OPENING STATEMENT OF PEGGY COOPER CAFRITZ PRESIDENT OF THE D.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION BEFORE THE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CHALLENGES OR BARRIERS TO STRONG CHARTER SCHOOLS
MAY 4, 2004
GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN DEWINE, RANKING MEMBER LANDRIEU AND MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE. I AM PEGGY COOPER CAFRITZ, PRESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF EDUCATION (BOARD). THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD IN ITS CAPACITY AS A CHARTERING AUTHORITY, REGARDING CHALLENGES OR BARRIERS TO STRONG CHARTER SCHOOLS AND HOW POLICY MAKERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EDUCATIONAL REFORM. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST US IN ENSURING THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS REMAIN A STRONG AND VIABLE CHOICE OF PUBLICLY FUNDED EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS.
SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SCHOOL REFORM ACT, THE NUMBER OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS HAS GROWN PRECIPITOUSLY. THE BOARD NOW HAS 15 CHARTER SCHOOLS, 3 NEW SCHOOLS TO BE OPEN IN THE FALL, AND 3,646 STUDENTS. JUST WITH OUR CURRENT SCHOOLS, WE EXPECT TO GROW BY AN ADDITIONAL 2,900 STUDENTS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IT IS EVIDENT THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WITH THIS INCREASED DEMAND WE MUST ASK THE QUESTION WHETHER THIS ALTERNATIVE IS ACHIEVING ITS INTENDED PURPOSE TO INCREASE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE BOTH IN CHARTER SCHOOLS AND TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVING THAT GOAL.
WE BELIEVE THAT STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN CHARTER SCHOOL IS IMPROVING IN OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS. AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL, THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO TEST PROFICIENT (GRADE LEVEL) IN READING AND MATH IS 47.8 PERCENT. IN OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS AT THE JUNIOR/MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO TEST PROFICIENT (GRADE LEVEL) IN READING IS 34.8 PERCENT AND IN MATH IS 33.86 PERCENT. IN OUR CHARTER SCHOOLS AT THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO TEST PROFICIENT (GRADE LEVEL) IN READING IS 13.71 PERCENT AND IN MATH IS 17.68 PERCENT. GIVEN THE DISMAL PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS AT THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS, WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO FIND GREATER OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS AT THOSE LEVELS. WE MUST ALSO FIX THE PROBLEMS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL. ALTHOUGH THE ABOVE TEST SCORES ARE MEAN AVERAGES AND THE TEST SCORES OF STUDENTS WHO ATTEND SPECIALTY PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK STUDENTS, TEST SCORE ARE NOT WHERE WE WANT THEM TO BE. THERE HAS BEEN INCREASES OVER TIME IN MOST CHARTER SCHOOLS, BUT THERE ARE SOME CHARTER SCHOOL WHERE PROGRESS HAS NOT BEEN MADE AS FAST AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED.
AS YOU KNOW, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE GREAT AUTONOMY IN THEIR OPERATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES. UNDER THE CURRENT REGULATORY STRUCTURE, THE ONLY CHOICE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US IS TO REVOKE A CHARTER WHEN A CHARTER SCHOOL IS NOT PERFORMING. BY THEN IT IS TOO LATE. WE HAVE HAD TO CLOSE THE DOORS OF FIVE CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHICH HAD FINANCIAL AND OPERATING PROBLEMS. THE CHARTER AUTHORITIES NEED GREATER REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY TO INTERVENE, APPLY SANCTIONS, AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WHEN THERE ARE CLEAR INDICATORS THAT A SCHOOL IS HEADED INTO TROUBLE. PART OF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE DIFFICULTY IN DEFINING MINIMUM ACADEMIC STANDARDS. THE CHARTER AUTHORITY WITH THE HELP OF PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT ORGANIZATIONS MUST TACKLE THIS PROBLEM. THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT DOES DEFINE FAILING SCHOOLS. WE MUST ACT BEFORE THEY ARE DEFINED AS FAILING. WE HAVE ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM BY EXAMINING APPLICANTS MORE STRINGENTLY AND BECOMING MORE DISCERNING IN OUR DECISIONS. IT IS CLEAR THAT MOST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT DO PURSUE OPENING CHARTER SCHOOLS REQUIRE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MORE RIGOROUS ADMINISTRATIVE AND ACADEMIC TRAINING. ONCE AN APPLICANT PROCEEDS THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS, THE APPLICANT CAN OBTAIN FUNDS TO BETTER REFINE THE APPLICATION AND ASSIST THE APPLICANT DURING THIS PERIOD. CONGRESS SHOULD CONSIDER SUPPORTING FINANCIALLY EFFORTS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO APPLICANTS BEFORE THEY EVEN SUBMIT A PETITION TO BECOME A CHARTER SCHOOL, AS IS DONE IN OTHER STATES. WE HAVE FOUND THAT MANY APPLICANTS LACK THE TECHNICAL BACKGROUND TO PREPARE A PETITION THAT CONTAINS SUFICIENTLY SOUND ADMINISTRATIVE AND ACADEMIC PLANS. POTENTIAL APPLICANTS WOULD BENEFIT FROM SUCH EFFORTS.
IT IS ALSO CLEAR THAT WE MUST DO A BETTER JOB IN AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING THOSE PROGRAMS AFFILIATED WITH UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ENTITIES THAT ARE EXPLORING INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES THAT WILL IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. WE HAVE FULLY USED CHARTERS SCHOOLS AS A LABORATORY TO TRY DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO READ OR PERFORM MATH. IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE THE HOME OF MANY WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITIES. WE NEED TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO THEM TO OPERATE CHARTER SCHOOLS AND USE THE RESOURCES OF THEIR INSTITUTIONS TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN.
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 12,000 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT, REPRESENTING ROUGHLY 16% OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, THERE MUST BE SUFFICIENT FACILITIES. EVEN BEFORE A CHARTER CAN BE APPROVED, IT MUST HAVE IDENTIFIED A FACILITY. AS THE UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO) REPORTED IN ITS SEPTEMBER 2003 REPORT, “CHARTER SCHOOL – NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FACE SIMILAR START-UP CHALLENGES,” SECURING A FACILITY IS ONE OF THE THREE GREATEST CHALLENGES FACING NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE. THE GAO FURTHER REPORTED THAT IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FINDING SPACE IS PARTICULARLY HARD BECAUSE OF THE COST OF REAL ESTATE AND THE POOR CONDITION OF AVAILABLE BUILDINGS. THEREFORE, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT FROM ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CITY, INCLUDING THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS MUST BE MARSHALED.
IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. FIRST, THERE IS A FACILITIES ALLOWANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,380 FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS AND $6,426 FOR RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS. THESE FUNDS ARE THROUGH LOCALLY GENERATED REVENUES. HOWEVER, THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RENTING, PURCHASING AND RENOVATING FACILITIES ARE PROHIBITIVE SINCE ENROLLMENT DETERMINES FUNDING LEVELS AND THEREFORE, IN MANY INSTANCES, THE FACILITY ALLOWANCE HAS PROVED TO BE INADEQUATE. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THERE IS A STRONG PREFERENCE TO HAVE SMALL CLASSROOM SIZES IN THE CHARTER SCHOOLS, AS IS THE PREFERENCE IN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE WOULD WELCOME THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S EXAMINATION OF WHAT IT COSTS TO FUND FACILITIES AND SUPPLEMENTING THE DISTRICT’S SUPPORT OF THIS EXPENSE.
SECONDLY, CHARTER SCHOOLS RECEIVE A PREFERENCE FOR VACANT BUILDINGS. NINE OF THE BOARD’S 15 CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE HOUSED IN FORMER DCPS FACILITIES. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ASSESSING OUR FACILITIES NEEDS AND WILL DECIDE OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE SPACE REQUIREMENTS. AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, FACILITIES STAFF OF DCPS, THE PUBLIC CHARTER BOARD, AND CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A TASK FORCE TO GENERATE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO ACCOMMODATE CHARTER SCHOOLS. ONE OF THE OPTIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION IS THE CO-LOCATION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH LOW ENROLLMENTS. THE BENEFITS OF CO-LOCATION ARE CONSIDERABLE AND FAR OUT WEIGH THE COSTS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS SEEKING TO PURCHASE OR CONSTRUCT NEW SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, THIS APPROACH ALSO CAN BE COSTLY. BECAUSE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS BEEN INADEQUATELY FUNDED FOR ITS FACILITY COSTS, MOST OF THE DISTRICT’S PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN POORLY MAINTAINED. THEREFORE, SHARING FACILITIES WITH TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL REQUIRE INFUSIONS OF CAPITAL TO RENOVATE THOSE FACILITIES. THE BOARD RECENTLY AUTHORIZED DCPS TO SHARE SPACE WITH THE MAYA ANGELOU PCS, WHICH IS CHARTERED BY THE PUBLIC CHARTER BOARD. OTHER SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION. WE BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT A CO-LOCATION POLICY, FINANCIAL SUPPORT WILL NEED TO BE OBTAINED. THE FACILITY ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE ADJUSTED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR SMALL CHARTERS AND TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS WHO AGREE TO SHARE FACILITIES. IN CONCLUSION, IMPROVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF ALL STUDENTS IS THE REASON THAT CHARTER SCHOOL EXISTS. WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE FINDING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATIONS. AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW IN POPULARITY AND WILL GENERATE MORE DEMAND FOR SPACE TO HOUSE THEM. WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL OUR PARTNERS TO MEET THAT NEED. YOU CAN ALSO HELP US BY ADEQUATELY ENSURING THAT FACILITY COSTS IN DCPS ARE FUNDED AND HELP PROVIDE STATE SUPPORT FOR THE FACILITY COSTS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PUBLICLY FUNDED EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
