OPINION: Education bill veto creates opportunities for charter school creation

FILE - Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference on topics including education on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. Dunleavy has vetoed an education funding package overwhelming passed by lawmakers and urged action on teacher bonus and charter school provisions that have been divisive among legislators. The Republican governor announced his decision hours ahead of a deadline he faced to sign the bill, veto it or let it become law without his signature. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has vetoed SB 140. The bill did not provide for real improvements in education by stimulating the creation of more charter schools in Alaska. (The bill provides an appeal process if an existing charter school is “terminated” and for a charter school “coordinator,” who “is responsible for the development of a repository of charter school resources” in the Department of Education.) The Legislature’s lack of provision encouraging the formation of additional charter schools for Alaska’s children is an omission in terms of providing diverse learning opportunities for students and the return of local control to Alaska’s parents. Moreover, the bill does not address public demand for more charters in our state.

Dunleavy comes to his political career as a former educator. Ignoring his concerns about enacting SB 140 disregards his expertise in educational matters and his real concern for the welfare of Alaska’s students and parents. When our governor looks at the condition of Alaska public schools, he must see what we all know.

Alaska boasts the best charter schools in the country, despite being the least supported in the nation. Alaska parents are clamoring to enroll their children in high-performing charters. The demand on the part of families to place their children in charter schools is hampered by the slow growth of the availability of such schools.

Notwithstanding parental demand for more opportunities to enroll children in the state’s successful charters, Alaska is one of only five states that gives local school boards the sole authority to approve the creation of charter schools in their districts. Clearly, our school districts are not keeping up with public demand by parents to send their children to schools in which they have a real say as to their offspring’s education. By comparison, Ohio offers parents five different ways to start a charter school.

Furthermore, the creation and support of charters cannot be seen as the expression of political ideology on behalf of our governor. For example, in an area such as Washington, D.C., in which voters are overwhelmingly registered as Democrats, 48% of students attend charter schools.

Ultimately, Dunleavy’s veto allows the Legislature to take into account the success, popularity and parental demand for more charter schools. The Legislature should work with our governor to address SB 140′s neglect to promote the creation of additional charter schools in Alaska.

Ann Brown serves as the chairman of the Alaska Republican Party. Her views are her own.

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