PRS Leaders Oppose Growth of Online Charter Schools

The following was submitted by Princeton Regional School District.

Superintendent Judy Wilson and PRS Board member Andrea Spalla joined more than three dozen leaders in education, parents, and advocates at a state Board of Education meeting in Trenton on Wednesday (June 6) to voice their opposition to proposed changes in charter school regulations.

The state's proposal, submitted by acting education commissioner Christopher Cerf, signals sweeping changes to state oversight of for-profit schools, potentially opening the door to the rapid -- and largely unregulated -- expansion of virtual charters in New Jersey.

While the Christie administration hails the measures as a means to promote “innovative programs,” Wilson and Spalla's testimonies spotlighted ways in which the changes would erode community control over children's education and destroy the essential value of our public schools, while opening the door to rapid growth in for-profit management of education.

“New Jersey has a long history of high standards for our public schools, with great results,” said Wilson, adding that a model based solely on online instruction, in which young people find themselves “isolated in their learning” denies children the benefit of the “strong social-emotional learning of a classroom of students.”
Noting the rich array of services and experiences available to all children in public schools, Wilson challenged the board to compare brick-and-mortar schools, filled with caring, expert educators, to their virtual counterparts.

“A full program of virtual learning for elementary, middle and high school children is misguided on many levels,” said Wilson. “These are not college students or adults[…]They are children who can (and often will) be left alone in homes to learn in non-personal and non-individualized ways.”

In her testimony, Spalla, who addressed the board as a parent and identified herself as a member of Save Our Schools NJ, focused on the importance of local control.

“The hallmark of public schools in New Jersey and the driver of their successes is local control,” said Spalla, noting that currently, citizens make their voices heard by voting on budgets, choosing their local school board members, as well as through parental and community involvement.

Under the proposed guidelines, any child could attend a virtual school, leaving local public districts unable to predict their finances as they foot the tuition bills of online learners, currently at a cost of $16,000 per child.

“The destabilizing impact of these measures cannot be overstated,” said Spalla.
Wilson shared further thoughts on the topic at a roundtable sponsored by Save Our Schools NJ on June 9 at Labyrinth Books, which also featured Jennifer Keys Maloney of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, and Julia Sass Rubin, a founding member of Save Our Schools NJ.

Speaking to local community members, parents, teachers and school board members of Princeton and surrounding districts, Wilson elaborated on an issue of great concern: the lack of data driving the stateís decisions.

“The for-profit piece bothers me greatly,” said Wilson, noting the “abysmal” track record of nationally based, profit-driven charters.

“The legislators seem to be saying 'We know the data is poor, but we're hoping for better,'” said Wilson. “We must pay attention to sound research in our field.”
Currently, five online schools have begun operation in New Jersey, including the Newark-based New Jersey Virtual Academy Charter School, which currently counts 860 students statewide, including some from Princeton, on their roster.  The online school's trustees have appointed a for-profit corporation, listed as K12, Inc., on the New York Stock Exchange, to run the operation.