Senate committee advances 'job engine' charter bill after hours of debate and public opposition

The Senate Committee on Education Pre-K–12 on Thursday reported favorably CS for SB 140, a bill that authorizes municipalities to apply to a school district, college or university to create a so-called “job engine” charter school and allows those schools to prioritize enrollment for children of employees of targeted job-producing industries.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Gates, told the committee the proposal is intended to help municipalities attract employers by offering improved local school options. “If the area or the municipality… has schools that are not doing well … one of the problems we have in attracting industry … is the quality of schools,” Gates said during the hearing.

Opponents, including multiple teachers and education advocates who spoke during public comment, said the bill removes protections for educators and community stakeholders and shifts control toward municipalities and private charter operators. Sierra Bush Rester, a public school teacher who spoke in opposition, warned the measure “hands city officials the power to sell my child’s school off to the highest bidder.”

The bill’s key provisions as explained on the floor include authorization for municipal-sponsored “job engine” charter schools that can: prioritize enrollment for the children of employees at targeted industries identified by the municipality; apply directly for workforce development grants; convert existing public schools with a parental vote; and be designated as conversion charter schools under particular conditions. The bill also requires districts with five consecutive years of declining enrollment to adopt a five-year plan before acquiring new real property and establishes priorities for disposal or repurposing of surplus property—listing affordable housing for teachers, first responders and military members among preferred uses.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on operational details, including how parental votes would be conducted, protections for teacher pay and benefits if a school converts, accountability measures to show whether targeted industries actually locate in an area, and how district property of high market value (for example waterfront parcels) would be handled. Gates repeatedly said the bill does not change existing law on contractual obligations for pay and benefits and that details such as vote procedures would be set by the Department of Education or refined in follow-up language.

Several senators said they were not prepared to support the measure in its current form. Senator Davis, Senator Osgood and Senator Berman raised concerns about the voting threshold for conversions, potential exclusion of students with special needs, and the risk that municipalities could pursue conversions without adequate local collaboration. Senator Osgood stressed that municipal-charter relationships have a history of disputes over responsibilities such as school safety and security costs.

Public commenters included teachers, retired educators, and representatives of education and housing groups. Comments urged stronger protections for teachers’ voices in conversion decisions, higher parental vote thresholds, clearer guarantees for students with disabilities, and more detailed planning requirements around property disposal, affordability, and reconversion if a job engine school fails.

Despite the objections, the committee reported CS for SB 140 favorably. The sponsor said he will work with colleagues on the bill language as it moves forward.

Votes at a glance CS for SB 140 — Reported favorably (roll call recorded in committee).