Union blasts Charlie Baker lifting cap on charter schools

http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_politics/2015/10/union_blasts_charlie_baker_lifting_cap_on_charter_schools



Union blasts Charlie Baker lifting cap on charter schools
Friday, October 9, 2015
Zuri Berry

Gov. Charlie Baker’s new plan for lifting the cap on charter schools was blasted by union and education leaders who skewered the governor for attempting to take money away from public schools while failing to address the root problems they say charter schools present.

“The governor’s proposal continues to punish urban public schools in order to reward quasi-private charter schools,” said Richard Stutman, president of the Boston Teachers Union. “At a time when resources are scarce, it is a disservice to our 57,000 students to take any funds away from public schools.”

Baker yesterday announced his intention to file legislation to increase the number of charter schools by 12 a year focused in districts that are performing in the bottom 25 percent statewide. The current cap limits the number of charter schools to 120. Under the proposed legislation, charter schools would be allowed to use a weighted lottery system that would favor “high-need” and low-income students as well as become a part of choice-based district enrollments.

Critics latched on to the dual systems of schools charters are creating, with little headway made on parental input and disciplinary standards that have been the source of scorn among the opposition.