CHESTER DAILY TIMES EDITORIAL: …Senate Bill 1085 adds a new — and of course controversial — element to the mix. The bill would allow institutions of higher learning, colleges and universities, to do an end around on local school boards, opening doors to charter schools without first winning local approval, something they cannot do now. Widener University operates a charter school in Chester Upland, but it had to get local approval first.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster, would toss any geographic restrictions on these entities opening charters. In other words, a university or college could open a charter wherever it perceived a need, not just in its own locale. Our own Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester is a co-sponsor of the bill. No one knows better the challenge of education in Chester Upland than Pileggi, the former mayor of the city.
But we have grave concerns about the loss of local control and seemingly unfettered possibility of more charters. That is true both in the leeway granted to institutions of higher learning to jump into the charter business, and the 18-member commission created at the state level to oversee charters. That board would consist of the secretary of education; six legislators; and 11 representatives of the charters, local school districts and a university, all appointed by the governor… (more)
This legislation that is initiated by conservative republicans with the relationship of The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and The State Policy Network (SPN) will end public education in leaving the public schools with the most difficult and costly students and an unsustainable infrastructure, that is the objective of ALEC & SPN.
ALEC & SPN are driving the legislation in Pennsylvania to end public schooling, weaken environmental and endangered species laws, work place health and safety protections, etc. at a record pace before there may be a change in governors.
The people of Pennsylvania have now lost control of driving legislation for themselves.