SB8 Signed Into Law, Lifting Charter School Cap in NC - 17th June 2011
"RALEIGH — Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue, as expected, Friday signed into law a measure lifting the cap on charter schools, handing a victory to parents looking for more options for their children.
The law, long pushed by Republican lawmakers, raises a cap that restricted the number of charter schools in North Carolina to no more than 100. Charter schools are taxpayer funded schools, but operate independently of the rules that govern most public schools.
The measure has long been a matter of contention in the legislature, with organized teachers voicing concern that charter schools would hurt traditional public schools. But a compromise measure passed overwhelmingly this week, unanimously in the Senate and by a 108-5 margin in the House."
NewsObserver.com - http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/06/17/1281607/perdue-signs-law-lifting-cap-on.html
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Did You Know?
- NC taxpayers grant each school-aged child in the state with about $10,000/yr for their education.
- When a child moves into a NC county, taxpayers send $10,000/yr to that county’s school(s) to pay for that child’s education.
- When that child moves out of the county, the $10,000/yr for that child’s education is no longer granted to the county’s schools, as they no longer have the expense of educating that child.
- If the child moves to another NC county, the $10,000/yr follows the child to the school in the new county, as they bear the expense of educating the child.
- Without moving to a new school district, parents who aren’t satisfied with their child’s education are only left with homeschooling or private schools as an option.
- Many families count on the adults in the house-hold to earn an income, making homeschooling a nearly impossible choice.
- Many families, especially low income families, cannot afford the average $4,600/yr tuition for private schools.
What choice do these parents and children have? Keep reading….
"I feel ashamed that so many of us cannot imagine a better way to do things than locking children up all day in cells instead of letting them grow up knowing their families, mingling with the world, assuming real obligations, striving to be independent and self-reliant and free." - John Taylor Gatto, Author of "Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling" (Amazon)
Table of Contents
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Senate Bill 8 - The Solution
(Read the latest version of the bill as of March 17th 2011 )
The bill allows for new charter schools to open in North Carolina, with no limit to how many of them
can exist. It allows the 20,000 waitlisted students to attend a school of their choice at no cost to other public schools, while saving taxpayers money.
- NC law allows for only 100 charter schools to exist in the state
- Parents can elect to enter their children into a charter school without having to pay tuition
- Since charter schools are a part of the NC school system, if a parent enters their child into one of the 100 charter schools, a portion of the $10,000 taxpayers provide for each child’s education is sent to the charter school.
- Typically, only about 60% of the $10,000 is provided to the charter schools, saving taxpayers money.
- The public schools are NOT harmed, as the effect is the same as when a child leaves the public school to move to a different county.
- The public schools keep 100% of the $10,000 per student for all students attending those schools.
Unfortunately, having only 100 charter schools has left 20,000 students on waiting lists, as they want to attend a charter school, however there simply isn’t enough capacity in the 100 charter schools allowed by law.
A WIN For Everyone!!!
School Children WIN:
The best education $10,000 can buy
Parents WIN:
Ability to decide which school provides the best education for their child without being left with private school and homeschool the only option.
Teachers WIN:
A choice of employers and opportunity for entrepreneurship in being able to open new and innovative
charter schools
Schools WIN:
Excel as they compete for parents’ decision on where to place their children
North Carolina WINS:
A strong education system, producing a competent, productive, and involved population
The Nation WINS:
A successful model for school choice that other states across the nation can follow and improve on.
Background Material and Research
Per Pupil Spending in North Carolina
(More coming soon, please see references at bottom of page for more information.)
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/fbs/resources/data/highlights/2010highlights.pdf
http://www.ncforum.org/doclib/2004_just_the_facts.pdf
http://www.rutherfordcountync.gov/dept/finance/2010%20CAFR%20-%20Rutherford%20County.pdf
http://www.ednews.org/articles/new-parents-guide-rebuts-myths-about-nc-private-schools.html
A Charter School Lottery Example
The Charter Day School of the Roger Bacon Academy in Leland, North Carolina held their annual lottery. The video below is from the event. The size of the crowd says it all. There were about 240 applicants for 90 spots. This is the REAL North Carolina Education Lottery. (via Civitas Institute )
Proudly Standing Against School Choice - Since the 1800s?
"The education of all children, from the moment that they can get along without a mother's care, shall be in state institutions at state expense." – Karl Marx, the father of modern Communism and Socialism
"We must create out of the younger generation a generation of Communists. We must turn children, who can be shaped like wax, into real, good Communists…. We must remove the children from the crude influence of their families. We must take them over and, to speak frankly, nationalize them. From the first days of their lives they will be under the healthy influence of Communist children's nurseries and schools. There they will grow up to be real Communists." – Communist Party Education Workers Congress (1918/1921)
Or, Should These Quotes Guide Us On This Issue
"The group consisting of mother, father and child is the main educational agency of mankind." — Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr
"it is better to tolerate that rare instance of a parent's refusing to let his child be educated, than to shock the common feelings by a forcible transportation and education of the infant against the will of his father." — Thomas Jefferson
"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical;" — Thomas Jefferson
References
- The Actual SB8 Bill Text
- NC Civitas Answers To The Common Misconceptions on SB8
- How Much Does North Carolina Spend to Produce One High School Diploma
- How Much Does it Really Cost - CATO Institute
- A Charter School Admission Lottery Drawing
- Common Charter School Funding Myths Debunked
- Report To the NC House On NC Education Budgets
- NC Education Myths Debunked - John Locke Foundation Interview
- NC 2012 Senate Budget Facts on Education Funding