Charter Schools

The state's stimulus czar warned state budget negotiators Tuesday that attempts to cap aid to charter schools endangers $160 million in federal education aid.

James Pindell at NH Political Report has a post detailing Republican efforts to save charter schools on the floor of the State Senate:

By a vote of 14-10, the New Hampshire Senate rejected an amendment to HB 2, the state budget, that would have rescinded the enrollment cap on Charter Schools.

Click here for a full report on how this cap will impact New Hampshire's 11 Charter Schools.

New Media Off Limits in Granite State

(CONCORD) Senate President Sylvia Larsen this morning revoked the press credentials of Josiah Bartlett Center Lead Investigator Grant Bosse, and barred Bosse from filming today's Senate session from the floor, just as the Chamber was preparing to take up the state's two-year $11.5 billion budget.

Jennifer Feals of the Portsmouth Herald looks at how charter school students would be effected by the state budget on the floor on the Senate today:

The heads of area charter schools said an enrollment cap would affect future expansion and programming. If a charter school enrollment cap is approved by the Legislature, schools would be forced to conduct a reverse lottery, basically kicking out students, they said.

The Union Leader tackles the state budget, and it's impact on charter schools, on the editorial page this morning. It's short enough and cognet enough that I won't exerpt it. Here's the whole thing:

Hidden in the Senate Finance Commitee's proposed state budget is language designed to decimate public charter schools. It would cap charter school enrollment at 850 students next year. That's down from 1,000 students this year.

Charter School supporters fear consequences of Enrollment Cap
By Grant Bosse

An amendment capping charter school enrollment across New Hampshire could force hundreds of Granite State students out of their current schools. The Senate Finance Committee adopted a cap of 850 charter school students statewide next year, far fewer than are currently enrolled. The cap increases to 950 for the 2010-2011 academic year. If the cap is written into the state budget, New Hampshire’s eleven charter schools would not be able to accept new students next year, and might have to hold a “reverse lottery” to kick current students out of the classroom. And two charter school administrators worry that the cap might force them out of business entirely.

Read the full story here: