Colorado Republicans Send Letter to Charter School Supporters

The Adams 12 Board of Education recently adopted a resolution to support legislative efforts to permit local school boards to deny charter school applications for financial reasons. This resolution states the long-used argument posed by school districts during charter school appeal hearings, which is that charter schools cost the district to operate.

Charter schools give up to 5% of their Per Pupil Revenue to their authorizer for "administrative costs." These costs, itemized in the Charter Schools Act, permit district-wide costs to be charged to the charter school on a per student basis. The Adams 12 resolution states local districts should be able to retain more than the 5% if necessary.

A significant part of the Adams 12 resolution is the high cost of educating students with special needs such as Special Education or English as a Second Language. The cost of educating students determined to need an Individualized Education Program (IEP), or in other words Special Ed students, is a perennial discussion about federal and state mandates without the associated funding.

Today, Colorado State Representative Cory Gardner sent a letter to all charter school supporters stating that he, and the other signatories of the letter, will defend charter schools from this type of legislative attempt. Many of these legislators have already been stalwarts for charter schools in the past.

The letter is signed by:
House Republican Leader Mike May, R-Parker
Assistant House Republican Leader David Balmer, R-Centennial
House Republican Whip Cory Gardner, R-Yuma
House Republican Caucus Chair Amy Stephens, R-Colo Springs
Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colo Springs
Rep. Stella Garza Hicks, R-Colo Springs
Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction
Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colo Springs
Rep. Marsha Looper, R-Calhan
Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud
Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland
Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch
Rep. Ray Rose, R-Montrose
Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling
Rep. Ken Summers, R-Lakewood
Rep. Spencer Swalm, R-Centennial
Rep. Glenn Vaad, R-Mead
Senate Republican Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colo Springs
Assistant Senate Republican Leader Nancy Spence, R-Centennial
Senate Republican Caucus Chair Mike Kopp, R-Littleton
Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray
Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins
Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch
Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction
Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley
Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colo Springs

H/T to Ben Degrow