Council Eyes Board Vetoes

The Board of Education has some explaining to do over its decision Monday to reject 22 out of 25 charter school applications.

City Council yesterday decided to hold hearings on how the school board handles the applications. Also yesterday, state Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, sent a letter to Mayor Street praising him for recognizing that charter schools are an economic anchor for the city.

"On the one hand, the mayor and school district claim we need [charters] to stop population loss. On the other hand, it seems to be a difficult thing to put into practice," noted Councilman James Kenney, who believes that the applicants haven't been handled fairly.

"I want to review everything so that people will feel like they're getting a fair hearing," Kenney said.

In rejecting the applications, the school board cited many of the same reasons, such as an applicant's failure to describe an adequate curriculum, governance structure or financial plan.

Since the Legislature approved charters in 1997, they have flourished.

There are 65 statewide, 34 of which are in Philadelphia enrolling about 14,000 students.

Funded with public tax dollars, charters are run largely independent of public school systems. Supporters, including Gov. Ridge, contend that the tuition-free schools give parents educational options.

Al Bowman, a spokesman for the state Department of Education, declined to comment on the board's votes. The state appeal board has granted charters to three city schools that had been rejected by the school board. *

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