Blake Moore: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I encourage my colleagues to support my amendment to H.R. 2218, which would strike a provision…”

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I encourage my colleagues to support my amendment to H.R. 2218, which would strike a provision that allows Governors to apply and receive direct grants from the Federal Government and preempts State education agencies from their oversight and operational responsibilities. Let me say before I defend this amendment that I think that H.R. 2218 makes very critical changes to the charter school program that are long overdue, and it moves in the right direction in terms of being more inclusive of students, including groups that have typically had limited access to charters such as students with disabilities and English language learners. I believe that my amendment will secure and protect these improvements and expansions of charter school programs. I really question the wisdom of putting Governors' offices in the business of overseeing charter programs and implementing these extremely complex programs. We do know that Governors' offices do not have the infrastructure, expertise, or staff to do the job--a job which includes close monitoring of schools, holding authorities accountable, and much more. These are intricate programs with multiple moving parts that require time and labor-intensive administration. I do believe that in my own State of Wisconsin, for example, we have constitutionally elected superintendents of public instruction. And it should remain within their purview to oversee and administer this program.…”