Expect a proposal by lawmakers to increase the number of charter schools in the state -- but only for the conversion of existing public schools to charter status. Lawmakers aim to limit
proliferation of charter schoolsBy Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com"We need to work out the bugs before we energize new charter schools," Senate Education Chairman Norman Sakamoto (D, Moanalua) said.
Charter schools, the Felix consent decree and the Department of Education budget will be among education issues in this session.
Converting existing public schools to charter schools or entities like charter schools would enable the Kamehameha Schools to carry out plans to reach more Hawaiian children by extending financial support to public schools in communities with a large population of Hawaiians, lawmakers say.
Lawmakers say not to expect a major overhaul of the existing charter school laws. "If we do anything, it'll be to address either today's problems or anticipated problems based on the quick ramping up of the 25 charter schools," Sakamoto said.
Charter schools are public schools funded by taxpayer dollars but exempt from many rules and regulations.
In exchange for that autonomy, these schools enter into a charter or contract with the state to be accountable for student achievement.
Rep. Ken Ito (D, Kaneohe), chairman of the House Education Committee, said he feels that the problems experienced in recent months by charter schools are part of the growing pains of the charter process. "I think we just want to leave the charter schools alone and let them find their own destiny."
House Republicans, however, say that more needs to be done to keep charter schools alive as a viable choice in public school education.
"We want to get charter schools to what they should be, funded by the state with their own independent authority to run their schools," House Minority Leader Galen Fox (R, Waikiki) said.
The Department of Education will also try to get more money for charter schools that were not funded when the original law was passed three years ago.
Other issues this session will be:
>> Felix consent decree. Expect legislation to correct problems found by a Joint Senate-House Investigative Committee looking into state spending for the federal mandate to improve special-education services. The DOE will also lobby for funds for its Felix response plan.
>> Changing entrance age into kindergarten. Children currently can enter school in the fall if they will turn 5 by the end of the year. Some lawmakers want children to turn 5 earlier in the year, perhaps as early as June. Past bills have been derailed over concerns that parents of children with late birthdays would have to arrange for child care for an additional year. But Sakamoto said a move by community groups like Kamehameha Schools to improve access to preschool may help move this measure along.
>> College scholarship fund. The Board of Education is proposing that a taxpayer be able to designate $3 on tax returns for a college scholarship fund.