Deeds Campaign: Creigh is “…Opposed to Charter Schools.”
Russ Potts: “One candidate is for charter schools, Bob McDonnell, the other is opposed to charter schools,”
Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools a Shared Bipartisan Goal of President Barack Obama and Bob McDonnell
WINCHESTER- The gubernatorial campaign of Creigh Deeds is now emphasizing his strong opposition to charter schools as the race enters the final ten days. At a Deeds for governor rally in Winchester yesterday top campaign surrogate Russ Potts, who speaks often on Creigh’s behalf and is frequently mentioned by Deeds as one of his most prominent supporters, was unequivocal in laying out where the two gubernatorial candidates stand on this issue:
“Potts also unloaded on McDonnell for his support of charter schools – public schools started and run by outside organizations.
“One candidate is for charter schools, Bob McDonnell, the other is opposed to charter schools,” Potts said.
Few charter schools have been created in the Old Dominion for a simple reason, Potts said. Communities that considered it “were very happy with the public education system in Virginia.”
The Northern Virginia Daily October 23, 2009
Creigh Deeds’ opposition to charter schools stands in strong contrast to the President’s commitment to expanding the number of these innovative schools nationwide. The President’s “Race to the Top” initiative will provide $4.35 billion to states that expand their number of charter schools and implement other educational reforms including performance pay.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell is a strong proponent of the President’s charter school efforts. As governor, McDonnell will work with the Administration to expand charter schools across Virginia, benefiting students, teachers and parents.
To learn more about Bob McDonnell’s plan to bring more charter schools to Virginia please visit:
McDonnell also recently participated in the public comment period regarding the “Race to the Top” program. In his formal letter to the United States Department of Education, McDonnell reiterated his plans to work with the Administration to expand charter schools in the Commonwealth in the years ahead.
That letter be found here:
Creigh Deeds Longstanding Opposition to Charter Schools
- In the House of Delegates Bob McDonnell led the effort to pass legislation allowing charter schools in the Commonwealth. Creigh Deeds voted NO on final passage. (HB 543 1998)
- In 2004 Deeds was one of only seven senators to vote against the Charter School Excellence and Accountability Act which among other things: Allowed charter schools to contract with private institutions of education, added evidence of the support of school division residents for a charter school to those items that may be included in proposed charter agreement materials, allow charter applicants to submit the proposed charter agreement to the Board of Education for review and comment, and to require inclusion of the Board’s findings in the charter application to the local school board, deleted the authority of school boards to limit the number of charter schools within the division, and extended the maximum term of the charter from three to five years.
- As a candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination Creigh made clear he did not support expanding charter schools in Virginia: “One question Moran, McAuliffe and Deeds was clear on was that they do not support taking state funds to support tuition tax credits or charter schools.”
- Creigh Deeds has been endorsed by the VEA. The head of the VEA made clear their position on the matter, writing in The Washington Post on July 12: ”Charter Schools Aren’t the Solution for Virginia.” In the piece, Boitnott wrote, “The Obama administration and The Post are fascinated with charter schools, but charters do not make sense for Virginia. Maybe charter schools are needed in the District or Chicago, but in Virginia they are a solution looking for a problem.”
In early August Creigh nodded affirmatively as the head of the VEA made clear that Bob McDonnell was the candidate in the race who supported charter schools. She noted:
”[Creigh Deeds’] opponent is a proponent of charter schools and merit pay,” Boitnott said. “Right now [Bob McDonnell] is using a strategy that would lull people - those who are in favor of charter schools and merit pay - lull them into the fold by saying that these are things that President Obama and Secretary [of Education Arne] Duncan also promote, which is true to a certain extent.”
Following her remarks about how the VEA is working behind the scenes to make sure the President’s reforms will not be “detrimental to the public education programs that we have supported” (VEA opposes charter schools), Creigh stated:
“What Kitty’s talking about - you have to always look for innovations in education. We gotta keep an open mind about a lot of things. But there’s some places we just draw lines in the sand.”