A state district judge ruled last month that the flow of state money to 33 charter schools authorized by Louisiana’s education board can continue, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports.
A teachers’ union and the Iberville Parish school system filed suit last year and were asking for a preliminary injunction to stop the flow of money away from the public school system and into the coffers of the charter schools. The basis of their argument was that using public money to fund certain charter schools is unconstitutional. In denying a preliminary injunction, Judge Wilson Fields said nothing about the merits of either party’s constitutional argument.
At the hearing, Iberville Superintendent Edward Cancienne testified that the $4 million being diverted to charter schools from his school system could force the firing of more than 50 teachers, reported the New Orleans City Business.
But Judge Fields said neither the Louisiana Association of Educators nor the Iberville Parish School Board had shown that they would be irreparably harmed if the money continued for now. He did, however, schedule a hearing for Dec 15 to rule on a permanent injunction the teachers’ union requested.
“The Court today acted in the best interest of public education,” the paper quoted Caroline Roemer Shirley, the association’s director, as saying. “We have protected 33 charters and their funding for now, but the attack on the 13,000 Louisiana children who attend those schools and their right to attend the public school of their choice is far from over.”
Why do you agree or disagree with New York City schools chancellor Carmen Fariña, who said, “There shouldn’t be a whole movement out of charters the month before the test. … Where we need to do more work is better transparency.” See Common Core writing standard WHST.11-12.1.A for more information.