Today, the Center for Education Reform released its state rankings and Texas’ charter school law received a “D.” This isn’t really surprising considering the multiple rules and regulations that have been added on in recent years, the lack of facilities funding, and barriers to growth such as the state imposed cap of 215.
Yet, in spite of a mediocre state law, more and more Texas students and parents are choosing to attend a charter school. In Texas, charter school enrollment continues to increase. The Texas Education Agency reports that the number of students attending an open enrollment charter school increased from approximately 90,000 students to 102,000 students (2007-08 to 2008-09). Fourteen school districts operate charter schools that serve another 25,000 students. This brings the total of Texas charter school enrollment to almost 128,000 students.
The same trend holds true nationally. Across the country, more than 1.4 million students attended a public charter school last year. This year, student enrollment in public charter schools is more than 1.5 million students, according to the Center for Education Reform. The United States has more than 5,000 charter schools and 39 states currently allow charter schools, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
Unfortunately, the charter school movement still has many artificial barriers to growth such as caps on enrollment, caps on the number of schools that may operate, or paperwork requirements that traditional public schools don’t have to fill out in order to expand. These barriers plus a lack of facilities has led to long waiting lists in many areas.
Nationwide, an estimated 365,000 students are on a charter school waiting list. In New York City, about 40,000 students applied for 8,500 seats. Texas had nearly 17,000 students on wait lists last year. (TPPF will release an updated total tomorrow.) Even states with very few charter schools such as Maryland has a waiting list with 3,000 students.
Students deserve the ability attend the school of their choice. It is time to get rid of arbitrary caps and other unnecessary barriers to expansion.
– Brooke Terry