Is parity funding ahead for charters?

Charter school leaders could be checking off their wish list this session after meeting with lawmakers who want to give charters funding parity with traditional schools and more money for administrative costs.

Seventeen leaders from both the state and charter boards of education and State Office of Education leaders met Thursday with Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley and co-chair of the Executive Appropriations Committee, and other lawmakers to spell out charter school needs in order to draft responsive legislation.

"I think that with Representative Bigelow's leadership we have got a comprehensive charter school bill that is going to make charter schools and public schools very happy," said Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, who is working with Bigelow on the bill.

A recent legislative audit indicated that charter schools were not receiving equal funding in comparison with school districts. It also showed that charter schools need more money for state and school administrative costs as well as a mechanism for controlled growth.

Scott Smith, State Charter Board chairman, said it looks like all that will be taken care of in this year's appropriations.

"It could be the most exciting year for charter schools and will change what charters are in Utah," Smith said. "This is sending a message that charters are public education, period. And they need to be treated appropriately. ... Economically, they should be treated the same."

Currently, Bigelow is working on legislation that would have the districts kick in some property tax money to increase charter funding.

Currently, revenue from property taxes goes to the traditional public schools but not to charters. So the state kicks in replacement funding for charters in lieu of local money. Even so, charters are still short on funding by comparison.

Lawmakers are working a hybrid plan where both the districts and the state could kick in funding for local replacement, Hughes said.

Hughes said they also plan to fund more staff positions in the state charter office since currently three specialists oversee over 50 schools.

Moreover, they want to give charter schools more money for administrative costs. According to Hughes, charter schools get around $5 per student to go to school administration while traditional schools receive about $80 per student for administrative funding.

However, legislators are moving away from the idea of establishing a charter approval cap but said there will be language that allow for "responsible growth" in the bill.

In related news, Smith appointed Marlies Burns as the new state charter director Thursday. She is a former charter school principal and state charter specialist.

Historically, the job of appointing state charter chiefs was up the the state superintendent, but since the charter audit, state leaders have adjusted power, giving the charter board the final say in approvals and other executive decisions as recommended in the audit.

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com