In Arizona's choice-rich educational environment, about 10 percent of all public school students are now enrolled in the state's nearly 500 public charter schools. Yet the state constitution provides for no charter-school representation on the Arizona Board of Education.
That needs to change, and Proposition 105 would do just that.
Proposition 105 would require an owner or administrator of a charter school be seated on the state board. Other members include the state superintendent of public instruction, the president of a state university, the president or chancellor of a community college district, the superintendent of a high school district, a classroom teacher, a county school superintendent and four lay members.
Although there is a separate state board that deals exclusively with charter schools, it is essential that a charter school representative serve on the state Board of Education to ensure issues unique to charter schools are not overlooked when major policy issues that would affect all public schools are discussed and acted upon.
The Tribune recommends a “Yes” vote on Proposition 105.
