Commentary; Posted: 1/17/07
Don't restrict hard-earned educational programs
Joe Nathan
Education Columnist
Watch out Minnesota parents and students! Watch out for your rights and opportunities. That's my conclusion as powerful Minnesota groups seek to restrict hard-earned, nationally recognized educational programs that have helped Minnesota public education rank among the most effective in the country.
A poll conducted for the Center for School Change in 2005 concluded that by a margin of 80 percent to 11 percent (9 percent undecided), Minnesotans agree that families "should have the right to select among various public schools."
Nevertheless:
ïA committee convened by Education Minnesota, the statewide teachers' union, has proposed significant restrictions in Minnesota's Post-secondary Enrollment Options. Fewer students would be eligible to participate. This despite the fact that the program has been extremely popular and effective.
More than 100,000 students have used it in the last 20 years, and more than 85 percent of participants report if they had the chance to do it again, they would. Eighty-two percent of Minnesotans reported that they either supported, or strongly supported PSEO in the 2005 poll mentioned above .
ïThe Minnesota State High School League is reviewing recommendations to restrict students' opportunities to participate in sports outside the district where they live. Some coaches and fans seem to think that a youngster who grows up in a particular community somehow is the "property" of that community, and should be penalized if she or he chooses a school outside their district.
The league currently allows students to transfer once during between 9th and 12th grade without penalty. That seems like a reasonable compromise.
ïSome educators are pushing for changes in Minnesota's pioneering charter public school law. Despite (or perhaps because of) ever-growing numbers of students attending these public schools, some educators want to stop allowing any new charters to be created.
The Minnesota Association of Charters Schools reports 23,478 students are attending charters this year, up more than 10 percent from the 20,608 in the 2005-2006 school year.
No one is forced to attend these schools, which offer a more individualized, family-like atmosphere for students. There are now 131 charters in Minnesota, up from just one in 1992.
Some educators also want to end the responsibility of school districts to transport students to charters within their district. Transportation costs are an important issue that merits thoughtful discussion.
But charters are not eligible to receive most of the funds generated by local referendums. One of the compromises when the legislation was adopted, since charters receive much less money via referendum that district schools, was that districts would be responsible for transportation.
You will hear more about these efforts in the coming months.
The abolitionist Wendell Phillips, speaking almost 200 years ago had it right: "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
Joe Nathan, a former public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change, Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota jnathan@hhh.umn.edu.
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