Budget tweaking aids charter school funding

Some charter school funding inequities would be cleared up at the expense of teacher training programs under budget tweaking OK'd Monday by the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

First, the committee approved intent language that would make it so school districts no longer must hand over per-student payments to charter schools that set up in their borders — a thorn in districts' sides for years.

The committee voted to have the state take over those payments.

But it needed an extra $1 million to do that, plus fund new charter school equity and growth money approved last week when it shuffled nearly $23 million to plug budget holes and fund priorities.

So the committee voted to take most of the money out of the teacher training fund.

That fund, which already has taken a nearly $8 million hit, is shared by all school districts — even those without charter schools. And those with charter schools will keep all their per-student local funding but take a block grant hit in return.

Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, questioned whether the move breeds further inequity.

But Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem, said the money was long overdue.

"Are we going to fund charter schools on parity, or (continue) to let them struggle?"