Good day, CharterFolk.
Let’s get through a mix of news getting attention and not.
In the category of not, we start with new lows in Americans’ satisfaction with public schools.
Only EdWeek and the Hill covered it at a national level.
It’s the unreported backdrop as all education eyes turn to Linda McMahon’s confirmation hearing on Thursday …
… and to an expected executive order about the Department of Education.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are proposing to do away with the tax exemption for private activity bonds …
… which could greatly increase borrowing costs for charter schools financing the development of facilities.
What could make things even worse …
… is the possibility of ending the exemption, not just for future bonds, but for existing ones, which could have devastating immediate impact on many charter school budgets.
This is definitely something to keep our eye on, CharterFolk.
Meanwhile, Kingsbury and Green from the Heritage Foundation have re-asserted their criticism of charter schools as being too woke, an attack I have written is unfair, but one that, in this political landscape, should be paid attention to nonetheless.
Political crosswinds notwithstanding, charter schools continue to be maintaining, if not increasing, momentum in many places across the United States.
CSP grants being managed by support organizations in Idaho …
… and New Mexico …
… are helping even more new schools to open. Lawmakers in Maine are proposing to get the movement growing there again as well.
And the story of remarkable charter school progress in Indianapolis continues unabated as even more parents shift their students away from the district.
Presuming nothing happens in Washington to knock charter schools off stride, S&P foresees healthy national demand for charter schools, with many schools making plans to expand.
It goes to show.
Like the charter schools in Richmond coming together to create a sports league …
… if policy makers continue to let charter schools build our fields of dreams, “they will come.”