Making Room for New Public Schools
Author: Maria C. Sazon
Publisher:
Published: 2011
Total Pages: 36
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKAll public school children are entitled to quality public educational facilities--including those who attend public charter schools. Yet charter school leaders often spend substantial time and money searching for a facility. When they find one, they encounter significant costs associated with leasing or purchasing the building. They may have to settle for old warehouses, vacant storefronts and church basements. Since only 15 states and Washington D.C. provide charter schools with some type of funding for facilities, and since charter schools have no taxing power, money spent on facilities must be borrowed, raised, or spent directly from the charter school's operating funds. This report shines a light on seven cities where innovative, affirmative policies and practices are making public facilities available to all public schools. It is hoped is that "the actual proves the possible"--and that seeing these efforts in action will spur productive relationships and collaborative practices in many more communities around the allocation of school facilities. For each city, the report describes the policies and practices in place, the processes used, the lessons learned, and the challenges that remain--even where laws are favorable to charter schools. To guide future advocacy toward fair and equitable allocation of public school buildings, this report also identifies strong policies to ensure charter schools have equitable access to surplus school district space. It is hoped that charter school advocates will use these model principles as they tackle facilities challenges in their own states and communities. (Contains 7 footnotes.).
