Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves $276,809 for charter-authorizer software; critics say charters already receive disproportionate funding
Summary
The council approved an additional $276,809 for the Office of Education Innovation to modernize charter-authorizer software; council debate and extended public comment focused on whether taxpayers should fund charter administration versus direct school funding.
Chairman Muscari introduced Proposal 122, an additional appropriation of $276,809 for the Office of Education Innovation to pay for software and modernization supporting charter-school authorizing work. Councilor Brown urged colleagues to vote no, arguing charter schools already receive a disproportionate share of tax revenue: "Charter schools are already getting, the lion's share of our tax revenue," Brown said during floor debate.
Councilor Cahill responded that the appropriation pays for back-office software used by the authorizer and does not fund charter operators directly: "This money doesn't go to the charter schools. This is the software to process their renewal applications," Cahill said. During the public comment period multiple speakers echoed concerns about charter funding, teacher impacts and referendum uncertainty; the measure then proceeded to a vote as part of the docket.
