Legislation only hurts charter schools
By Kara Kerwin
The Baltimore Sun
April 20, 2015
As one of “those charter advocates” mentioned in The Sun’s editorial regarding charter schools (“Better than nothing,” April 17), I strongly disagree with the conclusion that Gov. Larry Hogan should sign the horrendous charter school legislation passed by the General Assembly.
Senate Bill 595 is a giant step backward and actually decreases the likelihood that more innovative charter school opportunities will be able to open in Maryland. In addition to removing the State Board’s check and balance authority over charter applications, charter operators will be subject to an invasive funding study, requiring more time, money and red tape. Every single operational aspect of running a school will be subject to negotiation, often with a hostile school board, for a charter school that’s supposed to be autonomous.
I have no illusions about Maryland’s political roadblocks, but that’s no excuse to sign a bill that will only harm the state’s already suppressed charter sector. In fact, signing this legislation will make future improvements to the state charter law that much more difficult. Governor Hogan must veto this bill and renew good-faith efforts to bring about meaningful change for Maryland students.
Kara Kerwin, Washington
The writer is president of The Center for Education Reform.
