Facilities Funding
Whereas, charter schools have in the past been supportive of legislation to broaden the use of lease aid to allow charter schools to use it for debt service, for land and building purchases, renovation and construction costs, and
Whereas, there are a number of significant issues with long range and far reaching implications for charter schools depending on the scope and language of any legislation,
Therefore, MACS will continue to generally support the idea of amending the charter school law to expand the use of lease aid to allow for reimbursement for debt service, land and building purchases, renovation and construction, and
Therefore, MACS will work in concert with other interested parties to develop a comprehensive proposal on facilities issues for the 2007 legislative session that includes allowing a broader use of lease aid funding while protecting the autonomy of charter schools from additional rules and regulations.
Access to Surplus Public Facilities
Whereas, the Minneapolis Public School District and other traditional school districts have adopted policies and rules to exclude public charter schools from leasing excess public property, and
Whereas, those policies and rules discriminate against another public institution and betray sound stewardship of public resources,
Therefore, MACS will actively support the introduction and enactment of legislation that would prohibit school districts and other public entities from adopting policies and regulations that discriminate against public charter schools or any other public institution in matters of leasing surplus public facilities.
Single Purpose Sponsor Organizations
Whereas, there is a lack of clearly defined expectations and standards for sponsors in terms of their responsibilities and a need to clarify these issues, and Whereas, there are a wide variety of issues in terms of the efforts by some sponsors to bureaucratize the process of accountability and micromanage the operations of charter schools, and
Whereas, there has been a blurring of the lines of authority in the chartering process between sponsors and the Minnesota Department of Education, and
Whereas, there are numerous unanswered questions as to how a single purpose sponsorship organization would operate and sustain itself in the long run,
Therefore, MACS will not support legislation to create single purpose sponsor organizations at this time given the scope of the unanswered questions about the model of single purpose sponsor organizations and the long range implications of the model on the charter school movement in Minnesota,
Therefore, MACS will actively pursue solutions to the issues revolving around sponsor qualifications and responsibilities and oppose any change in the fee structure sponsors are allowed to charge charter schools until those issues are addressed.
Length of Charters
Whereas, Minnesota has the shortest length of charter contracts in the nation, and
Whereas, charter schools with a proven record should be recognized for their achievements and be given greater latitude to focus on school improvement in the long term,
Therefore, MACS will actively work to amend the charter school law to allow charter contract renewals for up to five years for schools who have successfully fulfilled their initial charter school contract.
Interdisciplinary Teaching License
Whereas, the Association supported the 2005 legislation that directed the Board of Teaching to develop the qualifications for an Interdisciplinary Teaching License and that effort has culminated in limited results,
Therefore, MACS will continue to support the creation of an Interdisciplinary Teaching License for use in middle and secondary school that are project-based, on-line or alternative learning environments,
Therefore, MACS will work with other supporters to draft, introduce and lobby for legislation that defines the qualifications and requirements for the Interdisciplinary License and directs the Board of Teaching to implement the license.
Student Admissions
Whereas, traditional public school districts are allowed to provide preferential admissions for teachers in district schools of choice,
Therefore, MACS will actively work to amend the charter school law to allow for preferential enrollment for children of current charter school licensed teachers and non-licensed staff members.
Therefore, MACS will undertake a comprehensive review of the administrative interpretations of MDE regarding the admissions section of the charter school law and develop legislative language for 2007.
Charter School Student Access to Extracurricular Activities
Whereas, there is evidence that participation in extracurricular activities can benefit the personal and academic achievement of many young people, and
Whereas, artificial barriers to participation in extracurricular activities hurt young people, and
Whereas, we believe that all public schools traditional and charter schools should put the interests and needs of young people before politics or organizational interests,
Therefore, MACS will support legislation that state as a matter of public policy that, traditional public school districts and public charter schools, be strongly encouraged to enter into cooperative agreements to provide extracurricular activities to meet the interests and needs of young people.
Therefore, MACS will support legislation that would prohibit traditional school districts from adopting policies that discriminate against public charter school students or that charge exorbitant fees that do not reflect the actual cost of the extracurricular activity as reported in the districts financial statements and audits.
Pupil Transportation
Whereas, there are a multitude of issues that affect the fair and equitable treatment of public charter school students in terms of transportation to and from school,
Therefore, MACS will develop a comprehensive transportation agenda in concert with other interested parties for the 2007 legislative session.
Early Childhood Program Funding
Whereas, a number of Charter School have quality Early Childhood Programs that serve the needs of pre-school children, and
Whereas, there is a growing need for quality Early Childhood programming across the state,
Therefore, MACS will develop a proposal for legislation in 2007 that would allow Charter Schools to access Early Childhood funding programs.
Public Charter School Governance
Whereas, there are structural/policy issues that need to be addressed to clarify and strengthen charter school governance,
Therefore, MACS will develop proposals to clarify public charter school governance issues for 2007, that would allow for alternative model governance plans that are now currently available only through the waiver process.
Autonomy of Public Charter Schools
Whereas, there are political forces and organizations that want to limit the autonomy of public charter schools, stifle innovation and creativity in education and limit parental choice in public education,
Therefore, MACS will be ready to speak in opposition to all attempts to limit the autonomy, stifle innovation and limit parental choice in public education and undertake initiatives to educate lawmakers, community leaders, parents and the citizens of Minnesota to the value and purpose of charter schools and the impact these schools have in the personal and academic achievement of young people.
Ratified by the membership of the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools, February 2006.