Charter Schools Are Coming To Fairfax

On Monday, April 19, 1999 the Fairfax County School Board is hosting a public hearing on Charter Schools. The Board is currently considering a plan that would allow schools with special populations (minority, special ed, at-risk, etc.) become a Charter School. An example that was used at a work session was a school that is in danger of losing accreditation because of SOA scores could seek approval from the School Board to become a Charter School.

Recent State legislation gives the local school board the authority to accept applications for charter schools. A charter school must meet the requirements of the Standards of Quality, however, it is yet unclear about getting a waiver of Standards of Accreditation.

THE FAIRFAX COUNTY COUNCIL OF PTAS HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN OPPOSED TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.

The following is the position of the National PTA.

Charter Schools must:

• Be open to all students (will comply)
  
  
• Be supported by specifically allocated public funds in amounts that do not exceed and do not divert moneys from public schools. (will not be the case in Fairfax)
  
  
• Comply with federal and state laws that protect the health and safety of children (will comply)
  
  
• Be accountable to local school boards in the districts where they are located (will comply)
  
  
• Ensure staff are certified for their positions (will comply)
  
  
• Involve parents in decision-making processes (undetermined)
  
  

• Have a mechanism for independent evaluation to determine if they are providing students with an education at least comparable to public schools and fulfilling their mission of innovation.
  
  

Charter schools must not:

• Be operated by for-profit organizations, nor be affiliated with a nonpublic sectarian, religious, or home-base school. (If a Fairfax county school becomes a charter it is very likely be contracted to a for-profit organization)
  
  

• Charge tuition or fees not charged by public schools
  
  

• Have a negative impact on public schools (by becoming a charter school, the school involved acknowledges that FCPS is unable to successfully educate its special population. This will most certainly have a negative effect on public education in Fairfax County. What's to stop other schools from eventually seeking for-profit sponsorship for their schools? What is the cost involved for FCPS to oversee a charter school?)
  

IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE FOR FAIRFAX CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD ON APRIL 19, 1999. TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK, CALL 246-3646.

Last Updated 01/27/2005 20:22:30