It has been a busy week at the legislature. Committee meetings are over, the reading calendar has been wiped in the House and bills will start moving a lot faster as we hurdle towards the finish line.
First, we have worked tirelessly to restore the administration funding to the education budget. Thanks to your efficient and effective use of funds the legislature has seen the value and proposed restoring administration funding at $100 per student.
Along with the budgeting process, HB 313 Charter School Funding Amendments passed out of House Education Committee this week. Thanks to each of you who contacted your legislator. The bill is now in the House. We are currently talking with the representatives, but we still need your help.
While HB 313 has cleared one hurdle, passing it out of the House will be the hardest. We need you to email your networks - parents, board members, everyone who supports charter schools. Here is an example of what one school has sent to their list. We want to flood the mailboxes of the representatives with requests to pass HB 313. The education establishment is fighting tooth and nail to keep this from passing. We have to fight harder to pass it.
My staff and I are committed to doing our part; we need you to do yours. And together we can get HB 313 passed in the next 7 days.
Along with these two significant budget items several other bills have moved this week:
HB 83 Charter School Revolving Account: this bill has passed both the House and Senate and now goes to the Governor to sign before becoming law
HB 339 Charter School Enrollment Amendments: Passed out of House Education Committee
HB 388 Operation and Management of Charter Schools: Passed out of House Education Committee
SB 53 Eligibility for Interscholastic Activities in Secondary Schools: Passed out of Senate Education Committee and is on the 2nd Reading calendar in the Senate
SB 125 Property Tax Exemption Amendments: this bill has passed both the House and the Senate and now goes to the Governor to sign before becoming law
SB 235 Charter School Students' Participation in Extracurricular Activities: Passed out of House Education Committee and is on the House 3rd reading calendar
If you want further information on these bills you can read this summary of our Legislative agenda.
Please contact me with any questions.
Chris Bleak
President
Utah Association of Public Charter Schools
chrisrbleak@yahoo.com
P.S. Remember to contact your representative and tell them to support HB 313! Here is a sample letter that you can send to your legislator. Here is a sample of what one school has sent to their network. If you want some talking points on HB 313 click here and here. Click here for a list of legislators who represent your school.
