CER's Jeanne Allen Calls on Maryland to Revamp Charter School Lawin Presentation to State Board of Education

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jeanne Allen, president of The Center for Education Reform (CER) will, in a presentation to the Maryland State Board of Education today, call on the State of Maryland to dramatically improve its charter school law and ensure that more children are provided with access to high-quality schools.

As Maryland considers different ways to improve the charter school climate in the state, the State Board invited Allen—who brings more than 20 years of education reform leadership—to provide insight and ideas to improve the state's weak law.

Allen will call on the state to permit multiple entities—such as colleges and universities—to authorize the creation of charter schools. She will also recommend that the state ensure equitable funding for charter schools and establish a commonsense regulatory framework that allows great new schools to thrive.

She will also advise the Maryland State Board of Education that high-quality charter school applications are too often unfairly rejected, including proposals developed by public school teachers.

"Most of the nation's laws that exist today work for all kids," Allen said in prepared testimony. "Great charter schools both challenge and coexist with other, traditional public schools. Despite the good intentions of people here and in some communities, Maryland's law is deeply broken."

CER's annual report, Charter Laws Across the States, is widely considered the nation's preeminent blueprint for developing effective charter school laws. The report gives Maryland's charter school law a 'D'. For more than 16 years, the Center has analyzed, ranked and even written state charter school laws.

For more information, visit http://www.edreform.com.

The Center for Education Reform drives the creation of better educational opportunities for all children. CER changes laws, minds and cultures to allow good schools to flourish.

SOURCE Center for Education Reform