Class size bill losing support

...as it should.

The State Board of Education, which previously had supported SB 31, "backed off" that support over the weekend.

I'm happy that the board opposes this lousy bill on any grounds, but I do wish they had come up with a reason besides money.

The bill removes control from families and school boards at the local level, and instead puts Senator Karen Morgan's judgment as the definition of whom schools should hire and what spending priorities schools should have.

**UPDATE**
And now it's dead.

Accountability for thee, but not for me

The president of the UEA wrote an op-ed in the Tribune today.  Here's the money quote:

We have precious few dollars to support our public schools. I appreciate that many good legislators are cognizant of this fact. However, the reality is that many dollars are being slowly siphoned away from the majority of our children to support unproven ideas with little or no accountability.

She makes the same mistake that most who argue against innovation do.  She confuses longevity with accountability.  I've made this argument before.

Now I invite Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh (the author of the op-ed) or other interested commenters to this blog to explain exactly what accountability means.  In what way is the monopoly she's protecting more accountable than the "unproven ideas" she decries. What accountability does she have?  To whom?

Startup funding passes unanimously

HB397, which provides startup grant funding to new and expanding charter schools passed the House Education Committee unanimously yesterday, continuing what is shaping up to be charters' most successful session at the legislature since local replacement funding was put in place many years ago.

The bill would provide $2.5 million to the State Board of Education to distribute to new and expanding charters.  Rules for how that money is distributed will be written by the Board this Spring.

The most important charter bill in years passes the Senate

The concept behind SB 152 is pretty simple: allow public charter schools to save taxpayers money by lending them the state's bond rating when they purchase their facility.  By reducing the interest rates that schools pay on borrowed money, schools would save millions of dollars over the life of the loan, putting those dollars into classrooms and students, instead of landlords.

The bill passed the Senate today 26-2.

**UPDATE**
Unfortunately, Kim Frank of the Utah Charter Network has been speaking against his bill.  Why would someone whose stated goal is to "strengthen the statewide charter movement" lobby against the bill (to the sponsor, the State Charter School Board, and to other legislators) that would literally save schools millions of dollars in interest payments and property tax?

**FURTHER UPDATE**
Kim Frank sent a newsletter out some days after this post stating that her network's position had solidified, her "concerns" had been addressed, and she was satisfied that there would be no negative "unintended consequences."  She now "fully supports" the bill.  That's the right position.  I'm glad she got her concerns addressed.  While I wish she would have found answers to these questions before speaking publicly against the bill's specifics, I'm glad that the charter movement is unified on this important step forward.

Mountainville's Love

From the Daily Herald:

February has always been a month associated with love, but the students at Mountainville Academy in Alpine are taking the concept a step further, filling the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day with lessons on the heart in all of its facets. To honor their hard work at promoting selfless service and kindness, the charter school has been awarded a $2,500 grant from the Red Robin Foundation U-ACT program for their project.

The charter school "Powerhouse"

Do you wonder if charter schools have effective representation at the State Legislature?  According to The Deseret News UAPCS has, under Chris Bleak's leadership, gone from a fledgling group to a real "powerhouse" in influence among Utah's lawmakers.

UAPCS started with volunteers trying to raise awareness of our issues, and grew to have a part-time "accidental lobbyist."  To be more effective, UAPCS contracted for lobbying service from another "powerhouse," the law firm that also represents realtors.  As it became clear nearly two years ago that UAPCS needed a full-time and more effective presence at the legislature, it turned to Bleak, and charters have been well-served by his work.

This year, UAPCS is shepherding through several important bills that will, once passed, save schools millions, provide startup funding for new schools, and give all schools more flexibility in hiring teachers.  No other group trying to lobby on behalf of charter schools even has a bill that has any language to vote on at this point, nor that has any likelihood of passing.

Frank Pignanelli and LaVar Webb, two of the most connected and influential insiders in Utah's political scene recognize UAPCS for what it has become over the last two years.  Read the whole thing here.  (Unfortunately, their editors at the paper made the silly mistake of calling charter schools private.)

Fire at USOE interrupts State Charter Board Meeting

Maria Montessori was winding up their presentation on their amendment and waiver expansion request at the State Charter School Board meeting this morning when the fire alarm went off.  Of course, I grabbed my bag with my laptop and ipad and headed out with everyone else.  A printer in the basement of the building had caught fire.  After a delay of about an hour the SCSB reconvened at the City and County Building where they denied Maria Montessori's request.  Bummer for them.

Andy from "The Office" wasn't actually there to cause the fire.

"Unclear consequences"?

In a post that misses its own unstated contradictions, Del Stover at the American School blog bemoans the fact that people give a lot of money to charter schools across the country.  Apparently, it's a bad thing when private foundations pump millions of dollars into education students in chartered public schools.

The author gives himself away and should lose all credibility with this nugget from the introductory paragraph: "This year, public funding for charters will run into the billions of dollars. That’s a lot of money to invest in an education policy with still-unclear consequences for America’s public school system."

So, two things right off the bat.  First, he's concerned not about consequences for children or for the quality of education they receive, but for the "public school system."  Second, the "unclear consequences."  For the sake of argument, let's grant that the consequences for the "system" are unclear.

Charters will spend "billions" across the country this year, according to Stover.  Traditional districts will spend in the hundreds of billions across the country.  The consequences of that are very clear--continued mediocrity as children in the United States fall further behind those in other countries.

Which is the bigger risk?  Spending comparatively little on a reform with real promise, widespread political support, millions in additional funding from private foundations, and a lot of instances of incredible success, or pumping hundreds of billions into a system that has been degrading for more than 50 years?

School Choice Week

I was moving all week during School Choice Week, which coincided nicely with the opening of Utah's legislative session.  I read recaps of such events with interest, but wasn't able to attend any.  I provide a rundown of such events here because the combination of them, including the new players and the traction and media coverage they received, show that the concept of choice is continuing to build momentum in positive ways.

The governor issues a proclamation commemorating school choice week.

The American Association of Educators sponsors an event highlighting how choice positively impacts teachers, with specific focus on new virtual educational choices.

Open High School of Utah director (and UAPCS board chair) DeLaina Tonks writes an op-ed highlighting the same--how choice benefits teaches.

Utah State University screens Waiting for "Superman".

And thousands of children in Utah attend the charter school of their choice.

IRS targets charter school teachers' retirement

If a newly proposed rule by the IRS goes into effect, hundreds of teachers in Utah charter schools will see either their retirement or their jobs disappear.  The rule would affect charter schools across the country, forbidding states from allowing charter schools to participate in state retirement programs.

Every state that has charters allows such participation, meaning every state's legislature has specifically granted such permission.  The IRS would overturn every one of these democratically enacted laws and replace it with administrative fiat that could make it much harder to recruit experienced teachers into charter schools.

I have no problem with schools not participating in such programs, and wrote about that extensively here.  But something I hate more than defined benefit (I know--since that post the state has moved to a defined contribution plan for new employees) programs is bureaucrats forcing their will on local decision-makers who've acted in concert with the local population.

UAPCS, working with the National Alliance, submitted written comments opposing this proposed rule change. Calls to your Congressman or Senator would be in order.

Charter Day at the Capitol

Today was the annual Charter Day at the Capitol, and it was a bigger and better planned event than ever before.  Thirty-three schools were represented at the event, along with more than 400 students, as seen in the photo below.



Governor Herbert, a long-time charter supporter, glad-handed the crowd and milled about with the students and schools. The governor has included an important fund for startup charter schools in his budget request.  There is a move from some charter "supporters" to take that grant funding and make it only available to schools through loans.  Hopefully, UAPCS's efforts to work with the governor's office and the legislature will win the day and startup schools will once again have the resources during their startup year to establish the quality programs that they can provide to students in ongoing years.

Congratulations to the UAPCS staff, especially Allison and Carolin, who put on such a successful event.

Fairly quiet

The real reason that I've not written in two weeks or so is because I moved and my parents returned from a mission in Japan.  Over the last three-ish weeks I hauled the little I own, one carload at a time, into my new place in South Jordan, and hosted family over two consecutive weekends.

The good news is, I didn't miss much.  The beginning of the legislative session is typically a time of hectic runaround, but under Chris Bleak's leadership, UAPCS has done a fantastic job of laying the groundwork for its legislative priorities so that things are running more smoothly than they ever have.  Bills are written, some have passed committee, and all are having their desired effect.

This week you'll see some catch-up posts on school choice week, the bill to help charters reduce facility costs and put more money in the classroom, special education funding, and the first in a series comparing charters to each other and to districts in how they spend their money.  Some of the data might surprise you.