Bennet’s support of charter schools is a mistakeI appreciated the opportunity to attend the May 27 town hall meeting hosted by Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Jason Crow and to learn of their concern for the growing threat to democracy posed by the Trump White House.
Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to ask Sen. Bennet why he is joining forces with the Republican administration in bolstering charter schools.The president’s “big, beautiful bill” includes an estimated $6 billion in cuts for K-12 schools.
It will devastate programs serving the most vulnerable students. But one of the few areas slated for an increase in Trump’s education budget is the charter school sector, in line for $60 million in new annual funding.Sen.
Bennet last month teamed up with Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy to reintroduce the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, which will make it easier for charter schools to acquire public property and provide federal grants to states for charter school facilities. “Equitable” is an ironic choice of words, given that charter schools are exempt from dozens of requirements placed on neighborhood public schools.
I am having trouble squaring Bennet’s criticism of the Trump administration with his enthusiastic support for this MAGA priority, particularly as he splits time between his Senate responsibilities and his campaign for governor.Wouldn’t it make more sense for Bennet to devote his energy to fighting for all Colorado students, not.
