One of the curious things about the charter school movement - and one that hints of its anti-union subtext - has been the small number of public schools that have been turned into charters within the system. If the system works so well for private corporations that run charters, why not for public schools as well? Maine, which has resisted charter schools may be moving towards this under-used option as this story recounts
Kennebec Journal, ME - The Baldacci administration is drafting legislation to allow schools in Maine that have more autonomy over their budget, curriculum, staffing and scheduling than traditional public schools.
The move to allow so-called innovative schools would stop short of legalizing charter schools, while potentially boosting Maine's standing in a national competition for $4 billion in education innovation money.
Gov. John Baldacci will introduce a bill this winter that provides a way for school boards to open or transform existing schools into innovative schools, according to state education officials.
Administrators in these schools would have increased flexibility to hire the teachers they want and have others reassigned to different district schools. The administrators would also have increased control over budgets, more freedom to design curriculum and flexibility to stray from the traditional, six-hour school day and 175-day academic year.
In exchange, those schools would have to demonstrate to the school boards that authorize them that they are raising student achievement. . . More...
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