By Mary Romaniec
Grafton News Reporter –
Grafton Public Schools formally opposed Ballot Question 2, which would lift the cap on the number of charter schools allowed in Massachusetts.
At Tuesday’s School Committee meeting, members expressed concern that the language for the proposed law would mean scores of charter schools would be added, taking revenue from local public schools.
Grafton joins a growing list of districts throughout the Commonwealth who have formally declared opposition.
If approved by voters the ballot measure would allow per year to authorize up to 12 new charter schools, or enrollment expansions in existing charter schools, by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
If the measure is voted down, the current rules and regulations for adding charter schools would remain. Those in favor of the measure suggest the additional schools and expansion are needed to address the 33,000 students currently on waiting lists.
The annual expansion piece was troubling to Grafton’s School Committee, especially with the lack of regulations on where the schools could be located, they said. An approved law would mean that statewide charter school enrollment would encroach into the public school population by 1 percent a year.
If the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education receives more than 12 applications then the priority would go to areas where the districts are struggling on statewide assessments.
The caveat, according to School Committee Chair Laura Often, is that there are fewer regulations for charter schools, including acceptance of students with special needs or English language learners. Charter schools are also not accountable to local communities for performance or other regulations governing schools, she said.
Those in favor of the law say charter schools are indeed public schools, but allow students the opportunity to achieve at a higher level with full accountability to the state Board of Education. They argue that the 1 percent annual growth is a slow, measurable gauge for achieving balance in charter school enrollment.
Those opposed point out there would be a loss of $450 million from public schools. They also argue that charter schools underserve students with special needs and English language learners leaving public schools with fewer resources to educate those groups.
Supported by Gov. Charlie Baker, the proposed law is also backed by Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, Alliance for Business Leadership and Massachusetts Taxpayer’s Foundation. In opposition are the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Massachusetts Teachers Association, Massachusetts Municipal Association and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.
By voting to oppose Question 2, Grafton School Committee joins over 150 other committees in formal opposition. According to Often there were no districts on record as being in favor of the measure.
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