‘We need a change at the state level’: Bend public charter school says lack of funding is impacting students

(Update: Adding video, comments from Bend International School)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A new study from ECONorthwest shows funding for Oregon's charter schools has dropped, compared to public schools.

Local public charter schools are feeling the effects as funding continues to shrink.

Parent Vanna Miller said, "My two kids that attend Bend International School should be getting the same amount of funding as any other two kids that are going to school within the district. So it feels unfair."

Besides being a parent, Miller helps raise money for the Bend International School's budget. She and the parent's board hold three fundraisers a year to help the K-8 school's 220 students.

"That's a huge undertaking, like the parents who end up spending their time on that," Miller said. "It's like having a second job, and nobody's got time for that in today's economic climate."

Critics of charter schools like the Oregon Education Association support nonprofit publicly owned charter schools, but highlight the lack of accountability and transparency from many charters in the state, saying they drain money from public schools and choose profit over student excellence. 

Melissa Barnes Dholakia, the executive director of Bend International School, says she feels for the students.

"It sinks my heart to think that they're getting half of the funding that other public schools in our state are getting," she said. "And I feel like I need to be an advocate in the champion and fight for better funding. "

Barnes Dholakia has taken on multiple roles at the school, including superintendent, executive director and principal. She says public charter school funding is restricted, with her faculty taking a 10% salary cut.

"We don't receive our Title funds and some of our federal funds that are supposed to come to help our students in need. We also don't have access to things like bonds," she said.

Under current Oregon law, school districts are only required to send 80% of funds received from general-purpose grants from the state School Fund to K-8 charter schools.

Barnes Dholakia is now asking for the state to change the law.

"We need a change at the state level, so that our families can focus on community and not have to be taking on things like fundraising. That's not their job."

Bend International School officials added that they have a great working relationship with Bend-La Pine Schools. In an email, the school district said they will be presenting district-wide budgeting issues to the state Legislature next session, which begins in January.

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Below is a news release from the Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools:

Oregon public charter schools receive less than half the funding per pupil than their district-run public school counterparts, according to a new report today prepared by ECONorthwest for the Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools (ORC3S).

“Even as more students and families are finding that public charter schools best meet their needs, how Oregon funds education is undermining our work,” said Iris Maria Chavez, Director of the ORC3S. “Legislative action is needed to provide equitable funding for the over 25,000 Oregon students served by these schools.” 

Using the most recent data available from the 2022-2023 academic year, the study compares per-student funding for those enrolled at public charter schools with those in district-run public schools. It finds that charter schools receive on average only 48% of the per-student funding compared to non-charter schools in the same district – about $6,000 less for each student. That gap has grown since 2013 when a similar analysis found charter schools received an average of 63% compared to their district-run counterparts.

Under current Oregon law, school districts are only required to remit 80% of funds received from General Purpose Grants from the State School Fund (the primary state funding mechanism) to K-8 charter schools and 95% of funds for charter high schools. The analysis finds that most districts’ allocations do not exceed that statutory minimum. This disparity is further exacerbated as public charter schools cannot access streams of funding such as student transportation grants.

“We care deeply about providing essential, high-quality education options for thousands of Oregon families and the current funding formula makes our job tougher,” said ORC3S Board Chair Brian Sien. “It translates into tough choices for schools, including making it harder to recruit and retain educators. We urge the next legislature to step up for our students and their families.”

The report also looked at teacher compensation in public charter schools compared to their counterparts in district-run schools, finding they earn on average 21% less a year.

“We truly believe in giving every student the training to become respectful, responsible leaders in their community,” said Lisa Arellano, CEO of Willamette Leadership Academy. “Full and fair funding of charter schools like ours is essential to our work and providing that complete student experience that prepares them for the future.

"Oregon's funding disparity limits our ability at Logos Public Charter School to fully support students, despite our shared public mission with district schools,” said Sheryl Zimmerer, Executive Director of Logos Public Charter School. “We urge the legislature to reform the pass-through funding law for fair funding to charter schools, ensuring equitable education for all Oregon students."

“Our commitment is to provide a world-class education for students,” said Melissa Barnes Dholakia, Executive Director of the Bend International School. “When we are given only a fraction of the dollars that other public schools in the community receive, it makes that job much tougher - especially when serving our students with the most needs.”

Public in-person charter schools serve around 25,000 students in Oregon today. 

To view the full report, visit www.orc3s.org/funding-report. 

About Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools 

The Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools is a coalition of community-based, public charter schools representing all corners of our state.  Although each school is unique in pedagogy and practice, they are united in their commitment to educational innovation and to high-quality schools for all students. ORC3S’s mission is to provide a voice and sustainable support and guidance for the members of the coalition.