National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Issues a Statement on Education Cuts Proposed by U.S. House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.)

WASHINGTON, June 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nelson Smith, president and CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools today released the following statement on Chairman David Obey's proposed cuts of $100 million to the federal Charter Schools Programs, $200 million to the Teacher Incentive Fund and $500 million from Race to the Top funds:

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"In this difficult economy, we understand and support Chairman Obey's efforts to save educators' jobs.  However, we strongly oppose the reductions in education funding he proposes.  It is short-sighted to propose saving jobs by cutting other jobs in the same sector.  Currently, 420,000 children are hoping for the chance to attend a charter school, and the federal Charter Schools Programs can help make that dream a reality.  These funds provide invaluable resources to help charter schools start up, hire staff and afford children new educational opportunities.  Chairman Obey's $100 million cut, which is 40 percent of the program's yearly funding, would mean 200 fewer new charter schools, and as many as 6,000 charter school professionals in jeopardy of losing their jobs or never having a chance to work for a charter school. 

"As documented in a recent study by Ball State University, charter schools continue to receive significantly less funding per student than traditional public schools. This cut would place an already underfunded sector at an even greater funding disadvantage as we work to create new schools and overcome the massive facilities funding inequity charter schools face, when compared to traditional public schools. 

"Combined, these proposed cuts will substantially slow the progress of education reform in America and leave the 36 states that have now applied for Race to the Top funds in the extremely difficult position of facing a new federal unfunded mandate. 

"The National Alliance strongly opposes these cuts and looks forward to working with Congress to eliminate them."

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (http://www.publiccharters.org) is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high-performing charter schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for this large and diverse movement. More than 1.6 million students attend nearly 5,000 charter schools in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE National Alliance for Public Charter Schools