One Step Closer to School Choice in the Commonwealth
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 3, 2017) –Today, the Kentucky House of Representatives took the first step in making Kentucky the 44th state, plus the District of Columbia, to establish public charter schools. House Bill 520 gives our state another tool to provide every Kentucky child with a high quality education, regardless of their zip code. This action also empowers parents to make the educational decisions that they feel are best for their child, not the government.
HB 520 grants local boards of education the ability to authorize public charter schools, with denials being appealed to the Kentucky Board of Education. If the Commissioner of Education, who has extensive experience in the development of public charter schools, were to override the decision of a local school board, then the KBE and the local board would have joint oversight for a period of time.
This bill allows for open enrollment within the district, with students on free or reduced lunch and in low-achieving schools getting the first preference. Low income students, who often struggle to escape from poverty due to a poor educational environment, stand to benefit the most from this policy.
“I am very pleased by the House’s passage of this critical piece of legislation,” said Representative Carney. “As I have stated time and time again, the vast majority of Kentucky students will continue to be educated within the traditional public school system, which I am a proud product of. However, the establishment of public charter schools will allow students in predominantly urban areas to receive a higher quality, more specialized education, which will better equip them to learn, grow, and become a productive member of our workforce.”
Charter schools are governed by an independent board of directors. Also, they have a much more relaxed regulatory environment and autonomy, in exchange for higher performance standards. Additionally, charter school teachers, who are required to participate in KTRS just like every other teacher, are given freedom to teach to their student’s needs, not to state mandates.
Further, public charters will be subject to all of the same requirements as traditional public schools when it comes to state testing, transparency, safety, and finance. They also will be required to hire certified teachers
“After experiencing a full day of debate on this issue, both in committee and here on the floor, it is clear to me that passions run high, and this is an emotional issue,” added Carney. “While I have immense respect for the opinions of members opposed to this bill, one thing is clear: a one size fits all system does not work for all students. Thanks to this legislation, many struggling students, trapped in failing schools with low growth rates, will no longer be left behind.”
The legislation now moves to the Senate for approval, and then on to Governor Bevin, who has pledged to sign HB 520 into law.
