State board votes to tap Texas' public education fund to help build charter schools

[marmar]

By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News
[e-mail]


AUSTIN – A sharply divided State Board of Education opened the door today to tapping the state's education trust fund for charter school facilities, despite warnings that the action could harm the fund.

Pushed by the board's social conservative bloc, the decision could allow up to $100 million of the Permanent School Fund to be used to construct or purchase buildings that would be leased to some of the state's 460 independent charter schools.

However, there is no specific plan for using the funds, and the motion approved by board members on a 7-6 vote would make such action contingent on approval from the attorney general or on legislation that sanctions the idea.

Two board members who oppose the idea were absent from the meeting. That led to passage of the proposal.

All three board members from the Dallas-Fort Worth area vigorously opposed the decision, arguing that the board had no authority to commit money from the $22 billion fund for a risky venture like charter schools. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/072310dnmetcharter.ff8124c.html

[MichiganVote]

1. Another step in the deconstruction of public education for our children.

[ladjf]

2. Ignorance begets ignorance. nt