House Speaker Pushes Hybrid Charter Schools For Homeschoolers And Boarding Schools For “At Risk” Youth In Same Bill
Image Credit: Speaker Cameron Sexton / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Representative Mark White (R-Memphis-District 83) introduced a caption bill on behalf of House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25) last week that would allow for two very different types of charter schools in Tennessee.
The amendment that makes the bill can be read here.
The first half of House Bill 1214 (HB1214) is aimed at creating charter schools that will offer a “hybrid” system to homeschooling parents that want a portion of their children’s education to be “structured, in-school learning” – what White described as “a high quality educational opportunity for this particular population.” The charter would provide 3-4 days of instruction in class with the remaining 1-2 days done at home under the supervision of the parent.
Funding would come from TISA, meaning the students would become public school students and the charter would follow all of the same regulations and requirements of public schools including state testing and the same vaccination policies as all other Tennessee schools.
The second half of the bill would allow charters to apply to become a year round residential program and boarding school for at-risk students, defined as “economically disadvantaged” per Tennessee’s Every Student Succeeds Act; homeless, foster, runaway, or migrant students; members of a family with a household income that meets the eligibility requirements for free or reduced-price lunch; at risk of educational disadvantage due to abuse, neglect or disability; or at risk of state custody due to family dysfunction.
White said these schools would “provide a safe and rigorous academic experience to give our most at-risk children an opportunity to become productive citizens.” He also suggested that this type of school could be a solution for the state’s Department of Children’s Services in finding suitable placements for children in their custody. “DCS is always looking for places where children at risk could be housed,” White said.
The Tennessee Conservative reached out to the offices of Representative White and Speaker Sexton yesterday to ask a couple of questions:Â
1 – Will these “hybrid” charters be open only to those currently homeschooling their children? Or will it be another option for all Tennessee parents willing to oversee their children’s education the 1-2 days they would be home instead of in class?
2 – Would students eligible for the boarding school charters already be in DCS custody?
We also asked Representative White by email if homeschool parents had asked for a hybrid program like the one outlined in the bill. We will update this article with any replies we receive.
Currently, homeschool parents receive no state funds to educate their children, and generally are not in favor of that changing as they value their autonomy. If some of them chose to apply to a hybrid charter they would give up that autonomy as their children would no longer be homeschooled as defined by law and would instead become public school students who spend some time at home.
It is unclear how residential charters would be fully funded. TISA funds that pertain to each child is certainly part of the plan, with the charters likely being eligible to receive Title IV-E federal funding for those children enrolled who are in state custody.
The bill will be heard in the House Education Administration Committee on Wednesday, March 15th, and its companion Senate Bill 1194 (SB1194) will be heard the same day in the Senate Education Committee.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
They will do anything to get every child vaccinated! The push to remove homeschool is their new agenda?!?
The Republican party in TN has abandoned their conservativism. They’ve been in bed with the liberals for far too long. They’re willing to sacrifice homeschoolers for favors and tax dollars.
This article should point out the underhanded method used to bring this proposal about.
They took something and completely altered it with amendments that had nothing to do with the original bill. Very sneaky.
It seems to me this bill is simply a way to restore homeschool children back into state controlled schools but with just a few bells and whistles. More posturing from Sexton and Republicans in general.
Yes. You’re so right.
Yep gotta get those kids away from those dangerous parents. Lamar Alexander (the enemy of our children and education) was talking about this back in the late 80’s. He thinks parents are too stupid to raise kids. He headed up a project called the New American School and then we had Arne Duncan talking about how “we may have to have the children 24/7.” I used to use this video when I gave lectures in TN against Common Core. GET YOUR KIDS OUT OF THIS SYSTEM before they are destroyed. Get up off your knees and stop begging them to do what is right because they WILL NEVER do the right thing. They will do what gets them money from the federal government and campaign donations. You will only have yourself to blame for what happens to your children. If you want to make it happen you will, if not you will make excuses.
Here is the link to the 1989 video by Lamar Alexander and the New American School Project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVWDNvJ03FY
The ultimate goal is to get ALL children into the federal indoctrination system. This is the real truth behind vouchers and charters. They are false choices that will eventually lead to any private, religious or home school student being sucked into the federal system. There can be no outliers and these programs are all about getting all children into the federal system. Our government whether it be federal, local or state is not out for what is best for the tax paying voting citizen but for their own greed and career. And parents that think these programs are going to offer better academic opportunities are either not paying attention or are also just looking for the easy way out so they do not have to face their own responsibility as a parent. Bottom line….if you take government funding you will eventually be in the very system you think you are leaving.