SEVERN – Gov. Robert Ehrlich pushed charter school legislation Wednesday that he hailed as providing more “flexibility” and “opportunity” for public school students, a proposal that helps fulfill a campaign promise.
Other bills regulating the public, secular schools are making their way through the General Assembly this session, but the governor’s bill is described as the strongest, allowing for more chartering authorities and no limits to the number of schools permitted statewide. Ehrlich’s bill also would not require teachers to be members of the Maryland State Teachers Association.
Ehrlich’s proposal, Senate Bill 388, is scheduled for a hearing at 1 p.m. today before the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee.
Maryland is one of just 11 states without a charter school law, according to the Center for Education Reform. Without a law on the books, proponents say those interested in opening charter schools have difficulty getting federal funding, and students enrolled in underperforming schools are left without many options.
“We campaigned on the idea that there are different approaches to old problems,” Ehrlich told a group of reporters, students and legislators gathered at Van Bokkelen Elementary in Anne Arundel County Wednesday afternoon.
“Charter schools work,” Ehrlich said. “Charter schools are effective.”
The school of 485 students has a pattern of low test scores, but has seen improvement recently in student behavior, attendance and parental involvement.
State Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick said Van Bokkelen was chosen as a backdrop for Ehrlich because she wanted to show how schools can make progress.
Since 1999, Maryland lawmakers have sponsored legislation regulating charter schools, but they have been unsuccessful in getting the bills to pass.
Last session, House Bill 131 passed both chambers but died after being referred to a conference committee.
“There’s been a collective lack of will to actually get it done,” Ehrlich said. “This … has led to the failure of the General Assembly to pass what we need and want.”
Ehrlich shared the floor with several legislators who filed charter school bills of their own, and many seemed to favor his proposal.
Sen. Janet Greenip, R-Anne Arundel, who sponsored Senate Bill 5, said she withdrew her legislation to put her full support behind Ehrlich.
Greenip’s bill, which was introduced in both chambers, is now making its way through the House, said Delegate John Leopold, R-Anne Arundel, a sponsor.
Leopold said he has not withdrawn his bill because it was drafted with input from charter school proponents and members of the Maryland State Teachers Association.
“This is the bill that all the stakeholders have agreed to,” Leopold said. “It’s a consensus bill.”
Ehrlich’s legislation has drawn high marks so far from the Center for Education Reform.
“We’re pretty happy with it,” said spokeswoman Anna Varghese. “It’s the best bill we’ve seen in about three years.”
A potential sticking point is the provision allowing charter schools to hire and fire employees according to its own personnel policies or any collective bargaining agreement it negotiates with its employees. That language already has drawn questions from members of the state teacher’s union.
“Can you imagine a union composed of the teachers of just one school?” asked MSTA president Pat Foerster. “Students count on us for quality education, and we believe charter schools can be an excellent initiative, as long as they are held to the same standards as public schools.”
But Grasmick praised Ehrlich’s proposal and was sitting by his side throughout Wednesday’s news conference.
“As I deal with 1,400 public schools across this state, I know that there is not a single size that fits all,” Grasmick said. “We need all the tools possible, so I suggest to you that we embrace the opportunity of (adding) another tool in our toolbox today.”
Maryland’s sole charter school was approved last year in Frederick, thanks to a county law that diverts public money to private schools.