“These are the policy equivalent of an extended middle finger.”
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With new fast-tracked transparency rules for He added that the charter cap bill sponsored charter schools in California, Gov. Gavin by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty of Sacramento Newsom has fulfilled a January pledge to bring was the “most important” bill for the union. “long overdue” accountability measures to this Newsom was noncommittal about the upcomgrowing sector of public schools. ing charter proposals at the bill signing ceremony But the open meeting and disclosure law for SB 126, which will make charter schools abide signed last week—after Gov. Jerry Brown by the same conflict of interest and open meeting vetoed similar bills twice—may turn out to be rules as traditional district schools. the least controversial part of the Capitol push But the governor also said that he was for tighter charter school regulation. “exhausted” by the intense, polarizing debates Several bills, introduced as teachers strikes surrounding the role of charter schools in California, have amplified the issue, would impose far grinding his knuckles together for emphasis. more consequential and politically loaded “The goal over the next few months is to restrictions on the state’s 1,300-plus charters, work to address a number of these vexing issues publicly funded schools that operate outside of that frankly need to be addressed,” Newsom the control of school districts and are told reporters. “It’s long overdue to have mostly non-union. these conversations.” Among them are a cap The governor emphasized on charter schools at their that he’s already asked current level, strict limits state Superintendent of on charter school locaPublic Instruction Tony tions and the appeal of Thurmond to commischarters denied by local sion a report studying school districts, new the financial impact of rules that would let charter school growth districts deny a charter on districts’ budgets. based, at least in part, But some lawmakEric Premack on the potential finaners signaled they executive director and founder of the cial impact on traditional might not be willing Sacramento-based Charter Schools public schools. to wait until summer, Development Center Assembly Bills 1505, when Thurmond’s study 1506, 1507 and 1508 would is expected. “I’m not going curb the growth of California’s to kick the can down the road, charter schools, which educate about which has been done so many times 10 percent of the state’s 6.2 million public in Sacramento, and wait and hope that some school students. committee that someone has put together comes Legislators pushing the proposals say they up with wise recommendations. I’m going are long-needed revisions to laws that have gone to act,” Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, a mostly unchanged for decades. Democrat from Long Beach and chairman But unlike Senate Bill 126, which Newsom of the Assembly Education Committee, told signed March 5 and on which most charter CALmatters. advocates were neutral, the forthcoming proposAssemblyman Kevin Kiley of Rocklin, the als can expect vigorous and organized pushback. education committee vice chairman and its sole “These are the policy equivalent of an extended Republican, said the proposed bills are “all very middle finger,” said Eric Premack, executive bad ideas–each and every one.” director and founder of the Sacramento-based “This is just fundamentally an issue of Charter Schools Development Center. educational equity,” Kiley said. Ω Unions were equally adamant. “It’s been a long time coming,” Alex Caputo-Pearl, president of United Teachers Los CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture Angeles, said, calling the bills “common-sense explaining California policies and politics. An unabridged version of this story is available at newsreview.com/sacramento. regulations.”
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03.14.19 | SN&R | 13