Democrats at the state Capitol are calling for a moratorium on new charter schools until there are rules that ensure more transparency and accountability.
We have more from The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta.
A Detroit Free Press series outlined issues with charters that include an inability to look at how operators use their per-student state aid payments.
State Representative Sarah Roberts says the rules should require private, for-profit charter operators to open their books to the public.
“We are seeing for-profit companies that are unwilling to tell taxpayers how they’re spending their money,” she says.
Dan Quissenberry works for a charter school association.
“We need to be focused on giving parents more choices, not fewer choices, and this seems to be a measure focused on removing choices from parents,” he says.
Charter operators say current rules ensure they’re honest and accountable. They say the Democrats’ bills are an effort to create a political issue in an election year.