Montgomery, AL – An Alabama state Senate panel approved a number of changes to its charter schools bill, including a requirement that the people operating the schools be U.S. citizens and Alabama residents.
Republican sponsor Sen. Dick Brewbaker also wants charter schools to keep detailed records of students who drop out or transfer in the middle of the year in order to better gauge their effectiveness.
Charter schools receive taxpayer money, but are run by private companies and aren't subject to the same rules as public schools.
Brewbaker's bill differs from an Alabama House version in that it would allow low-performing schools to be transitioned into charters. The House version would create charters alongside low-performing schools.
Democratic Sen. Quinton Ross says charter schools would be a hijacking of the public school system.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)