Texans for Parental Choice in Education

At 11:30 PM on May 31, 2009, Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Ft. Worth) single-handedly killed the charter school expansion bill (HB 3220) on a point of order.

When asked by the Quorum Report, Burnam said that his intent was simple.

“This is a massive charter school expansion bill,” Burnam said. “I hate charter schools. I’m going to kill this bill.”

This is the kind of arrogance that causes us to “hate” politicians.

I’m wondering what the 17,000 kids on waiting lists to enter charter schools think about Rep. Burnam and his hatred of charter schools.  Does Burnam hate these kids?  Or maybe he is proud of himself for saving them from making, what he in his omniscience knows is, a “bad choice.”

Two charter schools in Texas made the U.S. News and World Report’s list of “America’s Best 100 Public High Schools” – IDEA Public Schools in the Rio Grande Valley (#19) and YES Prep Public Schools in Houston (#52).  I guess Burnam hates them also because they make his ISD schools look bad.

What is it that Burnam calls a “massive charter school expansion“?  That would be 12 new charters per year.  So, Mr. Burnam, how many would be a “non-massive” expansion? 2, 1, or just 0.  Yes, zero new charter schools is definitely “non-massive”.

Rep. Lon Burnam’s phone number is 512-463-0740 and email link.

The important parts of SB 1830, attached to HB 3220, that survived conference and will go to the governor’s desk are:

1. CAP RAISED 12 PER YEAR
The cap on the number of charters for open-enrollment schools will be raised by 12 per year.  Two of those must be “schools that will primarily serve students with disabilities.”

2. EXPEDITED APPROVAL FOR NEW CAMPUSES
Open-enrollment charter schools, meeting the following conditions, may NOTIFY, rather than APPLY for approval to, the Commissioner that they intend to open a new campus.  If the Commissioner doesn’t deny the new campus within 90 days, the new campus is automatically approved.
The conditions for the charter’s schools are:

• At least 90% of the charter’s campuses have been rated acceptable or higher for the preceding two years.
• If any campus has been rated unacceptable more than once in the preceding three years, it has been closed.
• The charter holder satisfies generally accepted accounting standards of fiscal management.

3. JUNIOR COLLEGES MAY SPONSOR CHARTER SCHOOLS.
Currently, only 4-year colleges can.

4. REMOVED! COLOCATION INCENTIVE

3. REMOVED! FAIR DROPOUT COUNT FOR DROPOUT RECOVERY SCHOOLS