In Colorado, a bill to create an independent state board to authorize charter schools is facing legislative obstacles. The Democrat who sponsored it says it would help charter schools by providing state, rather than local district, oversight. (It's also a central recommendation of Fordham's Charter School Authorizing: Are States Making the Grade? at http://www.edexcellence.net/detail/news.cfm?news_id=67.) But opponents - other Democrats, the teachers union, etc. - claim it will ransack district education budgets by diverting funds to charter schools. In other words, it'll lead to more charter schools! Colorado has long had a lively charter movement, including an appeal process whereby the State Board of Education can reverse charter-averse district decisions, but it's never had an actual authorizer other than local school boards and many of them are loath to encourage or help these independent public schools. A second measure before the legislature would empower the State Board to sponsor those "appealed" schools itself rather than remanding the job to hostile districts. Each measure would brighten the Colorado charter scene. The combination would be potent indeed.
"Teachers, districts oppose charter school institute," Associated Press, March 1, 2004
