Resolution in Support of Local Accountability in Public Education

WHEREAS the Education Reform Act of 1993 established charter schools to "stimulate the development of innovative programs within public education."

AND WHEREAS the best way to ensure that any innovations are, indeed, replicable in public schools is to ultimately include charter schools in the mainstream system where they can meet all the mandates placed on district schools.

AND WHEREAS including charter schools in the public system could redress the lack of oversight by the department of education, could open charter schools to a broader range of children, particularly bilingual and special needs students who have not been well served in charter schools, and could ensure local accountability over public education costs.

AND WHEREAS having the option to include a charter school in the public system at the conclusion of its five year charter would fulfill the vision of education reform activists.

NOW THEN BE IT RESOLVED that the _______________ School Committee hereby supports legislation empowering school committees, as part of a commonwealth charter school’s renewal process, to vote to incorporate a charter school within its district into the public school system. Passage of such legislation in no way commits a school committee to any particular course of action. It would simply provide communities with additional educational choice.

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