Engler: Charter school 'delivering on the promise'

Former Michigan Gov. John Engler praised Charyl Stockwell Academy District at the charter school district's 20th anniversary celebration Thursday.

Engler, who served three terms as governor beginning in 1990, supports public schools of choice and funding charter schools with state dollars. As governor, he pushed for the passage of the Michigan Charter School Act in 1994.

During a keynote address, the former Republican governor described charter schools as "public schools with different structure and governance," and "a different philosophy," Engler said.

He acknowledged that charter schools are considered controversial by some and argued in favor of parents being able to choose what type of school their kids attend.

"Certainly, the private sector is all about choice, so this concept is hardly alien," Engler said.

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He said both Republicans and Democrats got the charter school movement started.

"In the early days, it wasn't remotely partisan," and "today there is tremendous bi-partisan support," he said.

Engler praised the school district for producing many college graduates and skilled workers.

First established in 1996 in Hartland Township, Charyl Stockwell Academy's original 296-student elementary school was one of the state's early charter schools, which received its authorization from Central Michigan University. Since then, it has expanded into a K-12 district with locations in Brighton and Hartland Township, which currently have more than 1,000 students enrolled.

"Schools like Charyl Stockwell Academy here are more than delivering on the promise that we had hoped was possible ... you're a model," he said.

School district founder Chuck Stockwell called Engler "a hero of the school choice movement."

After his speech, Engler said he does not understand critics of schools of choice and those opposed to using state funding for charter schools.

"We've always had unlimited choice for people with means, with affluence. ...What has happened with public schools of choice and with charter schools is the poorest family in the state has an opportunity to get a better school for their child, and we're seeing parents take advantage of that," Engler said.

"Should (a parent) be required to buy a house where their child wants to go to school or should they simply have the choice to go to a better school? Why punish them and make them buy a house ... maybe they are driving by a school that's better than the one that is next door to where they live," he said. "We don't assign you to a hospital or other services you might take advantage of."

Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at 517-548-7148 or at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @JenEberbach.