As we work our way through education reform this legislative session, the term, “charter schools”, is stirring up more debate every time it is mentioned.
A charter school is an additional education option for parents who still want to send their kids to public school. Charter schools provide parents, an alternative choice to help kids who may not be succeeding in their current setting.
Charter schools are set up similar to most public schools. Some cater to special needs or specific subjects, but all are held to the same accountability as traditional public schools.
The charter schools in Indiana have been quite successful. The concept began in 2001, when we passed legislation to start the first charter school in Indiana. Since then, the state has 60 charter schools serving more than 22,000 students, not including the more than 3,500 students that are on a waiting list to attend.
In the past, most charter schools have been in major cities, including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Gary. We have received a lot of feedback from voters encouraging the legislature to make charter schools more accessible and available in other areas of the state. In fact, in the “Indiana K-12 & School Choice Survey,” we found that 66 percent of Hoosier voters favor charter schools, while only 16 percent opposed them.
House Bill 1002 addresses this outcry for more charter schools. The bill allows other communities to create charter schools. If a community wants to transform a public school into a charter school, the legislation would require 51 percent of the parents, 51 percent of the teachers, or a school board vote to do so. Currently, the law requires 60 percent of parents or teachers. If after five years of operation, the school wants to go back as a traditional public school, it would take the same regulations to change back.
In addition to many other aspects of the bill, it would require a consistent plan for transferring credit hours to and from charter schools. It also allows schools to lease or purchase an unused school building.
Critics of charter schools describe them as private schools, and therefore, we are not supporting public education. This is not true, as charter schools are indeed public schools that have to comply with the same standards.
This is just one of the many education reform concepts we are debating during this legislation session. I continue to meet with local teachers, principals, and superintendents in our community to hear their input and concerns.
If you have any questions concerning education reform or any legislative issues, please contact Rep. Burton’s office by phone at 1-800-382-9841 or by e-mail at h58@in.gov.
