A drive for more charter schools

While Maine's charter schools debate continues at a consistent hum, the back-and-forth is heating up in Massachusetts, a state that has allowed the independently run schools since 1993.

Bay State voters in November 2010 are likely to decide whether they want to erase any cap whatsoever on the number of charter schools allowed in the state. The state currently has 62 such schools, with more than 20,000 students on a waiting list for the opportunity to attend a charter school.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has warned that states that limit the number of charter schools they allow -- or prohibit them altogether -- put themselves at a competitive disadvantage when competing for federal economic stimulus money aimed at education innovation.

Massachusetts has a 120-charter-school limit statewide. At the local level, however, a school district can spend no more than 9 percent of its funds on charter school tuition.

Before voters have the chance to weigh in, legislators might act on a proposal by Gov. Deval Patrick to raise the 9 percent limit to 12 percent in Massachusetts' 50 lowest performing district. That move could chip away at the 20,000-student waiting list, making 4,500 charter school seats available.

Amid the enthusiasm for charter schools from once-unlikely proponents like Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino, an article in today's Boston Globe could temper the charter school zeal. The paper's analysis showed Massachusetts charter schools lagged traditional public schools in serving English language learners and special education students.

While President Barack Obama's call for more charter schools has filtered down to the state and local levels, it remains to be seen exactly what change it effects in Massachusetts.

In Maine, the president's enthusiasm for the independent schools has provided much of the momentum to the most recent charter schools debate. And while state legislators once again stopped short of allowing charter schools in the Pine Tree State, the drive for the independent schools has some organic energy.

Officials in Greenville are pushing to open a charter school, putting themselves in the running to open the state's first if legislators change their minds.