All charter schools soon likely will have to be accredited by the same group that now checks up on Utah high schools.
Utah State Board of Education members gave preliminary approval to the rule Friday, which would require charter schools serving students of all ages to become accredited. Now, Utah requires all public secondary schools to earn accreditation from the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools but not elementary schools.
"This actually will hold all charter schools to a higher standard than state schools," board member Janet Cannon said.
The state board based its decision on a recommendation from the State Charter School Board. Marlies Burns, director of the charter school section at the state education office, said until now her office has been responsible for holding schools accountable, which could be a challenge because her office also supports and assists the schools.
"The charter school board recognized it would be more credible if an external party looked at compliance rather than internal," Burns said.
Some charter school leaders, such as Sonia Woodbury, director of City Academy charter school, think it's a good idea.
"Since charter schools don't have a district or oversight body to answer to, it seems like a good idea to have Northwest be an outside body," Woodbury said.
Others, however, say it's inequitable to hold charter elementary schools to a higher standard than traditional elementaries.
"I won't have to change anything I'm doing because I'm doing everything correctly," said Jason Finch, director of C.S. Lewis Academy. "It's just more paperwork."
The board must vote one more time on the rule next month for it to become official.
