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Senate debates two‑mile preference option for charter school enrollment
Summary
Senate considered House changes to allow charter schools to give optional enrollment preference to residents within a municipality or two‑mile radius; senators raised concerns about potential loss of federal funding and impacts on small municipalities. Senate passed the amended measure under suspension.
Senator Stevenson described House changes to House Bill 136 to allow — but not require — charter schools to give application preference to students who live within the municipality where the school is located or within a two‑mile radius. Stevenson said the change is intended to promote goodwill between charter schools and nearby neighborhoods and to give schools an option in their charters.
Senator Thomas and others warned that the option might disadvantage students in smaller municipalities that lack acreage for new charter facilities. Senator Aaron reported receiving messages that the change could jeopardize federal charter funding because federal rules require open lotteries; Senator Hale said she had been told by the federal charter office that showing preference could result in loss of federal funds. Senator Stevenson and legislative research countered on the floor that legislative research had reviewed the matter and believed the change would not automatically disqualify federal funds and that a school could elect not to include preference if it wished to retain federal funding.
Debate acknowledged trade‑offs: supporters argued the option helps schools avoid community animosity and better integrate with local residents; opponents said the practical effect could be to favor larger jurisdictions and limit access for students in smaller towns. The Senate passed the measure under suspension and referred it to the House for the Speaker's signature (roll call recorded at 19 yes, 9 no, 1 absent for suspension; final tally on passage recorded as 19 yes, 9 no, 1 absent in the record for that action).
What happens next: The bill allows charter schools to include a local‑preference provision at their discretion; schools must decide whether to accept potential risks to federal funding or to forgo preference to maintain federal eligibility. The recorded exchange shows conflicting advice from a federal source and the Legislature's research office; local school leaders and the U.S. Department of Education guidance could determine implementation.
