Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Charter Schools topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House approves 'Schools for the 21st Century' package and eight-school charter pilot
Summary
After extensive floor debate and multiple amendment attempts, the Utah House approved First Substitute House Bill 145, creating a three-year, eight-school charter pilot and a 'Schools for the 21st Century' initiative; the bill passed 48–24 and was sent to the Senate.
Representative David Allen, sponsor of First Substitute House Bill 145, told the House on Feb. 27 that the measure combines an incentive-based update to the Centennial Schools program with a limited charter-school pilot. "This is a 3 year pilot," Allen said, explaining that schools would be rewarded in years two and three based on attainment of goals they set in year one.
The bill creates an eight-school charter pilot, with chartering authority exercised by the State Office of Education and the State Board during the pilot while local school boards may review and comment on applications. Allen said charter schools under the pilot "are public schools" that must be nonsectarian, take the same statewide tests and submit annual performance reports to the state office and the Legislature.
Representative Cindy Cohen moved an amendment to give local school boards exclusive charter-granting authority if the Legislature later decided to continue the program. Cohen said the amendment was intended to address local boards' concerns about long-term control. Allen and other supporters opposed the change, arguing it would foreclose a careful three-year evaluation and could pre-empt families seeking a charter where a local board would not authorize one. "I think it's unwise to lock ourselves into a position that we think may or may not occur at the end of a 3 year pilot," Allen said during debate.
Members proposed a number of substitute and technical amendments during floor debate—some intended to create matched control groups for evaluation, others to adjust funding language—but the core pilot design (state-board chartering during the trial, district disbursement of funds, and reporting requirements) remained in the bill.
The House approved First Substitute House Bill 145 on a recorded voice/roll call reported by the clerk: 48 yes, 24 no. The bill was transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
What happens next: The bill establishes the pilot and reporting requirements; the House debate repeatedly emphasized that schools and districts would be evaluated at the end of the pilot and that any expansion or shift in chartering authority would be a matter for a future legislative decision.
