NOTE: This is our last edition of the year. Thank you so much for reading and for subscribing. We will be back with you on January 3, 2020. Happy Holidays!
The Turbulent Tens?
While the decade is not officially over for another year, that fact has not stopped analysts from summarizing “the 10s”—the last ten years in education policy. Evie Blad and Andrew Ujifusa called the last ten years “turbulent” in their summary, published in Education Week. While they were referring to a wider spectrum of events than school choice or even simply charters, they still found some significant ups and downs in that part of their analysis.
The Tremendous Tens?
On the other hand, Dale Chu is far more upbeat about the fortunes of school choice over the last ten years. Chu, an independent consultant on education programs and policy as well as a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, looked at the growth of school choice options in his old stomping grounds of Indiana and was very pleased. He predicted more upward momentum going into the 20s.
Looking toward the Twenties
A federal spending deal was reached earlier this week which would increase education funding by $1.3 billion overall. Funding for the Charter Schools Program (CSP) would remain flat at $440 million for fiscal year 2020. This final version is a compromise between the White House’s request for an increase and the House of Representatives’ bill cutting $40 million from the program.
Saying no
In New Hampshire last week, the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee voted 7 to 3 to table a CSP grant, intending to reject a payment of $46 million already requested by and awarded to the state (under a previous state administration) by the federal government.
The view from the art room
To end the year (and, by some measures, the decade) on a happy note, take a look at all the winners in this year’s National Charter Schools Institute annual student art contest. Competitors and winners come from multiple states, including Ohio. Enjoy!
