Members of the Education Committee heard testimony on a bill Feb. 25 that would allow for independent public schools.<\/p>\n
Under LB972, introduced by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, an independent public school would be classified as a political subdivision, operating under a compact granted by the state Board of Education. Lautenbaugh said his support of these schools \u2014 commonly referred to as charter schools \u2014 is not something he entered into lightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do have, as a nation, experience with charter schools,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen what\u2019s worked and what has failed. In underserved communities, particularly where poverty is present, that is where we\u2019re seeing charter schools get the most bang for the buck.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those eligible to establish an independent public school would include teachers, parents, school administrators, community residents, public organizations and nonprofit organizations. The school district of residence would be required to pay the district\u2019s actual per pupil cost for each student attending an independent public school.<\/p>\n
The bill also would authorize a pilot program to include up to five independent public schools to operate in a city of the metropolitan class. Currently, Omaha is Nebraska’s only city of the metropolitan class.<\/p>\n
The state board would review the pilot program after five years and make a determination on renewing the schools\u2019 compacts. Under the bill, the school district within which the pilot school is located would be required to provide student transportation to and from school.<\/p>\n
Jason Epting, principal of Harlem Village Academies Charter School in New York City, testified in support of the bill. He said it is important not to label students, but instead to create an engaging learning environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur students who are impoverished are able to learn if you create an environment that caters to their needs,\u201d he said. \u201cWe place a banner of impossibility over these students because of their socioeconomic status. Education really is the way to break the cycle of poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Lytle, vice president of programming at the Leadership Institute for Urban Education, also supported the bill. Lytle said growth in his north Omaha neighborhood has been stagnant, despite Omaha\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this small area isn\u2019t growing, why are we not being open to all of the possibilities to help this small area grow?\u201d he asked. \u201cWe\u2019re not asking for anyone to come in and be our savior. We\u2019re asking for the freedom to create things to help ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
State Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt, representing the state board, opposed the bill. He said the board supports the goals of the bill, but not the execution.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are certainly not opposed to building-level leadership, creativity and autonomy,\u201d he said. \u201cWe encourage organizing community support systems for schools. However, charter schools are not the only way to accomplish these goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel Pinkerton, representing the Liberty Education Advocacy Project, also testified in opposition to the bill. She said the newly reconfigured Omaha Public Schools (OPS) board needs time to turn things around.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started out a true believer in charter schools, but after years of research, I reluctantly came to see that as a false hope,\u201d she said. \u201c[This bill] would complicate, diffuse and undermine the OPS board\u2019s focus.\u201d<\/p>\n
The committee took no immediate action on the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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