Sec. Duncan: States Could Lose Stimulus Cash Unless They Embrace Innovations Like Charters
Based on remarks made yesterday by U.S Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Ohio may be one state that could lose out on millions of federal stimulus dollars should the proposed school funding plan pass. Duncan said yesterday that states that fail to embrace education innovations like public charter schools “would not be helping their chances” when it comes to competing for the billions allocated to education over the next two years, as reported by the AP.
How encouraging to hear another statement of support for public charter schools from the Obama administration, which has made it clear that federal tax money will go to states where parents have public school choices. Earlier this year, President Obama called on lifting charter school caps across the country.
Governor Strickland and Ohio Democrats need to take a cue from prominent national Democrat leaders like President Obama and Secretary Duncan, and set Ohio public charter school funding equal to traditional public schools. By cutting charter funding by 20 percent and e-school funding by nearly 70 percent, HB 1 does the opposite of embracing these schools—it would close many of them down. The state of Ohio and Ohio students cannot afford to see federal tax revenue sent to other states. Why risk it, Governor Strickland?
