New legislative watchdog report examines charter school funding and performance

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A brand new legislative watchdog report is looking consideration to each the funding and efficiency of Mississippi’s constitution colleges.

There’s been some pushback on constitution colleges in Mississippi since they have been first licensed. Conventional public faculty advocates have been fearful that cash can be siphoned away from already underfunded colleges. Now, this newest PEER report reveals that, sure, these native tax {dollars} are following the kids to the charters, nevertheless it’s not equal to what’s flowing to the native districts.

“That may be a flaw within the statute in the way in which that the statute was drafted initially,” defined The Mother and father’ Marketing campaign Government Director Nancy Loome. “And no one caught that. It does put conventional public colleges at fairly a funding drawback, and that must be corrected.”

The report additionally notes that the funding from state, native, federal, and different sources was enough for constitution colleges in FY 2022.

“We want equitable funding,” added Loome. “We’re not asking that constitution colleges get lower than conventional public colleges. However the conventional public colleges deserve the identical degree of funding that the constitution colleges are getting. In order that must be addressed.”

The Constitution College Authorizer Board argues that the elimination of the three% funding would make them extra reliant on normal funds and doubtlessly impression constitution progress over time.

The Mississippi Affiliation of Educators additionally took discover of the efficiency evaluation.

“Constitution colleges will not be outperforming our public colleges,” mentioned MAE President Erica Jones.

Though there are steps these public faculty advocates hope lawmakers will take primarily based on the report—they are elevating their fingers to say—the colleges are a silver bullet reply.

“Constitution colleges will all the time be there, however I’m advocating that our legislators not present any extra funding. The extra funding might be given to our public colleges within the state,” famous Jones.

To learn the total PEER report, together with the response from the Constitution College Authorizer Board, click on HERE.

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