2-27-17
Two school privatization bills have been advanced so far this legislative session. We’ll likely see more.
Such bills take scarce public funds from public schools and divert the money to schools with no public oversight by the state board of public education and no requirement to meet accreditation standards. In other words, no public accountability.
They would permit anyone to teach almost anything in unregulated, unaccountable environments. They are dangerous to our kids and our quality public schools.
HB 376 (Windy Boy) – legal note – Establishes local district charter schools, chartered through a politicized state charter commission, “not subject to the general supervision of the board of public education or the accreditation standards.” In addition to bad public policy and a frontal assault on the board of public education and school accreditation and teacher licensure standards, HB 376 is unconstitutional.
Absolutely nothing prevents a local school district from working with the board of public education to establish a charter school pursuant to rule – 10.55.604. In fact, absolutely nothing prevents a local school district from establishing innovative educational environments with or without the board of public education.
HB 423 (Berglee) – legal note – creates pay vouchers (a mix of state and local
public school dollars) for special needs kids, 504 kids, military dependents, and all their siblings to go to any school they want anywhere in the world.
Heard in House Education, February 15, right along with Rep. Windy Boy’s charter school bill, HB 376. Like HB 376, this is atrocious public policy and unconstitutional. Governor Bullock vetoed pretty much this same bill last session.
What you can do:
Keep track of the bills with our bill status report here. Take action by contacting legislators when we ask. Talk to family and friends about privatization bills and how dangerous they are to our public school students.