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After four years of what some call dwindling government support, charter schools in Calgary may get an ally in UCP Leader Jason Kenney, who has said his party will look to lift the cap on charter schools if elected this year.

But advocates for public education warn that allowing more charter schools — some of which have long waiting lists, hidden fees and admission requirements — means a move toward exclusivity, privatization and an erosion of equal access.

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“Charters are simply a gateway to privatization. They get the public comfortable with exclusivity, prioritization and competition . . . with waiting lists, fees and shopping around for schools with so-called special programs,” said Barb Silva, spokeswoman for the Support Our Students advocacy group.

While charter schools must offer unique learning environments to receive provincial approval, Silva said most of what charter programs offer — such as traditional learning, gifted or science education — are also offered in the public system.

“They are not unique. They are not accountable to the public and they do not report to publicly elected school boards.

“Yet they demand public funding, when it’s really just corporate welfare.”

Photo by Gavin Young / Postmedia

Foundations for the Future Charter Academy is in the midst of advocating for public funding to support its growing program, which offers traditional, structured learning at seven different schools across the city.

Jeff Wilson, board chair with FFCA Calgary, said the former conservative government committed to funding a replacement project at the charter’s northwest high school after an independent engineering report deemed the site in too poor of a condition for upgrades.

The report found structural failures, sink holes, cracks in masonry and uneven slabs on the school’s main floor.