We wanted to provide you with an update on H.R. 4502. You may recall that the U.S. House of Representatives passed this legislation over the summer, and it includes a provision that threatens federal funding for charter schools. For a refresher on H.R. 4502, see the Charter Chatter we sent out at the end of July.
The latest on H.R. 4502 and arguments about “for-profit” charters
The bill was sent to the U.S. Senate in August. It has not moved since that time. Meanwhile, charter advocates are continuing to push back on “for-profit” arguments about charter schools, noting that they are misleading and must stop.
Read an excellent new op-ed from Nina Rees, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. She notes:
“Charter schools are always public schools and prioritize the learning needs of every student. As such, we take exception to the term ‘for-profit’ charter schools. It is misleading …
Many have questioned whether a public charter school that contracts with a management company should receive federal funding. The answer is clear: Charter school students are public school students and deserve fair access to federally funded programs intended to support them.”
