In 2016 the citizens of the Commonwealth overwhelmingly beat back a plan for charter expansion. Even though 62 percent of MA voters said NO to more charters, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is shepherding through a plan to expand charters in New Bedford and Haverhill.
The cost to public education would be astronomical. In Bedford, for instance, charter expansion would cost the public schools another $15,000,000 each year that the system cannot afford. Haverhill public schools would have to dish out another $3,000,000 for charter expansion there.
The coziness between DESE and the charter industry can be linked to DESE's partnership with SEII, the charter promotion think tank at MIT.
DESE has provided an email address for public comment on the proposed charter expansions. The deadline for comments is December 3. Please offer DESE and Commissioner Jeff Riley your thoughts. Write: charterschools@doe.mass.edu
The cost to public education would be astronomical. In Bedford, for instance, charter expansion would cost the public schools another $15,000,000 each year that the system cannot afford. Haverhill public schools would have to dish out another $3,000,000 for charter expansion there.
The coziness between DESE and the charter industry can be linked to DESE's partnership with SEII, the charter promotion think tank at MIT.
DESE has provided an email address for public comment on the proposed charter expansions. The deadline for comments is December 3. Please offer DESE and Commissioner Jeff Riley your thoughts. Write: charterschools@doe.mass.edu