Thread by @TinaForKentucky

🧵HB9, the charter school bill, passed out of Senate Ed Com today. Rep. McCoy made several statements that don't align with my reading of the bill or my personal conversations.
@kyhousedems #KYGA22
#teacherlegislator

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1⃣ Rep. McCoy stated that, "You can't require local funds to move from one entity to another." However, HB9 does just that.

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2⃣ Rep. McCoy stated that it is "only the SEEK portion [of the funding] that is going [to the charter school]."

However, the bill states that state budget and KDE add-on funding must be appropriated to the charter school. These payments are in addition to SEEK funding.

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KRS 157.360(2)(a) and (b) specify funding add-ons for at-risk students and special education students. These amounts are in addition to the SEEK funds and would also be proportionately distributed to a charter school.

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In addition to state SEEK funding, charter schools receive a proportional amount of all federal funding as well as any other state funds that a district receives, plus local funds as explained above.

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3⃣ Rep. McCoy stated that only school districts can authorize a charter. However, the mayors of Louisville & Lexington are authorizers as well as Northern KY University (for Campbell/Kenton Co.).

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The catch is that if a school district does not approve a charter, the charter school can appeal to KDE and KDE can overrule the denial, effectively making KDE a statewide authorizer.

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4⃣ Rep. McCoy stated that, "If there are some nits that we can fix, then let's fix them." Yet, the majority of the House refused to suspend the rules to allow @RepJosieRaymond or me to call amendments, many which could have fixed some concerns with the bill.

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5⃣ Rep. McCoy stated that he "wasn't aware" of concerns that a for-profit charter management company might own the building and all other assets, but I have first-hand knowledge that several people have discussed this specific issue with him.

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6⃣ It was stated that a charter school is a part of the public system. A nonprofit would not be a public organization, but it would have a contract to receive public funds. There is no restriction from subcontracting with a for-profit management organization.

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7⃣ Brent McKim, @JCTAKY, testified that charters would not have to follow many state laws regarding public education. Charter schools are not required to:

❌ Prohibit nepotism
❌ Hire certified administrators
❌ Offer free textbooks
❌ Require a Code of Student Rights

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Charter schools are not required to:

❌ Follow student discipline statutes
❌ Have a librarian and library media center
❌ Follow laws for AP and dual credit courses
❌ Follow laws regarding the school year and school day

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@KYCommishGlass wrote a letter as to how we can ensure that charter schools be of high quality and to provide positive experiences for students. I think we should consider his recommendations, ...

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... the amendments that @RepJosieRaymond and I filed, and the many other recommendations that have been made to improve HB9.

KY could have the most innovative charter schools in the nation. Let's all work together to make that happen.

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