House Oks Charter Schools Legislation

Sat., Feb. 14, 1998

From Staff And Wire Reports

Legislation authorizing charter schools is headed to the Idaho Senate after winning overwhelming approval in the House Friday.

At the request of chief sponsor Rep. Fred Tilman, R-Boise, the House voted 61-4 for a bill allowing up to 12 charter public schools in the state starting next July.

The schools would be public, but they would be freed from most of the constraints on regular public schools. Sponsors said they hoped that would lead to innovation and experimentation to improve education.

Voting against the measure were Democrats June Judd of St. Maries and Bert Marley of Inkom and Republicans Tim Ridinger of Shoshone and J. Steven Hadley of Chubbuck.

Judd said she was worried about the possible effect on rural areas. If a number of students left the regular school system for a charter school, it might hurt a district’s ability to keep another school going, she said.

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House Oks Charter Schools Legislation

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