A ‘Pause’ is Needed in Charter School Expansion - Rep Amore
Rep. Gregg Amore, Guest MINDSETTER™
A ‘Pause’ is Needed in Charter School Expansion - Rep Amore
When Johns Hopkins University released its report regarding the state of the Providence school system, many feared that its findings would be used as a justification to rapidly expand charter schools in Providence. I was not among those skeptics. I was intrigued by the concept of having a comprehensive plan to improve the public schools in a way that was not tied to testing metrics but rather through a process of changing the culture within the schools by empowering teachers, principals, students and families, and support the notion of eliminating bureaucratic obstacles to teaching, and creating learning spaces that were welcoming, safe, warm and dry. An equal opportunity turnaround where the focus was on engaging students and parents, providing support structures and after school and weekend enrichment opportunities, and narrowing in on a high quality, common yet flexible, curriculum that is supported by substantial professional development opportunities for educators. I was encouraged when I saw many of these elements included in the Providence turnaround plan. I am now discouraged to see the focus shift to the expansion of charter schools and seats.
The challenges of educating during a pandemic and adapting to the vagaries associated with it are difficult enough, but trying to build the consensus necessary to implement a successful turnaround plan, is even more so when teachers, parents and students can’t measure success in terms they are familiar with. It is terribly difficult to effectively implement the key elements of TAP or measure its effectiveness or shortcomings at the same time we are trying desperately to serve our students in an unprecedented learning environment that is very difficult at best. Now it appears that a key, unmentioned aspect of TAP, is shifting students and resources into additional charter schools and seats.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn addition, there are still serious concerns regarding Providence’s school infrastructure and a collective bargaining agreement, an essential element of this or any turnaround, has not yet been reached. There is a cost associated with each and each should be addressed before considering adding more charter schools.
The state’s fiscal health is far from certain and COVID related mandates have created additional cost burdens on already resource-poor school districts. We already know that the establishment of new charter schools and or the expansion of existing charter seats has a significant negative fiscal impact on the underlying public-school districts. In fact, in 2016 Massachusetts—the state whose educational success we aspire to—voters overwhelmingly rejected removing the cap on charter schools because the electorate acknowledged that traditional public schools were losing precious resources with each expansion.
If improving Providence schools eventually includes some charter expansion, and it may well, then it should come after the foundational changes, outlined in TAP, have been implemented and when we have a better idea of the state’s long term fiscal condition, not during a pandemic and not during a period of great financial uncertainty.
Rep. Gregg Amore, a Democrat, represents District 65 in East Providence. He is a former 27-year American History and Civics teacher and the current Athletic Director for the East Providence School Department. He is also the Chair of the Finance Subcommittee on Education and a member of the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare.