NEW: RI-CAN Pushes for More Funding for Charter Schools

NEW: RI-CAN Pushes for More Funding for Charter Schools

The Rhode Island Campaign For Achievement Now is launching a last-ditch effort to improve the reimbursement plan for Rhode Island’s public charter schools as the state’s legislative session draws to a close.

After the House cut RI-CAN’s Super Schoolhouses bill from the state’s final budget, RI-CAN drew up a pair of House and Senate bills in order to help charter schools such as the Blackstone Academy and Kingston Hill Academy receive reimbursements for the cost of maintaining their facilities. (Click here and here to read the bills.)

“Our public charter schools deserve to be able to put their dollars where they are most needed – into the classroom,” said Maryellen Butke, Executive Director of RI-CAN.

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According to a recent memo sent to RI-CAN members, high-performing charter schools are only reimbursed for 30 percent of the costs of building and updating schoolhouses, whereas traditional schools are reimbursed 80 percent or more.

RI-CAN, which launched in December of 2010 as a platform for Rhode Island citizens to enact education reforms, refers to these recent bills as its “back-up option” in the aftermath of the state’s recent budget cut.

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