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Charter school moratorium veto stands

The House of Representatives Tuesday sustained Governor Mitt Romney's veto of a bill that would have imposed a one-year moratorium on new charter schools. The vote was 77-78; a majority of two-thirds would have been needed to override the veto. MTA was a strong supporter of establishing the moratorium. The following is a statement from MTA President Catherine A. Boudreau on Tuesday's vote:

"In light of the major problems with the charter school funding system, it is extremely unfortunate that the House did not override the governor's veto and  sustain the moratorium. Charter schools drain more than $130 million a year from the regular public schools, and that hurts the students who attend them. We hope this does not become an excuse for the governor and other charter school supporters to back down from a commitment to create a fair and equitable formula. It is heartening to know that many legislators recognize that substantial changes are needed. We will work with them to promote the best funding system possible because there is so much at stake for students in fiscally challenged districts that will soon be forced to pay for new charter schools."