Indiana

Catholic Charters

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

The Indianapolis City-County Council Monday approved the creation of two new charter schools.   The charters  are being created at the former St. Andrew /St. Rita & St. Anthony Catholic schools on the east side.

The schools decided to convert to charters following a $2 million shortfall.   They both serve minority populations who are free and reduced lunch.

Some Council Democrats expressed concerns that public money was being used for religious institutions.  However, supporters said the schools will have a secular curriculum. Others complained the charters would take money from cash-strapped Indianapolis Public Schools.

City-Council Democrat Jackie Nytes impressed me though with her argument that a good neighborhood school trumps everything.  I agree.  The best hope for children who live in poverty is a good education and it really shouldn’t matter how that education is delivered.

A free, public education doesn’t automatically mean a traditional public school, I argue it means a publicly-funded school.  And if a charter is what’s needed to deliver education, so be it.  And just for the record, IPS has the ability to create its own charter schools and compete with the others; someone at the Central Office just needs to grow a spine and create one.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on April 06, 2010 (boomark / email).