Local NAACP on Charter School Application

The News-Gazette had the Champaign County NAACP response to the recent charter school application and response to that response by proponents of the North Champaign Academy in the full article. Excerpt of the NAACP's response:

NAACP, others not fans of charter school proposal
Concerns about draining the Champaign school district’s resources have some community members skeptical about a proposed charter school aimed at improving academic progress in low-income and low-achieving students within the district.

Founding members of the proposed North Champaign Academy said they are concerned with data from the Illinois State Board of Education, which reported that 52 percent of black Unit 4 third-graders were performing below standards in the reading category in 2017. The charter school, they said, could help reduce that number within the district since it could specifically focus on the needs of low-income and low-achieving students.

But if the Unit 4 school board decides to approve the proposal, it would mean that the district would have to cover the cost of each student’s attendance at that school — what’s called a per capita tuition credit. And since the NCA’s proposed focus is “at-risk” students, the organizers’ application states that “NCA is seeking 125 percent of the PCTC for school operations.”

So, if the school served 100 students, founders wrote in the proposed budget submitted to the school board, it would mean an annual investment by the district of $1,484,725 — or $14,845 per student, per year.

Champaign County NAACP President Minnie Pearson reiterated the national organization’s current stance on charter schools in an interview with The News-Gazette, saying a 2016 resolution of a moratorium on that model of school remains in effect.

“What I can say in my stance as a president of the NAACP is that I do not support charter schools at this time,” said Pearson, a retired Unit 4 teacher. “The research shows they drain resources from the public schools. Many public schools continue to outperform charter schools.”

According to the NAACP’s national office, the moratorium would last until at least these four standards were met:

— “Charter schools are subject to the same transparency and accountability standards as public schools.”

— “Public funds are not diverted to charter schools at the expense of the public school system.”

— “Charter schools cease expelling students that the public schools have a duty to educate.”

— “Charter schools cease to perpetuate de facto segregation of the highest-performing children from those whose aspirations may be high but whose talents are not yet obvious.”

For more information from both advocates, see the full article here. Previous posts with charter news here.