A bill restricting enrollment and hiring at public charter schools has sparked opposition from local charter school administrators who arguethe rules would hinder school choice.
Proponents say the bill will ensure teacher quality and protect school districts from significant losses in enrollment, the main factor in how much funding each receives from the state.
Senate Bill 621 would require state licenses for all charter school administrators and teachers, make the sponsoring school district their employer instead of the charter school, and automatically include them in the district's employee unions.
The bill also would end the practice of open enrollment for charter schools, demanding that 80 percent of pupils come from the sponsoring school district and capping the total number of students from the district at 10 percent.
"The intent of the bill is to set up a system where there is accountability to make sure kids get a good education, and the teachers are qualified," said Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, one of the bill's four sponsors.
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"I've been happier with Armadillo as compared to public schools," said Medford resident Lisa McGowan, mother of an Armadillo student. "My son has done better. His grades have soared. At Crater, he was behind in class, felt awful about himself and was flunking."
The Oregon Education Association, the largest state teachers union, supports the bill.
Buckley said he doesn't know whether the rules would apply to the Madrone Trail Public Charter School in the Medford district.
The Medford School Board approved Madrone Trail's charter Feb. 20, but the school won't open until the fall.
"Those requirements would increase our costs," said Daniele Anderson, Madrone Trail board member. "We cannot afford that because we do not get as much money as a school district does."
The Madrone Trail Waldorf-style school is an example of the alternative types of education charter schools offer.
Buckley said the intent of the bill is not to harm charter schools.
"The intent is to do a thorough review of the way charter schools are developing," he said. "There are some charter schools that are almost raiding school districts to get kids to the detriment of the school districts."
The Oregon Charter Academy, an online charter school, for instance, has an enrollment of 1,400 pupils with class sizes of about 50, he said.
Southern Oregon Education Service District in Medford, which also offers online courses, "finds itself competing with a charter school near Salem," he said.
Charter schools are autonomous schools sponsored by a school district and exempt from many of the laws governing other public schools.
Through their sponsoring district, charter schools receive a large portion of the state's per-student funding — 95 percent for high school pupils and 80 percent for those in elementary and middle schools. Enrollment is open to anyone in the state, but priority for admission is given to residents of the sponsoring district.
There are about 70 charter schools in the state.
The Senate Education and General Government Committee will hold a work session Tuesday on the bill.
Reach reporter Paris Achen at 541-776-4459 or pachen@mailtribune.com.
