Ballot question filed could expand charter school access in Fall River

[unhappycamper]

http://www.heraldnews.com/article/20150805/NEWS/150808401/0/breaking_ajax



The opening of the Argosy charter school caused Fall River to reach its cap for charter school seats.

Ballot question filed could expand charter school access in Fall River
By Matt Murphy
State House News Service
Posted Aug. 5, 2015 at 2:12 PM
Updated Aug 5, 2015 at 2:15 PM

BOSTON — Charter school advocates, stymied in recent years on Beacon Hill in their attempts to prompt the Legislature to lift the cap on available seats for students, filed an initiative petition on Tuesday proposing modest new powers for the state to expand access to charter schools, including in Fall River.

Rather than lifting or eliminating the cap on charter school seats, the organizers behind the ballot campaign are proposing to allow the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to authorize up to 12 new public charter schools or existing school expansions each year.

Preference for new charter school openings would be given to applicants seeking to expand access in the 25 percent lowest performing school districts in the state where proponents say waiting lists are likely to be higher.

The petition would not change the existing state or district level caps, and specifies that charter school seat growth cannot exceed 1 percent of statewide student enrollment each year.

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Nancy said it best: Just say NO.