(WHAS11) - Kentucky could end up missing out on billions of federal dollars for education due to part of the economic stimulus package. Some of the money is tied to charter schools. However, Kentucky doesn't have charter schools, so that puts the state at a distinct disadvantage for billions of dollars in education grants. The Obama administration supports these public schools and has tied grant awards to states that have good ones.
Montessori Community School in New Albany has a fundamentally different belief in education in action. It is a public school, but it's a charter school.
"It allows administrators, parents and students to look at it and take away everything and create the best possible school for students, whatever that may be, that's what charters do," said Barbara Fondren, of Community Montessori.
There are more than 5,000 charter schools in 41 states, but none in Kentucky.
Lawmakers have taken up the issue before, but without results. Most likely because Kentucky education reform already gives local control to schools through school based decision making. And then there's the cost.
Charter schools receive limited state funds per student. Most are non-profit, but some are privately run for profit.
The most authoritative study, just released, studied 70% of the nation's charter students and compared them with the academic progress of similar public school students and found that 17% made academic gains while 46% were no different and 37% were significantly worse.
But in Indiana and many other states, charter schools are giving parents a chance to have a voice in their child's education without the price of private school.
Indiana has had charter schools for 18 years. Kentucky has tried to get charter schools for many years but failed to get the legislation through Frankfort.
Kentucky's Department of Education is working on the stimulus funded grants. The deadline is January.
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