Hatboro-Horsham Considers Starting Charter School

At a time when , the Hatboro-Horsham School Board this week authorized spending $13,750 to $27,500 to investigate whether converting to a charter school format is a viable option.

During Monday night’s meeting, the board unanimously approved entering into a contract with Linda C. Brewer, LLC to conduct a feasibility study pertaining to the potential conversion of an elementary school within the to a public charter school.

Under the professional services agreement between the district and consultant, Brewer – who brings 37 years of public education experience to the table - would be paid $550 per full day of work. The contract states that Brewer would provide a minimum of 25 full days of work and a maximum of 50 full days at this rate.

Superintendent Curtis Griffin said the consultant’s fees would be paid from the district’s consultant budget. He said the evaluation is really a two-phase plan. The first of which would continue through fall and would involve Brewer exploring if there is a “solid rationale or reason” for Hatboro-Horsham to consider converting to a charter school. 

If the resulting answer is yes, Griffin said research, conversations with parents and at least a year of planning would follow. The earliest the conversion could happen is two years, Griffin said.

“That would be aggressive,” he added.

Based on trend information that Griffin presented to the board Monday night, charter schools and enrollment at the non-traditional educational facilities, is undeniably at an upswing. According to a PBS article published in December 2011, 2 million of school children nationwide – or roughly 4.5 percent – attend a charter school. That number represents a 13 percent increase in charter school enrollment over 2010.

Locally, Griffin said charter school growth seems to be holding true. During the 2006-2007 school year 16 students living within the school district attended charter schools. The following year that number rose to 22; spiked to 46 during the 2009-2010 school year; and is currently 45 students.

Charter schools are publicly funded schools that operate outside of direct control of local school districts. Unlike public schools, students are not required to live where the charter school is based. However, the public school district where charter school students reside must cover tuition costs for that pupil.

Total costs for educating last school year’s Hatboro-Horsham charter school students was $517,404, Griffin said. Tuition costs the district about $11,000 per student, he said, adding that tuition for special education students is generally about $21,000.

“Will things be done by us, or will it be done to us as we move forward?” Griffin asked in beginning his presentation.

The thought, he said, is that by converting to a charter school, costs would be kept in-house and the district could save money. The total savings – if there are any – is yet to be determined.

Regardless if Hatboro-Horsham converts to a charter school or not, President Obama supports the expansion of charter schools.

“This is one area where there’s support across the board,” Griffin said of bi-partisan backing to increase the number of charter schools throughout the U.S.