Whereas, AFSA believes that, on a small scale, public charter schools have the potential to provide innovative educational strategies that can be replicated across traditional public schools, but recognizes that recent research has found that charter schools' effectiveness has proven to be mixed at best; and
Whereas, AFSA believes it of paramount importance to the success of all public school students that charter schools be held to the same standards as traditional public schools, including accountability requirements, regional accreditation standards, educator effectiveness and teacher and principal certification, regulations and financial oversight;
Therefore be it resolved, that AFSA believes that any charter school-related legislation must require that states provide descriptions of how they will actively monitor and hold authorized public chartering agencies accountable, based on the performance of the charter schools they authorize, with particular focus on the areas of achievement for all students, student safety and financial management; and
Be it further resolved, that AFSA believes that any charter school-related legislation should expressly prohibit charter schools from discriminating on the basis of race, sex, religion, socioeconomic status, language or mental, physical, emotional or behavioral disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity; and
Be it further resolved, that AFSA believes strongly that federal,state and local policymakers should not divert funding from traditional public schools to fund charter schools, and there be a meaningful local review of the impact of charter schools on individual districts and for charter school applicants to hold no fewer than three public hearings to receive public feedback and address any taxpayer and community concerns.