APS Forgets That Charter Schools Teach District's Students
Posted on: Thursday, 23 February 2006, 12:00 CST
RE: "APS NEEDS a Lot More Than a Tax Increase" editorial
I am responding to the statement that charter school capital funding "penalizes" the "host district." Representing 59 of 61 approved charter schools that now teach 9,000 students, the New Mexico Coalition for Charter Schools regrets the rhetoric adopted by districts that pits the needs of charter school students against others.
Charter school students are public school students and deserve equal access to public facilities. Rather than "penalize," more useful language is "to secure a system for funding charter schools that meets the needs of all the districts' students."
The coalition believes that one step toward meeting the capital needs of charter school students and parents in APS is to give them access to local property tax dollars. Other school districts like Santa Fe, Cimarron and Roswell share local taxpayer dollars with their charter schools, so why not the wealthiest one in the state?
Eleven charter schools in APS operate under charters to work with students academically or socially challenged in more traditional school environments. Of the current 30 charter schools in APS, 22 have waiting lists. The unique programs of charter schools are popular with students and parents, who also pay local school taxes.
It's time to stop thinking in punitive terms when talking about students' needs. Let's begin thinking outside the box, beginning with giving charter school students and their families an equitable portion of local tax payer money to help solve their capital needs. LISA GROVER Executive Director N.M. Coalition for Charter Schools Santa Fe
Source: Albuquerque Journal
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