Hallelujah! Tennessee is resurrecting a bill to expand charter schools.
House bill 2146 would expand charter school eligibility from those who are zoned to go to failing schools to any student whose family income qualifies for free or reduced lunch.
The Chattanoogan.com quotes Representative Kelsey:
“Charter school expansion will help poor children have a chance to receive a quality education,” said Rep. Kelsey. “Our public school system is the last vestige of slavery. It traps many impoverished kids into a system of poor education with very little chance of success. I’m glad that this bill continues to pick up bipartisan support from the local level all the way up to the presidency.”
Elected leaders like Rep. Kelsey who continue to push for children's rights in education need to be recognized for their efforts.
The new law would permit more than 50,000 children in Nashville to attend charter schools, up from the existing 20,000.
As happy as I am for Tennessee's kids at the prospect that this re-opened discussion will expand charter schools to more kids, I cannot possibly finish this commentary without expressing a head scratcher:
Why limit kid's access to public education choice based on zoning or family income?
If tables were turned and only the kids from prosperous homes would have the right to public school choice, there would be all kinds of havoc being raised.
All kids have a right to the best education possible.
Perhaps Tennessee lawmakers can just scratch out the word family in "family income," for this expansion bill.
Family money tend to belong to the parents, not the kids.
If we base eligibility to equal access to public education based on a child's income they would all qualify.
Related article:
In surprise move, House acts to expand charter schools
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