Charter schools: Yay or nay?
For me, I support traditional public schools, at least ones that are more well-funded and resourced than they are today.
I also believe there limited circumstances where charter schools might make sense. For example, one Colorado charter school is designed for pregnant teenagers and their partners, offering unique services and schedules for young parents. This seems reasonable given the circumstances.
Yet drawing the line between accommodating a child’s needs and facilitating inclusion is a delicate balance. Segregation of any kind is rarely the answer — something charter schools have been found to foster — and there’s a larger argument to be made about the societal detriment of carving off students into too-similar subgroups, even under good intentions.
After all, part of a well-rounded education is to facilitate interactions among people who are different in background and thought, and that becomes substantially harder if students are removed.
The separation doesn’t have to be by class or race. For a fun example, consider Doogie Howser. He’s fictional, I know. But the broader theme of his story applies. As talented as he was, he didn’t hang out with only smart kids or adults. His best friend was Vinnie, the yin to his yang, and his parents were adamant about maintaining a “normal” lifestyle as much as possible.
This philosophy rings true in real life, with studying being only part of the equation. A balance is always needed, and research shows that inspiration and success often come from the merging of unique ideas and experiences, not groupthink. That means that even the most well-intended charter schools featuring a niche might leave a hole as big as any growth.
With our growing political and cultural echo chambers, it’s more critical than ever to teach our children how to interact well with those who think differently. Of course, achieving such an education is easier when schools are properly funded, with manageable class sizes, fairly paid and qualified educators and robust supplies, and this is where Colorado has failed. I suspect it’s part of the desire for school choice in the first place.
I also suspect it’s not the only reason, another being religion.
Before I explain why, it’s worth noting that the outsized opposition by Republicans to House Bill 1363 is proof of ulterior motives. By and large, the bill is fairly straightforward. It primarily seeks to increase local oversight of charter schools to ensure transparency and success. This is a stark change from current laws that can leave local leaders in a bind. Since when are Republicans against local control? Red flag number one.
This proposed change in accountability matters. While some charters might perform wonderfully — and I say might because the data are thin at best — others do not. At present, charters are held to different standards than mainstream public schools, even though they are both public and in part funded by tax dollars.
For example, some charters might have lower standards for teacher credentials or have automatic contract renewals without extensive review. Sometimes, that’s a good thing as it creates an easier path. But sometimes it’s not, and how are local boards supposed to decide if charters are shrouded in secrecy?
Well, they can’t, and that’s exactly how Republicans want to keep it.
The reasons not everyone wants to be accounted for might vary, but especially for those wanting to use the lax charter school rules to enhance their political and religious goals, an accountability bill is a landmine. Particularly if you want to hide your fundraising sources, how you recruit students and general ideology you seek to promote, yeah, the bill makes it tough. Which brings us to the Republican opposition.
It’s no secret that many on the political right have the ambition to create a Christian nation. Many of the right wing’s most prominent representatives now openly tote this agenda, including as related to public schools.
A battle over religious education at the U.S. Supreme Court is already under way, with Republicans working to advance government-funded, religious private charter schools. In short, they see it as a door to how religion could become mainstream in public K-12 schools.
So the question I pose to Coloradans on the fence about House Bill 1363 is this: Do you support stronger accountability laws for charter schools now that you know Republicans are actively trying to use the currently weak accountability laws to facilitate publicly funded private religious schools?
Because even if that wasn’t the intention for charter schools, that’s become the reality. It puts anything from teaching sex ed by Christian standards to creationism on the table. And if that sounds absurd to you, then I suggest you read more about one Republican school board member in western Colorado who already openly proposes both.
When it comes to charter schools, the old saying applies: A few bad apples can ruin the bunch. So whatever you thought of charters before, I assure you things have changed.
Even if your apple isn’t rotten, others in the basket are.
Trish Zornio is a scientist, lecturer and writer who has worked at some of the nation’s top universities and hospitals. She’s an avid rock climber and was a 2020 candidate for the U.S. Senate in Colorado. Trish can be found on Twitter @trish_zornio
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