by Lance T. Izumi, Fellow in California Studies
Pacific Research Institute
July 27, 1999

Announcer lead: Time for Perspectives. Lance Izumi says that state education secretary Gary Hart has sold out charter schools.

In Madrid's famous Prado art museum hangs a frightening painting by Goya which depicts the Roman god Saturn devouring one of his children. The Goya painting is a grotesque, yet appropriate allegory for Gary Hart, Gov. Davis' secretary for education and the father of California's autonomous deregulated charter schools. Recently, Mr. Hart decided to eat his own children by supporting his boss' effort to close down dozens of charter schools.

The fork and knife for Mr. Hart's meal is SB 434, a Davis-backed measure that would drastically increase the regulation of charter schools that employ home study and distance learning. Since passage of then-State Sen. Hart's legislation creating charter schools, 22,000 charter-school students receive instruction over the internet, by phone or by correspondence, but with teacher supervision. Since charters aren't given building funds, home study and distance learning allow them to provide instruction at a fraction of the cost.

Under SB 434, however, charter schools couldn't offer any course required for high school graduation through home study and distance learning. This prohibition would shut down many charters. Ironically, in other education settings, the state is promoting high-tech distance learning. One legislative analysis criticized SB 434 for ending distance learning for charters at the same time the state is establishing distance-learning-based virtual universities.

SB 434 includes other restrictions on charter schools including the resources they can provide their students and how they can divide up the school day. Despite no evidence of abuses by charters, Gary Hart defends his support for the bill saying that charters "will have to change their methods of operating or go out of business." Mr. Hart has it wrong. It's not cutting-edge charter schools that should go out of business, it's double-crossing politicians. California needs an education secretary who, instead of restricting the flexibility charter schools now have, will extend that flexibility to all public schools.

With a perspective, I'm Lance Izumi.