Charter schools not part of Ky.'s Race to Top

"Our application will not have any provision for charter schools

in it because we don't think there will be adequate time or support

in the legislature by the deadline we're facing,"

--Terry Holliday

This from Jim Warren at H-L:

Advocates for charter schools had hoped the lure of federal funding might force Kentucky lawmakers to allow the alternative schools in coming months, but state education leaders say they have no plans to push the idea.

Kentucky law doesn't allow charter schools — publicly funded schools that operate outside traditional state regulations — but advocates were banking on Washington's $4.35 billion Race to the Top program to change lawmakers' minds.

President Barack Obama's program offers federal grants to states that can demonstrate efforts to boost student achievement. States with charter schools, which backers contend can boost achievement because they often embrace innovative teaching methods, will have a leg up in the competition for money, Obama has said.

The chance of cashing in has prompted some states to consider allowing charter
schools and others to raise caps on the number of such schools, but Kentucky is not likely to follow suit.

State Education Commissioner Terry Holliday said last week that Kentucky's application for Race to the Top funds will be filed next month without any provision for charter schools.

That omission could make Kentucky's application less attractive to federal officials. But Holliday says there is simply not enough time to get charter-school approval from the legislature by Jan. 19, the date when Kentucky's application must be filed.
Holliday added that he's not sure there is widespread support for charter schools....