Today’s Baltimore Sun has an article by Sara Neufeld entitled,Charter school ruling could cost city millions: Maryland’s highest court tells system to equalize funding, offer cash in lieu of services, summarizes the opinion:
The Baltimore school system could be forced to pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars – and eventually millions – to its charter schools under a ruling issued yesterday by the state’s highest court.
In a 7-2 decision, the Court of Appeals affirmed the right of charter schools to receive as much money per pupil as regular public schools spend on their students. When the new academic year begins next month, Baltimore will have 22 charter schools serving about 5,400 children, more than in the rest of the state combined.
School Choice Advocates and Opponents are gearing up for further battle:
The ruling is being hailed by local and national charter school advocates. “It’s a great decision, and it’s in keeping with what we believe is and should be the law of the land: Money should follow children,” said Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform, a pro-charter group that gave Maryland a “D” in its annual rankings of state charter laws last year. “Children are entitled to equitable public funding regardless of the kind of school they attend.” The court’s decision has already spurred political opposition and calls for legislative action to undo it.
The opinion can be accessed here: Baltimore City Bd. of School Commissioners v. City Neighbors Charter School, No. 121 (Md. July 30, 2007)
