A recent national report has refocused attention on the phenomenon in which charter schools lag behind traditional public schools in funding primarily because of the lack of capital construction funding.
Ball State University’s report shows that the funding gap between Delaware’s public school district students and public charter school students was among the highest of the states studied.
According to Ball State’s research, which reviewed data from the 2006-2007 school year, Delaware districts spent $13,655 per student while charters spent $9,990 – a difference of $3,665.
Wilmington charter schools actually spent more per pupil than their suburban charter counterparts at $10,150 per student, but they were still outspent by city public schools by $4,604 per pupil, mirroring the national trend.
On average, the nation’s public charter schools received $2,247 less per pupil than traditional public schools in the same state.
Ball State examined data from 24 states and Washington, D.C., and ranked Delaware as the fifth worst in funding disparity.
The Delaware Charter Schools Network released a press release Monday, June 7 urging policymakers at both the state and local level to provide equitable funding for charter school students.
“It is unfortunate to see that, of the states surveyed, Delaware is ranked as having the fifth greatest funding disparity,” Delaware Charter Schools Network Acting President Edward Emmett said. “Charter schools in Delaware have watched funding erode since the introduction of the charter school law.
“This nationwide report reinforces the 2008 LEAD Committee Report on Education Funding in Delaware that called for greater funding equity for Delaware’s charter schools,” added Emmett, who is director of Positive Outcomes Charter School in Camden-Wyoming.
The Ball State report attributed the gap in funding primarily to the fact that Diamond State charters do not have access to capital funding the way local school districts do.
School districts can hold referenda in which, provided they are successful, taxpayers authorize the school districts to purchase 10-year state bonds to pay for the local, 40 percent share of their costs. Successful referenda also essentially guarantee that the state will pay for 60 percent of the costs with money allocated in the annul bond bill. Capital referenda pay for new buildings as well as major renovations of school buildings.
While Delaware charters do not receive capital funding, the report points out that charter schools can access tax-exempt bond financing through the Delaware Economic Development Authority [run by the Delaware Economic Development Office] or the county in which the school is located.
