Editorial: A moratorium on charters

Friday, Nov. 30, 2007 | 7:16 a.m.

Charter schools have had the blessing of the Nevada Legislature for 10 years, and we agree they have the potential to offer a solid alternative to traditional public education.

The schools, however, are still very much public in the sense they are overseen by the state and by local school districts. They are granted a charter based on their ability to meet academic standards set by the state Board of Education.

Either a local school district or the state itself directly sponsors each of the 22 charter schools in Nevada that have opened since they were authorized in 1997. The sponsors spend considerable time and money overseeing the schools to ensure they are living up to their charters.

But time and money are limited. The growth in charter schools has the state and the school districts in Clark and Washoe counties seeking at least a temporary halt to authorizing new ones.

The Nevada Education Department and the school boards of Clark and Washoe counties are all saying their resources for sponsoring charter schools are at their limits.

Eight charters are sponsored by the Clark County School District, which wants the state to assume that responsibility. The Washoe district (Reno area) has capped its sponsorships at six. Meanwhile, the Nevada Education Department, which carries out the policies of the state Board of Education, has applications for seven more charters - and just one employee to review them.

"My concern is that we will have too many charters to give them proper oversight. I understand why the school districts don't want to do it," Cliff Ferry, president of the state education board, told Sun reporter Emily Richmond this week.

The board will consider imposing a moratorium on new charter schools at a meeting today.

In our view, it is critically important that charters have proper supervision. Approving them despite a lack of oversight ability would be irresponsible. We believe a moratorium is in order.