The Platte Institute held a press conference at the State Capitol Wednesday to release a study that outlines a need for Charter Schools in Nebraska.
Nebraska’s lack of legislation for allowing charter schools in the state is holding back the quality of education in Nebraska.
Platte Institute Executive Director John S. McCollister and study author Vicki E. Murray, Ph.D., will announce the release of the study, “Race to the Top – Can We Compete: Nebraska’s Charter School Initiative.”
The reason for this study is that Charter schools represent nearly five percent of all public schools nationwide, yet Nebraska is one of only a handful of states in the country lacking legislation to allow these schools. While money has been flowing into public school coffers at astonishing rates – funding increased 35% from 1999 to 2006 – national test scores are stagnant or dropping.
This study believes the solution for Nebraska isn’t more money for schools (which will result in a higher property tax burden), nor is it more layers of government control (such as the new learning community). The solution lies in creating competition among schools for students and allowing parents and teachers to take back control of the educational system – something charter schools do.
