Jindal Proposes business-operated charter schools

By Mike Hasten
January 13, 2011
Monroe News Star

Louisiana businesses could start their own charter schools that give preference to children of their employees under legislation to be proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The governor surprised state lawmakers Wednesday in announcing at the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s annual meeting that he will propose such legislation in this year’s legislative session. It’s modeled after Florida’s “charter schools in the workplace” initiative and has been implemented in other states.
“This new business-charter school partnership legislation will help feed the pipeline of qualified workers for Louisiana businesses while creating important career opportunities for students,” the governor said. “Ensuring that every Louisiana student has a great education is the critical foundation to helping our children pursue the career of their dreams.”

Under the proposal, businesses could donate land, buildings and funding to establish charter schools and in exchange get seats on the school board and reserve up to 50 percent of the space in classrooms for children of their employees. The remainder of the space would be open for community enrollment.
The charter schools could be designed to target specific professions, so enrolled students would receive job training as well as academics.
Jindal sees it as an added attraction for luring businesses to the state because they can take responsibility for assuring that their employees’ children get a good education.
Caroline Roemer Shirley, executive director of the Louisiana Charter School Association, welcomes the governor’s plan but says she expects some opposition from anti-charter school forces.
She said she likes the idea of “combining economic development and education,” and “we’re excited when a policymaker, especially the governor, endorses charter schools.”
Under Louisiana law, charter schools are public schools, so they must accept students from the community. They also are eligible for state and local funding, like other public schools.
Jindal said he has discussed the idea with CenturyLink CEO Glen Post, who he said “at this point, likes the concept” and believes it could “provide high quality education” for the children of CenturyLink’s employees and the Monroe community.
A news release from the governor’s office quotes Post as saying, “This is a great innovation for expanding educational opportunities for our children and helping businesses succeed here in Louisiana. Companies like CenturyLink should benefit as programs such as this one help create a more qualified work force in the future.”
Lawmakers at the LABI meeting said they were surprised by the governor’s announcement.
“This is the first time I’m hearing this,” said House Education Committee Chairman Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans. “I’m sure it’s a preliminary statement.”
“This is the first any of us heard about it,” said Speaker of the House Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown. “It’s worth pursuing,” he said, but he’s concerned about what laws might have to be changed to allow it and what it would cost the state.

SOURCE: Monroe News Star,