Comments about ‘Utah Legislature: Districts to help fund charter schools?’

As a taxpayer I do not want any of my money (which by the way, the state takes more than their fair share) going to charter schools. Why does the right wing element of the Republican party despise public schools? The charter schools were also passed byte the right wing element. Get a grip and fund public schools first. VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT! This is the only way that we are going to have change. hOW MUCH MORE CAN WE TAKE.

VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT! Charter schools need to go.

Charters are once again hurting the 92% of Utah's children who attend district schools in order to fund the few who are going to charter schools. Take from the poor to feed the rich seems to be the ambitions of this bill and those who sponsor it. Thanks Utah State legislatures for helping push me even closer to leaving this state in order to make sure my children can get a decent education.

I thought that our state GOP legislators were always arguing that money doesn't make schools better. So why are they giving Charters more money?
The theory of money doesn't help education will be tested this year with how low the budget will be, especially after taking more money away from districts and giving it to Charter schools. If Charter schools start to perform better and district schools start to perform worse the theory of money matters will be proven to be true.

Slipping last minute laws in will surely be a great precedence to set for the future. Oh wait, they do this every year and we keep electing them.

Taking more money away from Regular public schools and giving that money to Charter schools widens the playing field between the 2 even more. Charter's already have many advantages over regular schools: cap class sizes, send unwanted students back to their regular school, demand parent involvement, advertise on radio with tax dollars, subvert highly qualified status of teachers, not supply busing, rent a building instead of own it (and the associated costs of owning versus renting), be owned and run by state legislators, etc, etc, etc.

Now lets remember that study after study shows that Charter schools (with all their advantages) are not outperforming regular schools. Maybe if we take even more money away from regular schools and give it to Charter schools then Charter schools will finally outperform regular schools.

After growing up in public schools, having my kids attend both and working in both I say go charters! That's where the quality in education rests. I would tell chili to get rid of public schools and come to the light!

I don't have an issue with charter schools.

But to bring this up, in this budget climate, and at this point in the legislative session, is absolutely OUTRAGEOUS.

Let's hope the good rep. is right and this gets tabled this year.

Here we go again, siphoning money from the public school systems to religious schools.

It's amazing they forget. Separate but equal does not exist. Check the supreme court case....It requires equal treatment under the law....

To correct an earlier statement....... all children, not just the rich, have a right to go to charter schools. It does not cost any more, unless I am missing something. If charters provide a better education then they will grow. If they don't then they will die. Open competition is healthy and will force both school districts and charters to improve. In school districts with poor quality the charter schools are thriving. I know of other charter schools not filling up due to exceptional school districts. Charter schools take a huge risk financial and if they don't put kids in the seats they will fail. But, it forces Charters to provide quality education. Both myself and my kids attended school districts. I thought a large majority of teachers and programs were amazing, but with increased competition, this will make ALL schools even better. Hey, just one persons opinion.

Actually Mr. Horsley, the money will be spent in the "district". I pay property taxes to Granite School District and our kids attend a charter school within the Granite boundaries. Hence, it's spent within "the district"...just not BY the district thank goodness.

Here's hoping it passes.

This is about bringing charter funding UP to the level of district funding. I pay property taxes that equate to a level of income to Granite. If I send my kids to a charter school, the charter gets some $$ and Granite gets some $$ even though they aren't teaching my kids...so why not give it all to the charter kids?

The parents of children in charter schools pay the same property taxes as the rest and should have a say in what education system they choose to use. To make things more equitable and fair, a property owner should have the right to designate which education system they want to support. The state constitution does not say we are restricted to a single public education system.

Parents want their children to get a good education and you can't get a good eduction in pubic schools or colleges. This is why parents are opting out of the public system that is fraught with crime and criminal spending of education taxes.

These districts whine about losing funds but they say nothing about accountability, fraud, and waste of funds in their trust, the quality of education is more important.

I don't want illegal aliens in our schools either but we taxpayers are defrauded by the education system that has become day care centers for illegals who have no desire to be americans. The illegals are looting and pilfering our taxes and disrupting education of our children in public schools, and its illegal.

Just because your children attend a charter school within the district you reside does not mean that ALL charter school students attend a charter within the district they reside. In fact not all students attend a district school within the district they reside. If this bill passes I want to receive a yearly budget review from every charter school who receives money from my district. In fact I would like that report to start this year, since charter schools are receiving district money now!

Charter schools were sold to the Legislature and the State as a "cheaper way to educate students". Now, charter school advocates are whining about not getting the same amount of money. Charter schools said they could do better with less money, so let's see it! This is a tight budget year, all districts are starting to cut budgets for the 2010-11 school year, charters must too.

This is just a way for Sen. Howard Stephenson to be able to tell his constituents that he is a great guy because he didn't raise taxes AND was able to help charters. Guess what, I will not vote for you and will campaign against you!

Charter Schools are public schools and have every right to share in the property taxes. My children are thriving in the Charter School in my district. I live in the district and pay taxes in the district. Why should my proprerty taxes be given only to a school district which failed my children instead of being shared with the public charter school in my district which is serving them well. We are not among the rich and neither are most the other parents whose children attend our Charter. We are just parents seeking the best educational option for our children, plus we reduce the class size in the public schools when our children attend Charters.

Districts know that if the pendulum tips too far, they can just declare themselves charter schools and go forward.

What do illegal immigrants have to do this issue? I guess that is why you are in a Charter instead of a real school where ALL children are welcome. I feel sad for your kids to grow up learning such hate and prejudice from their parent.
Would you prefer we don't educate illegals and let them wander the streets and not become productive members of society? Don't hurt the children because a business in Utah is willing to hire their parents illegally. Have some compassion to those in need and stop being so greedy for your tax dollars.

Q: Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, the bill's sponsor. "We're saying, 'Why should you get money for students you aren't teaching?' "
A: Because the charter students eventually leave the charter and come back to public education.

Q: "SB2, the education budget bill, would do away with local replacement, requiring districts to instead pay charter schools a per-student portion of their property taxes."
A: Yes, I am upset with this, but Charter schools have a lower enrollment; therefore, they are receiving less money.

Q: ""We're already struggling," said Rhonda Bromley, spokeswoman for Alpine School District. "Adding that kind of burden – where do we turn for that money? We'll have no choice but to raise the tax rate.""
A: This is what is going to happen. School districts will be losing money gradually over the next 12 years. People are not going to be happy. If you can think of another way to fund education, let me know.

I first want to say that I think charter schools may have their place in our society. But to those of you who think they are benevolent and deserving of equal status, you need to wake up. The charter schools are for the wealthy and self important. I am for parent involvement and think parents should have a say but face it, some parents are crazy.
Charter schools desire to be mainstream. Yet, the are exclusionary. Public schools have to take every student. Charter schools do not.
I think if it is equal money it should be equal standards.