Changing Charter Schools

The State Legislature is making good on its promise to change laws that govern charter schools. But some public school advocates say the current bill is too far-reaching.

It was expected that the new Republican majority in the state legislature would move quickly to lift the cap of 100 charter schools statewide. A bill introduced last week by State Senator Richard Stevens does that, and much more. The bill also would allow charter schools to get state money for building acquisition and create an oversight commission separate from the department of public instruction. Some public school advocates had pushed for changes that would require charter schools to provide transportation and bar the schools from serving a specific student population. Neither recommendation is part of the current bill. The Senate subcommittee considering the bill will take up further discussion this week.