On a day where many controversial issues will be debated on the Rhode Island House of Representatives Floor, many ranging into the tens of millions of dollars, it’s quite telling that the Providence Journal chose one issue to highlight for the lead editorial in today’s paper: saving $1.5 million in funding for new charter schools: “This is a tough year, and cuts must be made. But slashing these funds — a tiny part of a proposed $7.76 billion budget — makes little sense.”
The editorial cites the risk of losing federal dollars: ” … freezing out charter schools would put in jeopardy federal aid under the Race to the Top Program, a $5 billion Washington initiative that rewards innovation in education. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said on Monday that Rhode Island may be putting itself at ‘at a huge competitive disadvantage’ for the money.”
It talks about demand from families: “The public clearly wants more charter schools in Rhode Island. No new ones have been authorized since 2004, yet students are clamoring to get in, with a waiting list nearly as long as the number fortunate enough to attend. A ‘Lottery Day’ held this spring by eight charter schools showed just how much pent-up demand there is, especially in poor neighborhoods: 3,545 applications for 559 new openings.”
It underscores the bipartisan support: “The Mayoral Academy enjoys strong bipartisan support from citizens and their representatives, including: Cumberland Mayor Dan McKee, Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau, Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Lincoln Town Administrator Joseph Almond, Smithfield Town Administrator Paulette Hamilton, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, and state Representatives Peter Kilmartin (D.-Pawtucket) and Kenneth Vaudreuil (D.-Central Falls). These advocates for better schools, who represent hundreds of thousands of constituents, deserve to be heard at the State House, not just well-funded and well-organized economic interests.”
And finally, it goes on to underscore the whole point, raising student achievement: “A similar school in Harlem has done wonders in helping minority students achieve at a level comparable with students in excellent suburban schools.”
Read the Providence Journal editorial on saving charter schools.
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