MD’s future will be shaped by how lawmakers handle the KIPP situation
The unholy alliance between the Democratic Party (which controls Maryland’s state government) and the teachers unions threatens the very existence of the state’s highly-successful and highly-praised KIPP charter schools. The educational future of Maryland’s school children is directly linked to whether or not lawmakers are willing to stand up to their teacher union friends.
Faced with an absurd state law that requires charter schools to be unionized, the Knowledge Is Power Program is looking for a manageable, long-term deal with the teachers union that will allow KIPP the financial flexibility and certainty to stay put in Maryland.
Legislation has been proposed that offers a way for KIPP to continue operating in Baltimore. However, the teachers unions don’t seem interested in making the necessary contract concessions (regarding teacher compensation for extended school days and school years), and KIPP may have no other choice than to close down its Maryland operation.
The parasitic teacher unions are behaving as they always do, by putting the needs and interests of adults ahead of the needs of students. At this point, the union’s selfishness is no surprise to informed onlookers. If this story has a sad ending, the true villains will be the state lawmakers who chose to protect their union buddies at the expense of Maryland families and students.
As a recent Washington Post editorial points out, KIPP officials, students, families and teachers are all satisfied with the current contract arrangement. (KIPP teachers are well-paid and “believe in their mission,” according to the Post editorial.) KIPP would simply like to extend the contract terms over a longer period.
The only dissatisfied party also happens to be the least important: the teacher union leadership.
In most states, one of the great things about charter schools is that they can operate without the costs and complications brought about by union influence. If charter schools in Maryland must be unionized, the least the state can do is make the arrangement as tolerable as possible for KIPP, which has clearly served the students and families of Baltimore very well.
Maryland taxpayers need to pay very careful attention as to whether or not lawmakers take control of this situation and save KIPP charter schools from an untimely demise. It is not hyperbole to suggest the lawmakers’ decision will go a long way toward determining Maryland’s future.
