THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 23, 1995 TAG: 9501230048
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
Debate over Gov. George F. Allen's push for ``charter'' schools, a proposal that could alter the course of public education in Virginia, begins in earnest today.
Allen has made charter schools a centerpiece of his plan to reform education. The governor touts them as a way to increase public school choice, parental involvement and accountability for student performance.
Under Allen's proposal, teachers, parents or other individuals and groups would be awarded a ``charter'' freeing them from most local and state regulations in exchange for guaranteeing certain educational results.
The governor has included $500,000 in his budget as start-up costs for interested districts. Charter schools would be operated by public funds.
On Friday, Del. Jay Katzen, R-Warrenton, and Sen. J. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke, were going over final details of companion charter school bills they plan to file today for the Allen administration.
``It's a concept whose time has come,'' Bell said. ``What we're focused on are new ideas and new approaches.''
The House of Delegates' Education Committee has scheduled a 10 a.m. public hearing today to see if residents of the state agree. The hearing will be held in Room D of the General Assembly building.
``It's an emotional issue to many people and I expect it will remain that way,'' said Del. J. Paul Councill Jr., D-Franklin, committee chairman.
The idea has drawn opposition from powerful quarters, including the Virginia Association of School Superintendents and the Virginia School Boards Association.
Even supporters acknowledge that getting the measure through the General Assembly is no sure thing.
``It's going to be very close,'' Councill said. ``It's not a cut-and-dried issue.''
Del. Phillip Hamilton, R-Newport News, last week introduced his own version of charter schools legislation. His bill would limit the number of charter schools to 10 per district.
It is possible that even more charter school bills could be filed by today's General Assembly deadline for new bills.
Bell said his bill probably will not include limits on the number of charters that could be issued. He also said existing public schools would be eligible to apply.
As a selling point, the Allen administration has insisted on giving local school boards final authority in granting charters. Allen rejected a recommendation from his Commission on Champion Schools that the state Board of Education be allowed to hear appeals.
``It's important to stress that these are public schools,'' Katzen said. ``The community - families, educators and administrators - would determine what the structure of the school they attend would be.''
Critics worry that charter schools would become private schools in disguise, diverting scarce public education funds to exclusive and exclusionary schools.
Some skeptics suggest it's a backdoor attempt to respond to conservative parents and special interests that have clamored for vouchers and tax credits to send their children to private schools. And if student achievement and innovative teaching methods would result from less regulation, critics contend, then why not ease the rules on all schools?
Bell described his legislation as a ``bottom-up approach.'' Parents and teachers in a local community ``are the ones who know best what the children should be receiving,'' he said.
Trying to change regulations for all schools is not as easy as it sounds, Bell said. Efforts by southwest Virginia schools to change a law requiring schools to start before Labor Day is a case in point.
``We see that as simple relief, but we haven't been successful,'' Bell said. ``Maybe what we learn from charter schools can be taken and used by other schools.''
Councill, who voiced ``reservations'' about charter schools, said he supports the idea of experimenting with them ``on a very limited basis to see if it will work in Virginia.''
Minnesota in 1991 became the first of a dozen states to approve charter-school legislation. Bell said a lack of understanding of the issue has fueled some opposition.
Precisely because the concept is so new, some are arguing that it needs further study.
``The jury is still out on charter schools,'' said Andrew Stamp, assistant executive director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. ``Rather than jump in with both feet and spend public tax dollars on innovation that's purported to increase student achievement, let's research it thoroughly.''
If the issue becomes too divisive, Councill and Sen. Elliot S. Schewel, D-Lynchburg, chairman of the Senate Education and Health Committee, have said they will ask for a resolution for a study to be completed by the 1996 legislative session.
``I think that if it's not passed this year, there's enough interest in it that it will recur again,'' Councill said. ILLUSTRATION: CHARTER SCHOOL DEBATE
The House of Delegates' Education Committee will hold a public
hearing today to hear the pros and cons of charter schools. The 10
a.m. meeting will be in Room D of the General Assembly building.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY EDUCATION REFORM CHARTER SCHOOLS by CNB