The Herald calls the bill that would eliminate caps in the bottom 10 percent of underperforming districts a "cheap and easy call" for Governor Patrick. 

The Telegram writes, "Charter schools in Massachusetts were born with the Education Reform Act of 1993. It is now 2013. The last 20 years offer abundant evidence that charter schools are a viable and legitimate choice. The Legislature should eliminate all caps and spending limits for charters, and give the people of Massachusetts truly unfettered choice in how their own public education dollars are spent." 

Click here to read the Herald editorial.

Click here to read the Worcester Telegram editorial.

Lehigh says that the "bill would also extend the important turnaround tools established in 2010 to a wider range of unperforming schools, giving districts more power to override collective bargaining constraints in some schools that have ranked in the lowest 20 percent for two consecutive years."

Click here to read the story.

In a recent editorial, the New Bedford Standard Times states that it disagrees with Mayor Jon Mitchell's opinion that the charter school application filed by City on a Hill should be denied. The editorial discusses why City on a Hill is an opportunity to improve "access to academic success in a city where too many students are left behind."

City on a Hill has submitted two applications to the state to open replication schools in Boston and New Bedford. In addition to the Standard Times editorial, Warren Berube, a New Bedford resident and former executive director and founder of the Global Learning Charter Public School, writes an opinion piece stating that while the New Bedford district schools will arrive at a good place in the future, until that time, "the traditional public schools must learn to peacefully co-exist with innovative educational institutions that have a proven track record of helping children achieve academic success. At this moment in time, those institutions happen to be part of the effective charter school movement in Massachusetts."

Click here to read the editorial. 

Click here to read Warren Berube's opinion. 

Click here to read the story.

The Globe editorial states that the Mayor is right to push for more tools to improve public schools in Boston, but he "has no business undermining the mainstream charter school movement in the process."

The Herald writes that the Mayor’s proposal falls short of calling for caps to be lifted on Commonwealth charters. The Herald said that unless the Mayor’s proposals “succeed in making it easier for more charters to welcome more Boston families seeking educational alternatives, we’re not particularly impressed.”

Click here to read the Boston Globe editorial.

Click here to read the Boston Herald editorial.

The Republican's editorial team writes that, "Charter schools across the state are proving their worth by turning out students with higher test scores. It’s time to lift the cap to enable more urban students a chance at academic success."

Click here to read the story.

By John Schneider, Director for Gateway Strategic Initiatives for MCPSA

John Schneider provides an in-depth explanation of charter public schools and why the successful City on a Hill Charter Public School model should be a welcome addition to New Bedford. John writes that "COAH would add another high quality public school option to New Bedford. Its leaders are looking forward to partnering with New Bedford educators, parents, elected officials and nonprofits to improve public education in the city."

City on a Hill currently has one school open in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and is the first Boston charter school to propose replicating in a Gateway City. It is one of the most successful public high schools in Massachusetts, offering a college preparatory program to disadvantaged students. On the 2012 MCAS, more than 90 percent of its 10th-graders scored proficient or advanced in English and 87 percent scored proficient or advanced in math. Compared to Boston district schools, 18 percent more COAH students scored proficient or advanced in English; 22 percent more in math.

Click here to read the story.

By Scot Lehigh

The Boston Globe's Scot Lehigh writes in favor of raising the charter public school cap: "consider the fact that the average Boston charter school day is two hours longer than the traditional BPS day, without any additional stipend. If a longer urban school day is the priority it should be, the best course is obvious: raise the charter cap again."

"Around the state," he says, "charter schools are already providing that longer day, and for the same basic per-pupil amount that, in the traditional public schools, buys only a shorter day. We now know that more learning time is often important to boosting the educational performance of urban kids from low-income families." 

Click here to read the full story.

By Peter Manoogian

Saugus Town Meeting member, Peter Manoogian, writes a piece supporting the proposal to replicate the successful Pioneer Charter School of Science on the North Shore.  He urges parents and residents to join him in asking the state to approve the application.

Click here to read the story.