Dena Levitz, The Examiner
2008-06-20 07:00:00.0
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WASHINGTON -

D.C. government leaders would have total control over choosing the leadership of D.C.’s growing public charter schools movement, under a bill introduced by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton on Thursday.

The measure would do away with the federal government’s role in nominating members of the D.C. Public Charter School Board and put all the power in the hands of city officials.

Since 1996, the District’s mayor has appointed members of the seven-person board, but his appointments are based on a list provided by the U.S. secretary of education.

The delegate’s plan is for the mayor, with the help of other government authorities, to create the list and then make the appointments.

Norton said in a statement that the process is no longer appropriate given the phenomenal growth of the charter system. She also said there’s been resentment about the fact that board members don’t have to live in D.C. yet are making pivotal decisions about a publicly funded education system there.

Two current board members reside outside the District.

“The board cannot be appropriately accountable if its members are chosen from outside the accountable jurisdiction,” she said. “Because the mayor is not permitted to select members other than those submitted by the secretary, the federal government inserts itself into critical decision making about an important local education matter.”

Nona Richardson, spokeswoman for the charter board, said the legislation doesn’t appear to be an enormous change and that members respect the feelings of elected officials to want to have more direct control over charters.

Criticism of the charter school oversight structure has been building this school year, especially among the members of the D.C. Council. Last month legislation was introduced that sets stricter limits on charter expansion to multiple campuses and lengthens the time it takes for charter schools to open in the first place.

The bill, like Norton’s, also forbids charter board members from residing outside of D.C.

Richardson said the charter board “wouldn’t fight” the issue, even though it would change the board’s composition.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com