Advocates for Maryland's charter schools are gearing up for what they hope will be a watershed year for reform of the state's charter school law, as state officials plan to seek millions in federal funding contingent upon changes in education policies.
Maryland could stand to gain as much as $250 million in Race to the Top funds from the U.S. Department of Education, which this year is awarding money to states with what it considers the most forward-thinking policies. With legislation an essential tool in winning the federal money, advocates for charter schools see the current General Assembly session as the time to push for reform of the state charter school law, widely viewed as weak and in need of an overhaul.
"We're really in the thick of putting forth plans," said David Borinsky, president of the Maryland Charter School Network. "We are trying to focus on Race to the Top issues because they correspond substantially to issues that charter schools have been concerned with for many years."
Borinsky said his group is focusing on a plan to grant charter schools access to capital funding - one of the five guidelines for charter schools under the federal funding. Though charter schools in Maryland fall under the purview of the local school systems, they must raise their own money for buildings and equipment.
Also in the pipeline of possible reforms is a plan for a separate authorizing body for charter schools, but Borinsky cautioned that he was not pushing forward with that bill until he has built support among local superintendents and school boards.
In the General Assembly, state Sen. Nancy Jacobs has drafted two bills to address some, but not all, of the key issues in charter reform: One bill would make charter schools eligible for capital funding; and the other would allow charter school teachers to opt out of their local unions. In the fall, KIPP Ujima Village Academy, a high-performing Baltimore charter, was forced to cut its staff and school hours after a dispute with the teachers union over pay.
"With the economic times we're in, I think it would be very unfortunate if Maryland didn't look at this as opportunity for education reform and to bring money into our schools," said Jacobs, a Harford County Republican. "The charter schools, the greater majority I've heard about, are doing an outstanding job - doing it cheaper than public schools. There's $250 million out there that would go a long way in helping. It would be a shame to miss out on it."
