Idahoans for Choice in Education

Expanding Educational Choice for Idaho Families

Charter School Myths:  Misconceptions Breed Incorrect Information Guest Opinion

by Bill Goesling, VICE-PAC-Chair, Idaho Public Charter School Commission

Recent editorials and news stories printed in several Idaho newspapers illustrate general misunderstandings about both the role of charter schools in our state and the Idaho Public Charter School Commission.

Here are some of the reoccurring myths:

Myth #1 The Commission overrules local school boards.  All charter school petitions, except those applying as virtual schools, must apply first to the local school board of trustees. The local district always has the first option to approve or deny a petition. By referring petitions to the Idaho Public Charter School Commission, the school district has effectively given up the important right to oversight authority of those schools. If the district denies the petition, the founders of the school can appeal to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, which can be followed by an appeal to the State Board of Education. In some cases, as in the Academy at Roosevelt Center in Pocatello, the district can make the choice to forward the petition to the Charter Commission. The referral doesn't mean the petition will automatically be approved. The Pocatello School District forwarded two petitions to the Commission and the Commission approved one and denied one.

Ideally, the Commission believes schools are best served by the their local school district. Coming before the Commission should be a last resort after the petitioners and the district have exhausted all options.

Myth #2 Charter schools do not have adequate oversight. In fact, the accountability and review of charter schools is equal to that of any other public school.  Public charter schools are reviewed by the State Department of Education with the same frequency as any other public school. The charter school's authorizing agent, whether it is the local school district Board of Trustees or the Idaho Public Charter School Commission, monitors the school and its board and creates a system of review to oversee the school and its progress.

Myth #3 The Commission has oversight of all charter schools.  The Commission has oversight responsibility for the schools it has authorized, but its scope of responsibility ends with these schools. School district-authorized charter schools are accountable to their charter school board, their school district Board of Trustees and the State Department of Education. The idea that the Commission was created to  "clean up" public charter schools, or that it is responsible for reviewing all public charter schools statewide is a misrepresentation of the Commission's function.  Oversight responsibility lies with the charter school's authorizer, whether that is the local school district or the Charter School Commission. 

Myth #4 Charter schools take money away from local school districts. The idea that a school district loses money from charter schools infers that kids are owned by the school district. Children are not the property of the district. When a child chooses to enter public school, state and federal funds are allocated for that student. These funds follow the student to whichever public school he/she chooses to go whether it is a traditional public or public charter school. Charter schools actually cost less to operate than traditional public schools when state and local monies are taken into account. Charter schools are given a slightly higher state appropriation but charter schools receive none of the local property tax dollars on which traditional public schools have come to depend.  Some confusion is understandable as charter schools and the Public Charter School Commission are both relatively new.  However, bad information has created unneeded confusion and incorrect conclusions regarding these important educational options. Public dialogue is important to the Commission and for the development of good public policy.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns please share them with a school's authorizing entity; be it your local school board or the Public Charter School Commission.

ICE-PAC

P.O Box 933

Boise, ID 83701