Richmond: Cash for college renews public vs. charter school debate
By Karina Ioffee kioffee@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted:   06/05/2015 03:37:37 PM | Updated:   about 14 hours ago
RICHMOND -- A proposal to give college money to every Richmond teen who graduates from a local public school has angered some charter school proponents who say the plan leaves out too many residents.

The city is setting aside $35 million to send every Richmond public high school graduate to college, under a program called the Richmond Promise.

The money is part of a $90 million community benefits agreement with Chevron that was negotiated as part of the company's upcoming modernization project at its Richmond refinery.

Now that the first portion of funds has been distributed, the squabbling has begun.

The plan would grant thousands of dollars to each student who lives in Richmond who graduates from a public high school in the West Contra Costa Unified School District starting next year. Total award amounts would differ depending on how long the student had attended the district and where they plan to enroll for college.

Those going on to the University of California would be eligible for up $4,000 a year, while students attending the California State University system would get up to $2,000 per year, and community college students $1,000 annually.
The plan has rekindled old battles between charter school and public school proponents.

The charter school advocates say their systems are critical to the academic success of students because they offer smaller classes and more specialized programs. The public school proponents say the charter schools take vital revenue from public education. Public school funding is pegged to attendance, so more charter students means less money for public schools. .
An estimated 2,600 students attend Richmond charter schools, or about 8.5 percent of all students enrolled in the district. Not every student who attends a Richmond charter school is a resident.

Darlena David is seething over the idea of excluding charter students from Richmond Promise.
"I am horrified that someone would even make a policy such as this," said David, 54, whose daughter Nivedita, is a senior at Leadership Public School. "Parents have made a decision for their children to succeed, and they shouldn't be penalized for it. We need to support all kids attending Richmond schools."

Tana Monteiro, 46, has two children at Richmond College Preparatory and another who is planning to attend Leadership Public Schools. Like many attending local charter schools, she said her family is low-income and has no money saved for her children's college education.

"Charter schools are being demonized," Monteiro said. "The kids who go to charter schools are Richmond kids, and many are poor and need that money as much as students who go to Kennedy and Richmond High School do."
The initial version of Richmond Promise was drafted by a group that included city staffers, Mayor Tom Butt, Councilman Jael Myrick, two members of the school district and representatives from three community groups.

Charter schools were not included -- not out of any ill will toward them, said Butt -- but because the group didn't have much time to formulate a plan that could be considered.

"It's important that people understand that nothing has been decided yet," Butt said.

Under the plan, local schools would set up "future centers" where counselors and social service providers would help students develop a plan for getting into college.

The centers also would offer parent-engagement programs, mentoring, college tours and college prep courses to create a "college-going culture," city staff said during a recent City Council meeting.

Myrick also said the plan was open to community suggestions. However, he said Richmond public schools are struggling because many students have left in recent years.

"Many of us have concerns about the charter movement and how it's affecting the rest of the schools in the district," Myrick said. "We want to incentivize people to go to our public schools."

Two community workshops to discuss Richmond Promise have been scheduled. One will be from 6 to 8 p.m. for Monday in the Richmond Auditorum, 403 Civic Center Plaza. The second will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Ave.

Attendees are asked to RSVP at RichmondPromise.eventbrite.com. Information is available at 510-620-6512.
Contact Karina Ioffee at 510-262-2726 or kioffee@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/kioffee