PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The number of charter schools permitted in Rhode Island could increase under legislation that Gov. Don Carcieri signed Tuesday to boost the state's chances of winning millions of dollars in federal education aid.
The bills approved by lawmakers earlier Tuesday raise the cap from 20 charter schools to 35 charter schools. They also eliminate a law preventing the schools from serving more than 4 percent of the school-age population.
Charter schools are publicly funded institutions, but they have more freedom over their curriculums, the length of their school day and year and, in some cases, greater authority to fire teachers than regular public schools. Thirteen charter schools now operate in the state.
"The bottom line is that this is an investment well worth making to improve and expand educational opportunities for our children," said Carcieri, a Republican, in a written statement.
The bill also enjoyed support from Democratic lawmakers.
"It's a matter of choice," said Rep. Douglas Gablinske, D-Bristol, a bill sponsor, who believes charter schools offer an alternative for students who would otherwise attend struggling public schools. "I think choice and competition will make our education system much, much better."
In a concession to teachers' unions, the legislation allows state authorities to shut down charter schools if they do not show substantial progress in student achievement or lack the leadership to become financially viable.
"From our point of view, they now have to be held to the same standards as public schools," said Patrick Crowley, an assistant executive director for the National Education Association Rhode Island, which supports the bills.
Charter school operators still have questions on how the state will determine whether their institutions are making adequate progress, said Stephen Nardelli, executive director of the Rhode Island League of Charter Schools.
"In a perfect world, we would have loved to have the cap totally removed," he said.
State leaders have moved to loosen the cap on charter school as Rhode Island competes for nearly $127 million in federal funding under the Race To The Top program. States are scored more favorably in the competition if they have no cap or set a high limit on the number of charter schools they allow to operate.
Carcieri, the state education commissioner and Democratic legislative leaders plan to travel to Washington to present Rhode Island's proposal Wednesday for the federal funding.
