Charter school bill overhauled

DENVER - Senate Republicans gutted a bill Tuesday that they feared would curtail the growth of charter schools, teaming with inner-city Democrats to turn it into a measure that, instead, could enable creation of more charter schools.

In its original form, Senate Bill 61 required schools spawned by the statewide Charter School Institute to match the minority demographics of their areas, to cater to low-income students and to work with school districts on placement of buildings. It also made it easier for local districts to get or reclaim sole chartering authority, meaning they, rather than the Charter School Institute, could decide whether charter schools could be started.

When the sponsor, Sen. Sue Windels, D-Arvada, realized she could not pass the measure, she worked with GOP Sen. Nancy Spence of Centennial to tone down the bill, removing the demographicmatching requirements. Then Spence surprised her by introducing a measure that would allow the Charter School Institute to establish three schools a year, whether or not the districts in those locations approved.

Republicans argued the goal was to produce more schools like the Cesar Chavez Academy in Pueblo, a charter school that has raised test grades for low-income kids despite a feud with the local school district. The amendment requires the three schools to serve at least 50 percent students who are eligible for free or reduced lunches and mandates that the school organizers have a track record of success.

Windels accused the GOP of taking a “sledgehammer” to her bill and trampling local control of charter schools, which are public institutions set up to teach a different curriculum than mainstream schools or to reach a specific audience. Opponents predicted the changes will not make it through the House if the bill passes the Senate today.