Obama wants charter school caps lifted, startup grants doubled
Central Michigan University officials say they would charter more schools if allowed and they may get their way under the Obama administration.
President Barack Obama supports the expansion of charter schools nationwide as part of his effort to reform U.S. education.
"I call on states to reform their charter rules and lift caps on the number of allowable charter schools, wherever such caps are in place," he said in his speech to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.
Obama is lobbying state legislatures to change their laws, saying there needs to be a rigorous selection and review process.
"We think that quality comes first, so whether there is a cap or not a cap, we are going to demand quality," said Jim Goenner, executive director of the Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University.
There were 41 applications during the last selection process for a new CMU charter. Four finalists were identified before Quest Academy in Taylor was approved by the Board of Trustees on Feb. 19.
Goenner said if state limits on charter schools were eliminated or increased, they would have recommended all four finalists for chartering.
During the presidential campaign, Obama supported a doubling of the federal charter school startup grant program.
The grant program provides funding for groups who want to start a charter school in their community. The funds are administered by the state after a competitive process examines the potential for growth and quality.
Goenner said the selection process is similar to how CMU culls applicants. Community need is determined, along with educational quality, and business and implementation plan strength review.
Michigan public universities currently are limited to 150 schools each can charter. Local and intermediate schools can charter schools within their boundary areas and universities can charter schools statewide.
Karen Adams, dean of the College of Education and Human Services, hopes that increasing the number of allowed charter schools will open up opportunities for disadvantaged students in urban areas like Detroit.
At CMU, an online masters degree program in educational leadership is available for charter school administrators.
The university also developed a management system that has a streamlined process to help schools meet state and federally mandated reporting and compliance requirements.
"One of the really strong parts of our charter schools program is our accountability system," Adams said. "Because we know this instruction works, we can implement it in other schools."
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