By Emily Peters Abilene Reporter News
Proposed legislation could give Texas charter schools a boost spurring the head of an area charter school to consider planting campuses in more Big Country communities.
Texas charter schools could get as much as $1000 more per student for facilities as proposed by Senate Bill 1830 and House Bill 3703 expected to be hashed out in hearings this week and next.
The legislation also could allow current charter schools in good academic standing to establish new campuses without applying for authorization from the State Board of Education.
It would do wonderful things to give educational choices to children who feel trapped in underperforming schools said Ronald Johnson superintendent of Paradigm Accelerated Charter Schools.
Paradigm has about 240 students in four charter schools including campuses in Brownwood Dublin and Comanche.
Johnson said that if the law passes he would use the money to expand Paradigm campuses in Brownwood and Comanche to make room for those on waiting lists and possibly relocate the currently landlocked Dublin school. He could also take advantage of smoother startup procedures and consider starting new campuses in towns where he has perceived demand for charter schools including Coleman Brady Hamilton and Baytown.
Charter schools must meet some state academic standards but they are offered more freedom with instructional methods in efforts to serve different types of students and innovate new academic strategies. They get per-student funding from the state of Texas much like traditional public schools but they arent allowed access to local tax revenues. Most start through private donations and finding affordable facilities is often an issue.
In 2008 the legislation claims almost 114000 Texas students attended a charter school with another 16810 on waiting lists.
As proposed the bill would cost the states main education fund $93 million. The bills authors have not offered any suggestions about where to find that extra money. The legislation must clear the Legislature and appropriations committee before becoming law.
Its hard to see the likelihood of that bill passing is going to be until the politics get played out on it Johnson admits but he is optimistic considering recent support for charter schools by President Obama and a handful of influential minority legislators.
He also believes that although traditional school districts often blame charters for sucking their state funding districts are growing more favorable toward charter schools because they often serve struggling students who would likely become a part of a districts dropout rate.
They arent counted as dropouts if they transfer into a charter school Johnson explains. Its a love-hate relationship.
Abilenes only charter school Premier High School of Abilene would probably use the extra money for new labs instead of expanding for more students said Assistant Principal J.P. Reeves. Although the school is maxed out at about 210 students and couldnt hold many more demand has plateaued and extra room or another charter school probably wouldnt be necessary.
Id say Abilenes not big enough right now to hold any more charter schools Reeves said.
The Abilene Independent School District loses up to $1 million in state per-student funding each year for the students who attend Premier although it is unclear how many of the Premier students are zoned for other districts nearby.
AISD Executive Director for Finance Keith Dowell said if the school system lost more funds as the state allocates money for charter schools the amount of money probably wouldnt be that huge of a factor.
Premier and all Paradigm schools were labeled academically acceptable in 2008. Good academic standing is necessary to receive the funds and start new campuses.
