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Lawmakers seek holistic review of charter school statutes, funding flows and authorizer structure
Summary
Senator Olson and charter-school advocates asked the committee to examine Wyoming's charter-school statutes holistically, including funding flows, special education and the new alternative authorizer's structure.
Senator Olson told the Joint Education Committee on March 5 that Wyoming should take a comprehensive look at charter-school statutes, funding flows, transportation and special-education (SPED) responsibilities and the board created to authorize charter schools.
“We now have them popping up,” Olson said, and added that the state has repeatedly adjusted the statute since creating an alternative authorizer. He recommended reviewing whether funding should flow through districts or directly to charter schools, assessing transportation and SPED funding, evaluating accreditation for secondary programs, and confirming the authorizing board’s staffing and independence.
Representatives of the Wyoming Public Charter School Association said they are prepared to work with the committee and with the authorizing board’s executive director and chair. Committee members discussed a holistic, statute-level interim review rather than piecemeal changes.
Ending: The committee indicated support for a charter-school statute review in the interim and welcomed stakeholder partnership with the authorizing board and charter-school groups.
