NCPSO Issues

NCPSO Federal Legislative Priorities

The National Coalition for Public School Options is a network of parent leaders representing the over one million families that benefit from school choice options such as public charter schools, virtual or online schools, tuition scholarhips, tax credits and magnet schools.  Since its inception in 2008, NCPSO has served to give voice to parents and educators who support expanded school choice options, as well as a resource for policymakers seeking to better understand education policy issues impacting parental choice.  In keeping with its mission, NCPSO leaders have traveled to Washington, D.C. to share the parent's perspective on several critical issues as Congress considers school reform agendas.


NCPSO Supports Tier One Military Recruiting Status for Online Public Schools

Outdated military recruiting policy improperly discriminates against graduates of public online high schools.  Under the military's current three-tier recruiting classification status, graduates of traditional brick and mortar high schools are classified as Tier I graduates, while graduates of public online high schools are relegated to Tier II status.  This classification system proves highly discriminatory to graduates of public online high schools as the military limits enlistments of Tier II graduates to no more than 10 percent of total enlistments.  In addition, the military requires Tier II graduates score substantially higher on aptitude tests than their Tier I counterparts.

The classification policy makes a distinction between graduates of public brick and mortar high schools and public online schools when there is no meaningful difference.  Graduates of public online high schools are educated in an accredited public school, have been instructed by a public school teacher, demonstrated mastery of a state-approved curriculum and passed state prescribed achievement tests.  In short, states that authorize and fund public online schools make no distinction between students graduateing from public online high schools, so neither should the military.

Congress should change military recruiting policy to afford public online high school graduates who volunteer to serve their country the same opportunity as they do all other high school graduates.  The Senate version of Department Defense Authorization Act that provides for Tier I status to be granted to charter school graduates should be amended to include Tier I classification to graduates of public online (or virtual) high schools.  (Note:  Charter school graduates are in most cases classified as Tier I, while graduates of public online (or virtual) high schools, whether or not the school is organized as a charter school, are being classified as Tier II.)


NCPSO Supports Full Funding for Obama-Duncan School Reform Programs

NCPSO opposes funding cuts recently made by the House of Representatives to the Race to the Top program, Teacher Incentive Fund and Charter Schools Program and urges Congress to support President Obama in fully funding these programs with strong bi-partisan support.

The Obama-Duncan school reform programs offer real promise for states to realize the benefits of adopting higher academic standards, turn around low-performing schools and improve teacher performance.  The House voted to strip these programs of $800 million to help the impact of state budget cuts on teachers.  While NCPSO favors saving educators' jobs, it does not need to be at the cost of supporting federal funding for proven and promising public school innovations and options such as charter schools.  As the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools has noted:

Under the House passed bill, $100 million, or 40 percent of fiscal year 2010 funding, would be cut from the Charter School Programs.  This would mean 200 fewer charter schools could start next year, and up to 6,000 charter professionals would lose their jobs or never have the chance to work in a public charter school.  Already an under-funded sector, nationally public charter schools receive 80 cents on the dollar compared to traditional public schools.

NCPSO urges Congress to join on a bipartisan basis with President Obama and Secretary Duncan and fully fund school reform programs.


NCPSO Supports All-STAR Act

All Students Achieving Through Reform Act

(S. 3441 -- Sens. Durbin & Gregg)

(H.R. 4330 -- Rep. Polis)

The All-Star Act would establish competitive grants in the Department of Education to encourage the replication of the most successful charter school models while also enhancing accountability, transparency and strong governance.  The Act will provide resources to be used by the most successful charter schools in replicating their success.  Targeting schools that have performed at high levels or significantly closed the achievement gap among students from low-income families, the legislation provides relief from arbitrary enrollment caps and grants greater flexibility for schools to use federal grant funds to support school facility development, transportation, additional hiring and special education programs.