The Kentucky House Education Committee has agreed to hear the Charter School Bill, House Bill 77, sponsored by Brad Montell (R), Shelbyville and David Osborne (R), Oldham County this session, maybe as early as Feb. 7. Below is the opening text of HB 77.
"The General Assembly hereby establishes a charter school initiative to benefit parents, teachers, and community members by creating new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating all children within the public school system and by advancing a renewed commitment to the mission, goals, and diversity of public education."
MDRC’s social scientist, Harold Bloom, just completed a study on the effects of Small Schools of Choice on graduation rates for disadvantaged students in New York City. In the short video clip linked here, he explains that the Small Schools of Choice (SSC) produces significantly better graduation rates for students versus those who applied to the Small Schools but were not chosen in the lottery. The SSCs raised the graduation rates of African-American and Latino students, male and female by nearly 9% as compared to those who applied to but did not attend an SSC.
Charter schools have existed nationally for about 20 years. Kentucky is one of only 9 states without the option of charter schools; we will have the opportunity to learn from the successes and failures of other states. Goal (d) of HB 77, “Increase high-quality educational opportunities within the public education system for all students, especially those at risk of academic failure,” is a worthy follow up to the progress Kentucky has made over the last decade. UKNOW, the University of Kentucky News reported that Kentucky raised its ranking from 48 nationally to 33. While this is great, Charters in Kentucky, notes that only 35% of 4th graders and 36% of 8th graders in KY scored at or above proficiency on the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress. For the 65% who were not proficient, School Choice is one tool to help Kentucky students find success.
Additional links below.
PIKE : Parents for improving Kentucky Education
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