public school system, beginning ``the dismantling process of public education.'' Republicans mostly favor the idea. GOP House candidate Jeff Artis of Roanoke has even set up the Charter School Advocacy Group.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: ***CORRECTION***