Thread by @VoteGloriaJ

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨ACTION ALERT on privatizing public schools
HB2833/SB2168

HB2833/SB2168 will be heard by the House Education Instruction Subcommittee on Tuesday, Feb 15th. The bill makes it easier for charter operators to obtain authorization and it provides grants and subsidies to charter schools that are not available to traditional public schools.

It does nothing to improve the educational experiences of students. I repeat, this does nothing to improve the educational experience of students-it does, however, allow venture capitalists an opportunity to profit off our kids.

Current law requires charter schools to apply to local school boards. This bill would allow charter school corporations to apply directly to the State Charter School Commission,

which recently approved a charter school despite opposition by the Rutherford Co. School Board and County Mayor, and by Charter Commission staff.

The bill would allow charter operators that have one charter school authorized by the Commission to apply for subsequent schools. If the Commission fails to act within 75 day, the application would be automatically approved.

The bill would allow charter school corporations lease without cost or buy for $1 dollar local school facilities that are deemed “underutilized.”

Any outstanding debt on the facility would be the responsibility of the school district, as would the cost of repairs that exceed $50,000.

The bill would establish a LEA authorizer facilities grant fund that would be used to make grants to charter operators to pay facilities costs.

Both charter and traditional public schools receive BEP funds for facilities costs, but no facilities grants are available for traditional public schools.

Before Tuesday, please write to members of the House Education Instruction Subcommittee urging them to oppose HB2833. Possible talking points include:

•Charter schools authorized without local control would increase costs to local school districts.
• Research has shown that charter schools educate children no better, and often worse, than traditional public schools.

•The bill would provide financial benefit to charter school operators but provide no benefit to students.

Contacting swing members is the highest priority:
Rep. Kirk Haston, [e-mail]
Rep. Tim Hicks, [e-mail]
Rep. Todd Warner, [e-mail] Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, [e-mail]

The remaining members are either reliably for public education or are charter school supporters, but it is still helpful for representatives to hear from public education supporters.

These will vote right! Rep. Sam McKenzie, [e-mail]
Rep. Vincent Dixie, [e-mail]

These are staunch privatizers. Rep. John Ragan, [e-mail]
Rep. Debra Moody, [e-mail]
Rep. Scott Cepicky, Chair, [e-mail]
Rep. Bruce Griffey, [e-mail]

You know what to do friends!