Why are there no charter schools in MoCo?
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Anonymous
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Other MD counties have. DC and VA have.
Why don’t we? |
Anonymous
| Union power |
Anonymous
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There was one several years ago in Kensington. It was only open a short while.
https://moco360.media/2014/01/15/montgomery-countys-first-and-only-public-charter-school-to-close/ |
Anonymous
State law makes it challenging: https://www.marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Charter-Schools/2018AppDocs/MdEducArt9.pdf |
Anonymous
+1 The charter has to operate meeting all of the same laws that public schools do, and the local public school system has to approve their plan. There actually has been a proposed business focused charter trying to get approved for the past couple of years. The curriculum plan seems to be okay, but they have been having trouble demonstrating that they have an adequate financing plan and definitely don't seem to understand that the requirements for the physical building for students is more than just rearranging the walls in an office building. (Higher density of people is different HVAC demands, needs for cafeteria and gym, etc.) There has been a lot of bouncing back and forth between MCPS and state appeals saying let the charter try to demonstrate an adequate plan again. While people may say MCPS/state is trying to obstruct charters, in reality they are trying to ensure that families don't get screwed by signing up and then the school folds in 3 years and MCPS has to suddenly reabsorb 500 kids back into local schools that it didn't staff for. |
Anonymous