Memphis parent advocate Sarah Carpenter is among those blasting President Biden’s proposed FY 2025 budget for potentially cutting valuable support for public charter schools.The president’s budget plan includes a $40 million cut to the Charter School Program (CSP) that provides grants to support the startup of new public charter schools and the replication and expansion of existing public charter schools. CSP funds also support grants to improve charter schools’ access to facilities and information dissemination and evaluation activities.Carpenter and her organization the Memphis Lift sent out a pointed statement criticizing the proposed cut as a move that will hurt black students.“Make no mistake, this is a voting issue for Black families. The $40 million cut to the Charter School Program is an attack on Black children and their families because it makes it even more difficult for them to access a high-quality education. Thousands of Tennessee parents choose public charter schools for their children’s education, and yet these schools -proved to close the achievement gap – remain under attack, from the local school board all the way to the White House,” said Carpenter.According to a report last year by the State Comptroller, nearly 69 percent of the state’s more than 41 thousand public charter school students are African American, and more than 22 percent are Hispanic. Less than 7 percent are white.Researchers at Stanford University found those students of color are outperforming traditional public school students in the state.Carpenter wasn’t the only charter supporter criticizing the president’s proposed cuts.National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Acting President and CEO Eric Paisner released a statement saying the budget plan falls “disappointingly short” of prioritizing public charter schools and parents who want school choice.“Demand for these unique public schools remains high, and a proposed cut of $40 million to the Charter Schools Program (CSP), the only source of federal funding for start-up, replication, and facilities, sends the wrong signal to millions of families,” said Paisner. “The Biden Administration should focus instead on reducing the burden of their CSP regulations and bureaucratic processes that slow down grantee spending. In addition, they should support Congressional efforts to increase flexibility for facilities funding under the Charter Schools Program and supporting educators, including educators of color, who are inspired to open new schools.”U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona didn’t mention the proposed CSP cuts in his budgetary remarks this week, but he did reference the “fiscal responsibility” of the spending plan overall.Cardona praised the proposal’s support pathways to college and careers and investments in high-need schools, including $18.6 billion for Title 1 schools."With these investments, we can deliver an excellent education to all students, improve learning conditions, build pathways to college and careers, and increase postsecondary education affordability and access,” said Cardona. “Through this budget, the President prioritizes fiscal responsibility while making bold strides to narrow opportunity and achievement gaps. I look forward to working alongside states, schools, and communities as they leverage these investments to promote access, opportunity, and excellence for all students."Despite their opposition to the proposed CSP cuts, both Paisner and Carpenter expressed support for the increase in Title I funding.Paisner said that extra funding would help millions of public school students from low-income families, including many who attend public charter schools.
