Legislature May Do Away With Charter School Limit

A bill in the state legislature might have more charter schools coming to Idaho.

A current law allows a maximum of six new charter schools per year in the state; the new bill would get rid of that limit.

Academy at Roosevelt Center Administrator Joel Lovstedt said he can understand why someone might have thought a limit was a good idea.

“I would guess that the purpose of this law was to limit the number of charter schools starting up so that the regular school districts already in place can accommodate and plan for changes in personnel,? Lovstedt said.

But local charter school leaders said the law is unnecessary. Only once has the state reached the six charter schools in a single year limit.

“The fear that if we removed the cap there would be a gigantic boom of charter schools every year opening in the state of Idaho is just unfounded. So it’s not a piece of legislation that needs to be in place,? Pocatello Community Charter School Dean Martha Martin said.

But that leaves the question, if the law truly doesn’t do anything, why even get rid of it?

“And the answer is that it is affecting the funding that Idaho is qualifying for,” Lovstedt said.

Charter school officials say national organizations help provide funds for charter schools, but rarely give out those grants to states that have limits.

“I don’t have exact numbers, but I understand that there is a lot of money that we, quite simply, have not had access to,? Lovstedt said.

A local group is trying to start up Summit Charter School in Pocatello.

Those behind the new charter school said there is a real demand for more options in the community.

“There’s absolutely a demand for more charter schools. All the charter schools I know and have worked with have waiting lists,? Summit Charter School boardmember Rich Kirkham said.