May 19, 2009
Tuesday

On Friday, May 15, Governor Palin signed Senate Bill 57, a bill supporting school choice and doing away with the charter school penalty.

"It is so important Alaska's parents have opportunities to choose what's best for their children's education," Governor Palin said. "I appreciate the hard work of all the legislators who spearheaded these bills from introduction to final passage."

Senate Bill 57, sponsored by Senator Joe Thomas, provides a one-year grace period for charter schools and alternative schools experiencing a decline in enrollment that would make them ineligible for "separate school" status. The legislation also lowers the separate-school threshold for alternative schools from 200 to 175.

"Alaska has a serious problem with school achievement and high school graduation," said Senator Thomas. "One type of school is not best for all. Charter schools and alternative schools offer parents choice within the public school system."

Charter schools are public schools open to all children, free of charge. Charter schools must comply with state laws governing public schools, and they employee state-certified teachers who are employees of their local school district. Charter schools are managed by a parent-elected board of directors that determines the school's curriculum and teaching methods, within the guidelines of state statute.

"Prior to SB 57, charter schools with fewer than 150 students and alternative schools with fewer than 200 students were not funded as separate schools. Neighborhood public schools are always funded as separate schools, regardless of their enrollment," said Senator Joe Thomas. "The result was that charter schools with fewer than 150 students received 30% to 45% less state funding than neighborhood schools of the same size. SB 57 fixed the funding problem in an equitable, fiscally responsible manner," said Thomas.

Under the new law, charter schools with fewer than 150 students will be funded at the same per-student rate as neighborhood schools with 400 students. The law also contains a one-year, hold-harmless provision for charter schools and alternative schools that unexpectedly fall below the enrollment threshold for funding as a separate school, and are either in their first year of operation or were above the threshold the previous year.

Separate schools are funded at a higher level, over $500,000, to accommodate the additional expenses involved. A charter school that had enrollment drop below 150 students, or an alternative school with an enrollment decrease to below 175 students, would receive 95 percent of the funding formula provided to a separate school for one year. This would allow that school an opportunity to make arrangements to increase enrollment, integrate with another school or close.

Charter schools are public schools open to all children, free of charge. They must comply with state laws governing public schools, and they employ state-certified teachers. Charter schools are managed by a parent-elected board of directors that determines the school's curriculum and teaching methods, within the guidelines of state statutes. Governor Palin signed SB 57 at Academy Charter School in Palmer.

Sources of News:

Office of the Governor
www.gov.state.ak.us

Alaska State Legislature: Senate Bipartisan Working Group
www.legis.state.ak.us

 

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