FRANKFORT, Ky. (WDRB) -- Should some of Jefferson County's struggling schools have the option of becoming charter schools? A Senate committee today okayed that idea, but partisan politics may kill the effort at reform.
Supporters of charter schools say the bad news about Jefferson County's low-performing schools gives momentum to their cause.
They are trying to gain support with a new bill that targets those persistently failing public schools. It allows them to petition their school board to become a charter school. Charter schools, in general, are allowed more flexibility when it comes to school policies and curriculum.
Supporters say it's time for emergency action. "When you take 100 ninth-graders and only possibly 40% of them are going to finish high school in Jefferson County, that is disturbing to me. That is unconscionable that we, as legislators, would sit back and let that happen," said Republican Sen. Mike Wilson, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
To try and break the partisan gridlock on the issue, supporters enlisted a state representative from Georgia to testify before the Senate Education Committee. Alisha Morgan is a Democrat who changed her mind about charter schools.
"I will say to you that it is critical to have African-Americans and Democrats who will also champion this issue. Because this is not a Republican issue. It's not a Democratic issue. It's a kids issue," said Morgan.
Despite the appeal, the bill passed on a party-line vote, with every Democrat voting against it, including the two senators from Jefferson County, who want to give reforms in the current system time to work.
"I think that we have that capacity now. So the question now, and I think the burden is on those who want to take this from under the responsibility of the system, I think the burden's on them to prove that," said Sen. Gerald Neal.
The bill will likely pass the Republican Senate, but in the past, charter school bills have died in the Democratic House.
"I don't know that we can wait for anything else to happen to prove that we need this. We simply need someone to step up and say, I'm prepared to lead, from the other side of the aisle, and I think we can make this happen," said Republican Rep. Brad Montell of Shelbyville.
Earlier this week, Kentucky's Education Commissioner supported the concept of charter schools, basically saying what we're doing now is not working, and that it may be time to try something new.
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