Lynn Superintendent Dr. Catherine Latham is opposed to Question 2 on the state ballot, which would raise the cap on charter schools in the state. (Item photo by Owen O’Rourke)
By Dr. Catherine C. Latham
There is much controversy over the ballot question to lift the cap on charter schools. That ballot question would permit twelve new or expanded charter schools each year in districts performing in the bottom 25 percent on standardized tests.
The most common objection to this proposal involves public school funding. It is true that public schools lose considerable funding when students move to charter schools. If a charter school takes on 40 new students, and those students move out of the Lynn Public Schools, Chapter 70 funding from the state follows those students to the charter school and leaves our allotment.
A simple example can illustrate this loss. For the sake of round numbers, let’s say that we receive $10,000 (an approximation only) from the state to educate a child in Lynn. If 40 fifth-grade students leave us, $400,000 leaves our Chapter 70 funding total and is received by the charter school. That money will allow the charter school to invest in the appropriate number of teachers and support staff needed to educate those students.
Those students would randomly come from our 18 elementary schools. Usually, it means the loss of, at most, one or two students in a fifth grade class in any given school. Such a small loss in a school would not allow us to reduce our number of needed teachers or necessary support staff. Therefore we would need to provide the same educational services with $400,000 less in funding.
The state was not entirely unsympathetic many years ago and decided on a funding formula that would reduce the severe impact of reduced funding on local public school districts. The plan was to allow full funding reimbursements to the sending district in the first year of loss, 25% in the second year, 25% in the third year, 25% in the fourth year, 25% in the fifth year and nothing beyond that.
Although the funding formula has not changed, the state is not fully funding the required
reimbursements. The sending districts now receive 100% in the first year (that would be the full
$400,000 in the example), 21% in the second year (approximately $84,000), and nothing beyond that. After the first year of students moving into charter schools and away from district public schools, increases in charter school seats will only exacerbate the financial impact to public schools throughout the Commonwealth.
Added to the funding issue is a more disturbing matter that is not usually discussed. In order to garner support for charter schools, charter school advocates have repeatedly attempted to demean the reputation and destroy public confidence in local public schools.
Charter school advocates seem to have a distorted view of reality about urban school districts in this state. Their position is that urban schools are generally not good, do not provide high quality learning opportunities, do not provide college and career pathways, and are generally not the schools that students need or deserve. We have all heard the advertisements.
Nothing is further from the truth. We are an urban system, yet we provide students with outstanding opportunities while preparing them for college and careers. We have a full range of no-fee athletic programs, outstanding and award winning fine arts programs, high quality vocational programs, after school enrichment and assistance programs, support programs and specialized instruction for English language learners, enrichment courses for middle school students, instrumental music lessons with band and orchestra opportunities at all levels, an extensive list of high school Advanced Placement courses, an extensive social/emotional support system and an amazing array of programs for students with special needs.
Our students are accepted to the finest colleges in the nation as well as cutting edge companies that appreciate their job skills and career readiness.
Charter schools cannot possibly provide students with the opportunities and the educational
experiences that are provided in the Lynn Public Schools.
Although our MCAS/PARCC assessment test average scores are a bit lower than suburban communities and may qualify our district as one that would receive new charter schools, we educate all, turn away none, have a spectacular teaching and support staff and meet the needs of all of our students. I am extremely proud of the Lynn Public Schools.
My children graduated from the Lynn Public Schools. I would guarantee that the experiences and the educational opportunities provided to all of our students, including the over 300 who have returned to us from charter schools in the past five years, far surpass any that may be available in any charter school in the Commonwealth.
Dr. Catherine C. Latham is the superintendent of the Lynn public schools.