The advocacy from superintendents comes as the financial pressure on districts has increased due to a significant boost in charter enrollment during the pandemic.
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Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf speaks to the press.
The Pennsylvania Charter Appeals Board (CAB) has become a political battleground in a larger fight between Gov. Tom Wolf and state GOP leaders over executive appointees.
At present, the board seems to have become functionally non-existent as important disputes between school districts and charter schools are in limbo.
The CAB exists as a place where charter schools can challenge decisions made by their local school boards.
At least they’re supposed to be able to challenge them.
Right now, it’s unclear who would hear the appeals.
The board’s website lists no members other than Acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega, an automatic appointee.
(AP Photo/Rex Curry)
There is a responsibility – and perhaps even a mandate – in a pure democracy to represent the will of the people. With political parties and elected officials, there is a direct tie between the demands of the electoral bosses that, through votes and polling, express the direction which the politicians in power should follow.
Throughout American history, it has been a relief, a joy, and a blessing to know that America is not a pure democracy.
Although those in political power rule with the consent of the people, in our constitutional republic, “…of the people, by the people, for the people…” has a deeper meaning than simply carrying out the impulses of the loudest or most voluminous voices in America. Our system of government through constitutional order is a constant reminder that the rightful governance to protect God-given rights should never be driven by the whims of emotional human beings that advance near-sighted goals through reactionary meas
Education is one of those issues that is constantly the subject of debate on the national stage. Regardless of which administration is in power, the people on both sides of the political divide has their opinions on how best to fix our public school system.
This was the topic of discussion with my friend, colleague, and co-host Lenny McAllister, who heads the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools. We discussed charter schools, how they compare with regular public schools and why school choice is one of the answers to closing wealth disparities between black and white Americans.
McAllister also lays out the reasons why there is a difference in quality when it comes to predominantly white schools and black schools. He explains how the history of redlining and other government policies were specifically designed to create this disparity and how the effects of these policies are still causing problems today.