A bill that would allow persistently low-achieving public schools to convert to privately-run charter schools has cleared the Kentucky Senate. The measure passed the Republican-led chamber by a 22-14 party line vote. It would allow certified teaching staff and parents to petition the school’s principal to hold a vote on whether a privately run charter organization should be in charge of the school. Sen. Mike Wilson, a Republican from Bowling Green, sponsored the bill. “It’s only allowed in conversions for these low-achieving schools, and schools do remain accountable to the local board, who is, that who is the contract is with, and it’s only for a period of five years,” said Wilson. Wilson filed similar legislation last year, only for it die in the Democratic-controlled House. Sen. Gerald Neal, a Democrat from Louisville, spoke against the bill on the Senate floor. He took issue with the notion that charter schools are a cure-all for education.
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