Issue Position: Public Education

Issue Position

I do not support out of district charters receiving public dollars that would otherwise go to public school districts." -- Sarah Eckhardt

I am once again making my position clear after a charter school advocacy group's unsolicited announcement of support. Before anyone uses that to make misleading, untruthful statements regarding my opposition to out of district charters, we thought we'd make her position clear.

Like many current and former Austin Independent School District trustees, I think there is room for in-district charters like Travis Heights Elementary School. Pro-public education advocates like the American Federation of Teachers also support those efforts, as noted in an AFT publication, "A Big Bet on Educator-Led Collaborations and Solutions:

"Since 2010, Education Austin, an AFT affiliate, has received $607,000 to work in partnership with Austin Interfaith, and in the longer term with the Austin Independent School District (AISD), to convert "failing" schools on the brink of closure to "in-district charters" through strengthening community-school ties and engagement."

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