The state took over Houston ISD after one of its schools continuously failed to meet academic standards. But an analysis of records shows it’s been more generous with underperforming charter schools, waiving expansion requirements at least 17 times.
It also lets businesses profit off of kids’ education money while starving public schools of funding. Here in NY, charter schools take money from the public school fund. However, they are allowed to pick and choose which students they want and there is little to no oversight. So they reject any students with special needs (IEPs, 504 plans, etc) and take only students that they can teach for as little money as possible. Anything extra is profit for the business.
Public schools are left with a greater percentage of special needs students to help, but with less money to do it. Then, the charter schools point to the public schools as failing and push for more charter schools. More charter schools open and the public schools are left with less money. Repeat again and again as public funds are diverted to private businesses.
It also lets businesses profit off of kids’ education money while starving public schools of funding. Here in NY, charter schools take money from the public school fund. However, they are allowed to pick and choose which students they want and there is little to no oversight. So they reject any students with special needs (IEPs, 504 plans, etc) and take only students that they can teach for as little money as possible. Anything extra is profit for the business.
Public schools are left with a greater percentage of special needs students to help, but with less money to do it. Then, the charter schools point to the public schools as failing and push for more charter schools. More charter schools open and the public schools are left with less money. Repeat again and again as public funds are diverted to private businesses.