Charter schools were authorized under the Education Reform Act of 1993. They are considered independent public schools and operate under five year charters granted by the state.
There are currently 78 charter schools in Massachusetts, serving about 40,000 students, about 4 percent of all kids. Another 30,000 children are estimated to be on waiting lists.
A "yes" vote on Question 2 would allow for an increase in charter school enrollment, either by creating as many as 12 new charter schools a year, or expanding enrollment in existing schools. The total number of new enrollees could not exceed one percent of the state’s total public school enrollment.
A "no" vote would leave the current system in place.
Yes On 2's Marty Walz (@MartyWalzAssoc) and Marshfield School Committee's Chairman Sean Costello (@SeanCostelloMA) make their case on whether Charter Schools should be expanded.
Costello said that the idea of a charter school is not one without merit, and being opposed to Question 2 doesn't make you anti-charter schools. He said that voting no on Question 2 makes you anti- 12 new charter schools every year. Costello cited public schools losing money and loss of local control as two of the reasons he is against Question 2.
Walz said that there is a lot of misunderstanding with this question. She said that parents are demanding great schools for their kids, in only nine cities in the state. She said we should be talking about children, and their education, and parents who want better educations for their children. Walz said that we have work to do inside our school systems, and right now there are not enough great schools in Boston.
WGBH and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate are proud to present The Citizens Choice: Raising the Cap on Charter Schools. Join us as we explore both sides of this issue and attempt to answer the question: would raising the cap on charter schools affect Massachusetts for better or for worse? Hear a variety of experts discuss this initiative, and prepare yourself to make an informed decision when you head into the voting booth this fall.
Jim Braude, host of WGBH's Greater Boston will moderate a panel discussion featuring Jessica Tang, Boston Teacher’s Union Director of Organizing; Chris Gabrieli, Chairman and CEO of Empower Schools, Chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, and lecturer at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education; Michael Curry, President of the Boston branch of the NAACP; and Marty Walz, former Massachusetts State Representative and Principal at Marty Walz and Associates.
Free event at EMKI
RSVP at wgbh.org/events
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