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SB 8 approved this morning by the House Finance Committee has lots of problems. One of the biggest is that it requires charter schools to provide transportation and lunch services to all students. Under the current law, charter schools can provide transportation and lunch services if they so choose and many of them do. The point is the school decides.
According to a staff attorney with the Fiscal Research Office, North Carolina General Statutes authorize but do not mandate the provision of transportation services (See: G.S. 115C-239 and G.S. 115C-252) by the public schools. In addition, the statutes also authorize that schools shall provide “to the extent practicable” (emphasis mine) school food services to the schools in their jurisdiction (See: G.S. 115C-263)
Fiscal Research confirmed cases of early college high schools – often times located on community college campuses – that have chosen not to provide lunch because of their unique circumstances.
I guess there is no need to consider the educational and financial circumstances of charter schools. The phrase “to the extent practicable” applies only to the public schools.
I wonder if liberals so intent on making sure charter schools provide transportation and lunch services will now make it a requirement for traditional public schools?
