The North Carolina legislature is supposed to be a part-time body, but you wouldn’t know that by the number of special sessions we’ve had. Every time legislators come back to Raleigh, there are rumors and speculation about what they’ll do. This time, the GOP is using the special session to try to rig the judicial system, a move that will likely cost taxpayers millions more in legal fees and probably be found unconstitutional.
If they’re coming to Raleigh, there’s a lot they could be doing. In particular, they could fix the unfunded mandate they passed when they reduced class size without the money to cover the cost of the additional teachers and classrooms. Unfortunately, it seems we’re headed for a budget shortfall this year and the Republicans would rather pay legal bills to fight for unconstitutional legislation than pay for better schools for kids.
If it’s not addressed, the unfunded mandate will require some schools to drop arts education and P. E. That’s bad for our students and our reputation.
Instead of offering a real fix, expect Republican legislators to tell us they’re offering students a choice. If they want to go to schools with arts and P. E., they can go to one of the dozens of new charters that offer them. Or we can send our kids to a private school with the help of vouchers. Unfortunately, those schools might not offer a cafeteria or transportation so they’re not really much of an option for poor kids.
That’s school choice. You can have a school with arts and P. E., but it might not have lunch or busses. If you choose to go to a traditional school, you get food and rides, but you don’t get all the extras that give kids a well-rounded education. In the modern North Carolina school system, you can choose any bad option you want.
When Republicans tell us they’re reforming something, it really means they’re cutting the budget. They believe they can reform our schools by cutting programs that benefit kids and improve performance with competition between traditional, charter and private schools. It’s magical thinking and our kids and reputation will feel the hit.
If Republicans feel the need to be in Raleigh, they should spend their time fixing what they’ve broken instead of breaking more of what works. In particular, they should fix our schools and leave our courts alone. Really, though, they should just go back to being a part-time legislature and get back to their conservative mantra, “That government which governs best, governs least.”
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
Some facts about NC Charter Schools (courtesy of A.P. Dillion)):
Charters are public schools, not private schools.
They are underfunded compared to their traditional counterparts; on average receive $1,100 less per pupil. In some districts, the gap is far larger
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Despite being underfunded, charters are doing more with less due to budget flexibility, smarter spending, and curriculum choices. That means charters are doing more with less and are, in fact, saving taxpayers money as a result.
They consistently outperformed their traditional counterparts on state math and reading tests. Go to the NC State Report Card website. Take a look for yourself and do the math.
Charters have stricter accountability than their counterparts. Unlike traditional public schools, charters can, will and have been closed for a wide range of issues, including performance and finances. The body which approved and oversees charters is called the Charter School Advisory Board (CSAB).
While official oversight accountability is stringent, the strongest oversight actually comes from parents. If they are unsatisfied with results, they take their kid or kids elsewhere. That’s the beauty of choice – produce or be discarded.
Enrollment continues to grow and demand has outpaced seats which have required charters to hold lotteries to attend.
By law, must accept all types of students from all walks of life.
By law, are required to use the same education standards adopted by the NC Board of Education.
By law, are required to test their students using national standardized tests.
The legislature in NC has made choice in education and schools a priority; but not for students to gain an education. It’s how to funnel public tax dollars to their cronies so that they can reap billions in profits all for the sake of “choice”. The Republican idea of ‘rational choice theory’ put into practice; except there is nothing rational about it.
Good advice. I doubt they will take it. It would be charitable to call the GOP leaders (and many fellow legislators) slow learners.