Should For-Profit Charter Schools Receive Federal Funding?

2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SITE

Last updated on: 3/16/2020 12:31:22 PM PST

About 12% of charter schools in the US are managed by for-profit organizations, accounting for 357 schools and $125 million in federal Charter School Program (CSP) grants between 2006 and 2014, according to a Dec. 2019 report.

Proponents of charter schools say the schools offer an alternative to a crumbling traditional public school system. Opponents say charter schools have little accountability and take federal funds from public schools.

Sources:

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Charter School FAQ," publiccharters.org (accessed Mar. 16, 2020)

Network for Public Education, "Still Asleep at the Wheel," networkforpubliceducation.org, Dec. 2019

Valerie Strauss, "Report: Federal Government Wasted Millions of Dollars on Charter Schools That Never Opened," washingtonpost.com, Dec. 9, 2019

Pro

Trump

Con

Biden

Hawkins

Jorgensen

Not Clear or Not Found

Pro (Yes)

Pro

Trump
Republican

"Charter schools empower families to pursue the right educational fit for their children...

Because of the success of and demand for public charter schools, each year since taking office, I have proposed to increase and improve funding for them as a key part of my Administration's ambitious efforts to expand every family's access to all types of high-quality education opportunities. In my fiscal year 2020 budget request, I called on the Congress to increase funding for the Federal Charter Schools Program to $500 million."

Source: Donald Trump, "Proclamation on National Charter Schools Week, 2019," whitehouse.gov, May 10, 2019

[Editor's Note: The Trump admininstration's 2020 budget would eliminate federal funding for charter schools but would allow states to fund charter schools with other federal funding. A report published by the Network for Public Education found 357 charter schools run by for-profit companies listed in the US Department of Education database of schools that received grants from the federal Charter Schools Program for which Trump previously increased funding.

Sources:

Network for Public Education, "Still Asleep at the Wheel," networkforpubliceducation.org, Dec. 2019

Lauren Camera, "Trump Administration's Budget Would Eliminate Federal Funding for Charter Schools," usnews.com, Feb. 10, 2020]

Con (No)

Con

Biden
Democrat

"I do not support any federal money ... for for-profit charter schools — period. The bottom line is it siphons off money from public schools, which are already in enough trouble."

Source: Patrick Svitek, "Biden Makes First Texas Trip as a 2020 Presidential Candidate, Pitching New Education Plan," texastribune.org, May 28, 2019

Con

Hawkins
Green

"I would end federal policies and incentives that support the privatization of public schools in the form of privately-managed charter schools. I would end high-stakes testing that is the leading edge of the privatization policy. The charter schools are undermining public school finances and increasing race and class segregation."

Source: Howie Hawkins, "Green Party National Women’s Caucus Presidential Candidate Questionnaire for 2020," howiehawkins.us (accessed June 24, 2020)

Con

Jorgensen
Libertarian

"No - all schools are better off without federal funding. Regulations imposed by the Department of Education cost schools far more in compliance than they receive in subsidies. As president, I will end federal government involvement in education and return control to local parents, teachers, and students."

Source: Communication from the Jorgensen campaign to ProCon.org on Aug. 26, 2020

[Editor's Note: The Jorgensen campaign provided the same text in answer to this question and the Should the Federal Funding to Historically Black Universities and Colleges (HBCUs) Be Increased? question.]

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Natalie Leppard
Managing Editor
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Should For-Profit Charter Schools Receive Federal Funding?

Sources: Network for Public Education, "Still Asleep at the Wheel," networkforpubliceducation.org, Dec. 2019 Lauren Camera, "Trump Administration's Budget Would Eliminate Federal Funding for Charter Schools," usnews.com, Feb. 10, 2020]

Sources:

Network for Public Education, "Still Asleep at the Wheel," networkforpubliceducation.org, Dec. 2019

Lauren Camera, "Trump Administration's Budget Would Eliminate Federal Funding for Charter Schools," usnews.com, Feb. 10, 2020]