Post by Logan on Jun 4, 2016 3:26:04 GMT -6
Lansing — Chronically poor-performing schools could be closed under a new House-approved Republican plan to save Detroit’s public education system, but critics oppose the legislation for including what they call a significant “loophole” for charter schools.
The main bill in the $617 million compromise package, approved late Thursday in the state House over Democratic objections, would exempt poor-performing charter schools from closure requirements if they are in the process of “undergoing reconstitution.”
It’s a technical term for when a charter school authorizer, such as a public university, requires a charter or independent public school to make rare and significant changes, charter advocates say. But as the package moves to the GOP-controlled Senate for a vote as early as next week, Democrats argue that reconstitution is a free pass allowing such schools to stay open even if they aren’t meeting expectations.
“Some of the changes that were made to this bill would force the closure of traditional public schools but allow failing charter schools to continue to operate indefinitely,” House Minority Leader Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills, said after Thursday’s vote.
Read more: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/03/dems-clash-gop-detroit-school-closing-rules/85350152/
The main bill in the $617 million compromise package, approved late Thursday in the state House over Democratic objections, would exempt poor-performing charter schools from closure requirements if they are in the process of “undergoing reconstitution.”
It’s a technical term for when a charter school authorizer, such as a public university, requires a charter or independent public school to make rare and significant changes, charter advocates say. But as the package moves to the GOP-controlled Senate for a vote as early as next week, Democrats argue that reconstitution is a free pass allowing such schools to stay open even if they aren’t meeting expectations.
“Some of the changes that were made to this bill would force the closure of traditional public schools but allow failing charter schools to continue to operate indefinitely,” House Minority Leader Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills, said after Thursday’s vote.
Read more: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/03/dems-clash-gop-detroit-school-closing-rules/85350152/