Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/13/2003 11:05 AM House EDU
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 171-REPEAL CHARTER SCHOOL GRANTS
Number 2865
CHAIR GATTO announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 171, "An Act repealing the charter school grant
program; and providing for an effective date."
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked what the definition is of a charter
school. How does it differ from a public school or a private
school?
Number 2954
EDDY JEANS, Manager, School Finance and Facilities Section
Education Support Services, Department of Education and Early
Development, testified in support of HB 171. He explained that
a charter school is actually a public school where there is a
contract between the parent advisory group, the people that set
up the charter school, and the local district.
REPRESENTATIVE KAPSNER asked if charter schools have a certain
mission that they are trying to obtain. How is it different
than just a regular public school?
MR. JEANS replied that charter schools are allowed to develop
innovative educational programs that the school district may not
be employing at the time. Typically, charter schools are
developed through a grassroots movement by parents that want to
be very involved in their children's education.
TAPE 03-11, SIDE B
Number 2998
CHAIR GATTO agreed with Mr. Jeans that the parents are very
involved in their children's education. They do painting, fix
the heater, and volunteer in the classrooms. At Academy Charter
School they might have 100 students enrolled, and they have
another 100 who are trying to enroll. Midnight Sun and now
Horizon are also trying to do a different take on how to educate
children by getting parental input to a large degree. He said
he believes this is something all the members wish would happen.
He said often the schools are in substandard buildings, but
fewer students are in the classroom. He told of one friend who
is a pilot for FedEx and was busy painting six buildings. These
schools do have good community involvement. Chair Gatto said he
believes that charter schools may actually get more money than
traditional schools because of startup funds that are available.
Number 2933
REPRESENTATIVE GARA asked what the administration's premise is
behind the bill. He asked Mr. Jeans if the reason behind
removing startup funding for charter schools is based on federal
funding to take its place.
MR. JEANS replied that is correct.
REPRESENTATIVE GARA asked if the federal funding will be
adequate for startup of charter schools.
MR. JEANS responded that adequate funding is in the eye of the
beholder. The amount of money that is being proposed to be
allocated through federal startup grants is more than what
charter schools are currently receiving under the combined total
of the federal and state grant funding. Charter schools will
get more money.
REPRESENTATIVE GARA asked if the federal grant has been enacted
yet or is still under discussion in Congress.
MR. JEANS said that there is actually an application process
that the state must go through. The state charter school
administrator has already been in contact with the director of
charter schools at the U.S. Department of Education. He has
indicated that he is supportive of this proposal.
REPRESENTATIVE GARA asked whether there is a 100 percent
certainty that the state will receive this money.
MR. JEANS replied that it is not 100 percent sure, but he has a
letter supporting this proposal from the director of charter
schools, who knows [the state's] application is coming and who
has given every indication that he will approve [the state's]
request.
REPRESENTATIVE GARA said he is concerned with enacting this bill
in the event that there might be problems with the approval by
the U.S. Department of Education. The state needs to be sure
not to make the mistake of eliminating the funding only to find
out the federal funding is not coming through.
MR. JEANS responded that the bill has a one-year delay in
effective date as it is. If the grant does not come from the
federal government, the legislature could readdress this.
Number 2805
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to report HB 171 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
REPRESENTATIVE GARA objected to the motion. He told the
committee he would support the bill when the state knows it will
receive federal funding. He said he cannot support this bill
based on the administration's representation that it believes it
will receive this funding.
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Gatto, Seaton,
Coghill, Wilson, and Wolf voted in favor of reporting HB 171
from committee. Representatives Gara and Kapsner voted against
it. Therefore, HB 171 was reported out of the House Special
Committee on Education by a vote of 5-2.
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