Lake County Gazette

Approximately 78 percent of parents support the launch of charter public schools in their neighborhood, according to a new study from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. 

Presidential candidate Joe Biden has vowed to close them all if he is elected, according to an MSNBC-TV interview.

“Charter schools have a purpose and the purpose is to give parent's choice versus public education,” said Joe Ptak, a political activist from Island Lake.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) found that 73 percent support more charter schools opening nationwide, but Biden said on MSNBC, "If I'm president, [Education Secretary] Betsy DeVos’ whole notion from charter schools to this are gone,” according to a May 24 tweet by Corey A. DeAngelis, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom and director of school choice at the Reason Foundation.

“Joe Biden is going to do whatever he’s told to do,” Ptak told the Lake County Gazette. “The man doesn’t have an original thought in his head. As far as I am concerned, he is senile. If elected, Biden would be older than Ronald Reagan on the day he left office. I’m fearful of Biden being president.”

In a 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled on June 30, 2020 that federal funds can be used towards charter schools. The highest court in the land held in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue that a ban preventing parents from using taxpayer funds at religious schools is unconstitutional.

One of the reasons teacher’s unions reportedly opposed charter schools is because they create competition for the funding that public schools depend on, according to the Center for Education Reform. 

“A lot of people right now are not satisfied with public education and parents have a right to send their kids to whatever school they want or school them at home if they want,” said Ptak who manages construction projects. “It’s all a matter of choice. Americans have a right to make that choice.”

The NAPCS study further found that one in 10 parents said charter schools were their first choice when given a choice, which indicates that some 2 million students would attend charter schools if their parents could enroll them. Some of the obstacles cited include distance, demand and lack of available seating.

“The survey confirms to us the importance of all parents being able to choose the public school that best meets their children's needs,” said Nina Rees, president and CEO of the NAPCS. “We are listening to parents and will continue to fight so that all families have the option to send their child to a high-quality public school.”