UPDATE: Hawaii Increases Cap On Number Of Charter Schools
Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law Thursday that increases the cap limiting how many new charter schools can be opened in Hawaii. Other provisions included in the new law are designed to make the state’s application for a federal Race to the Top grant more attractive.
Until now, the number of start-up charter schools allowed in Hawaii has been capped at 25. Another 25 charter schools were allowed to open if they were converted from traditional public schools within the Hawaii Department of Education.
“All 25 of the start-up slots were filled immediately,” said Bob Roberts, chief financial officer for the . “For several years, there was no capacity for growth in start-up charters.”
Charter schools were originally established as a means for experimenting with innovative education practices before using them in mainstream public school classrooms. (Read more about charter schools, their purpose and their enrollment on our education topic page.)
The allows one new start-up charter school to join the ranks once an existing charter school has received a . The restriction was hampering growth since typically only high schools seek the accreditation, Roberts said. The new law, which takes effect July 1, will allow three new start-ups for every one existing charter school that gets accredited.
The new law also requires charter schools to seek reauthorization from the every six years. Until now, authorization for charter schools never expired. Roberts said this is one of several accountability measures included in the language of the new law.
“A lot of (the changes) pertain to basically improving the existing statute so that it more closely fits in with some of the requirements that calls for,” said Bob Roberts, chief financial officer for the Charter Schools Administrative Office. “In general, our sense is that the new language is going to be helpful. Like any legislation though, it is a bit of a mixed bag and there are some parts of the legislation that we would have preferred not to see.”
The traditional means of financing for charter schools have also been struck from the books, he said. They will now be financed out of the state’s general fund, but the amount appropriated to charter schools is not expected to change immediately.
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