SOUTH UTAH VALLEY TO RECEIVE TWO NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS
By Rep. Mike Morley
South Utah Valley residents will soon see another model of public education emerge as an educational alternative for their kindergarten through high school students. American Achievement Academy and Reagan Academy are new charter schools to be built this summer in Spanish Fork and Springville respectively. The new schools were approved last year by the State Charter School Board and ratified by the State School Board. Both are now beginning facility construction.
Since 1991, 41 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have created charter schools through legislation. Utah joined the nationwide movement in 1998 by passing legislation that created Utah's first eight charter schools. There are now 29 charter schools in Utah with another 10 expected to open by next fall.
Charter schools are not private schools—hey are free public schools, created by state legislation and fully funded by state and federal tax dollars. They cannot charge tuition. They must employ state certified teachers. They cannot discriminate as to enrollment. If more enrollment applications are received than the school capacity, students are selected by a random lottery. A charter school may select creative, innovative, proven curriculum materials but the coursework must conform to the core academic requirements of the State Board of Education.
Charter schools are public schools, but they are very much a different brand or flavor of public school. The school operates under the terms of a contract, or charter, granted them by a chartering authority. That authority could be the local school district, or it could be the State Charter School Board. The charter details the school plan, ranging from the curriculum and academic program to dress standards and employment plans and policies. The charter sets forth the unique mission of the school.
Charter schools were created by Utah law (Utah 53A-1a-503) for several express purposes:
• Continue to improve student learning.
• Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods.
• Create new professional opportunities for educators.
• Increase choice of learning opportunities for students.
• Establish new models of public schools and new forms of accountability.
• Provide opportunities for greater parental involvement.
• Expand school choice.
Utah's first charter schools were created to fill specialty niches. For example, there is a performing arts charter high school at Tuahuacan, near St. George. There is an arts charter school formerly located at Sundance, now in the Heber Valley. There is a charter school specifically for deaf children in Salt Lake City. There are now several charter high schools dedicated to teaching math, engineering, and science. However, since 2001 Utah charter schools have expanded their appeal by offering general academic curriculums for kindergarten through high school. Utah’s current 29 charter schools have succeeded well in accomplishing their purposes.
Public education in Utah is funded largely by Utah income taxes, appropriated by the state legislature. In addition, the school districts are able to borrow funds for building construction by issuing tax- free bonds that are guaranteed by the state. The school districts can also impose local property taxes – taxes that are used partly to fund current operations but largely to pay for building construction and maintenance. The local property tax collection equates to approximately 20% of a local school district budget. Charter schools cannot impose property taxes nor can they issue state guaranteed tax-free bonds. This has resulted in a significant financial disadvantage to charter schools relative to their district school counterparts. The legislature created a property tax replacement fund which is intended to provide funds approximately equal to the average property tax assessed for public education. The formula has been found to be somewhat lacking and does not accurately compensate charter schools on an average basis for the property tax deficiency, but has provided much-needed funding for facilities.
A charter school, in essence, subcontracts the education of children from their district counterparts. Disadvantaged by the fact that they cannot raise large capital through a bonding authority, charter schools have relied on private lenders and investors. Those who invest in or build charter schools are at risk, much like any other real estate venture, and have no state guarantees. A charter school is an at-will school with open enrollment. Should the charter school fail to attract students to the school, it is at risk for the capital invested for the facilities provided.
Lenders view charter schools as risky operations similar to any other startup business which typically requires considerable capital contribution a well as strong financial statements from investors in order to qualify for the debt. Despite these drawbacks, what has emerged statewide is a model of private developers and lenders cooperating with charter school founders to provide a safe, attractive, durable, and comfortable facility that serves the needs of the charter school, at a monthly lease amount that fits the school budget.
Utah currently educates about 500,000 K-12 students each year. Presently there are about 6,000 in Utah charter schools. That number will double to 12,000 this fall. Two years ago the Governor’s Office predicted that within ten years we would have over 50,000 students in charter schools. Parental desire for excellence and choice in education is driving this demand. And, Utah public education is responding to the demand by offering charter schools and by improving programs in the district schools.
The two new charter schools in the Nebo District will serve their students well. But, the entire district is well served because the new charter schools absorb significant student numbers without need for the Nebo District to issue new bonds, raise new taxes, and build new schools. The Nebo District can focus its attention, and resources on serving their student populations while the charter schools are built and funded with state, federal, and private resources, leaving the Nebo School District property tax base unaffected.
The Nebo School District offers an excellent educational program to South Utah Valley residents and children. The two new charter schools offer South Utah Valley students additional choices for excellence in education.
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