Ruth Samuelson, a North Carolina representative, discusses education in her campaign newsletter. She commends President Obama for supporting high-quality public charter schools through the Race to the Top initiative. While she disagrees with most Obama policies, charter schools give parents and teachers options and cost less to operate. North Carolina received $400 million from Race to the Top but the funding is not sustainable and the state should have lifted the charter school cap instead of creating "charter-like" schools. Samuelson supports both charter and traditional public schools.

1. Campaign
Commentary
1432 Ferncliff Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
704-366-8748
ruth@ruthsamuelson.com
September 2, 2010 Campaign Update Charlotte, NC
Campaign Commentary from Rep. Ruth Samuelson
Charlotte Observer writer Tommy Tomlinson did a recent column in which he asked people to come up with
“One Good Thing” to say about a person or group with whom they usually disagree. In my newsletter this
week, I wanted to share with you my “One Good Thing”: President Obama should be commended for
emphasizing the importance of high-quality public charter schools.
While I am not a supporter of most of the Obama administration’s policies, I do applaud the principle behind
its Race to the Top Fund, which provides grants to states to forward innovative educational programs – such as
charter schools. And, I was pleased last week when North Carolina was selected to receive up to $400 million
in Race to the Top funding.

2. Why charter schools? There are a number of reasons.
• Charter schools not only give parents another option as they look for the optimal educational fit for
their child, they also allow teachers and administrators another option as they look for the school in
which their gifts and talents can best be utilized.
• Charter schools generally require a certain amount of parental involvement and -- because of that
parental as well as private investment -- they tend to cost the state and county less to operate.
• Perhaps most importantly, they are still public schools – open to all regardless of financial means.
Though the Race to the Top initiative will undoubtedly aid charter schools, I do have some reservations about
how North Carolina will spend the money we will receive and how we won it.
First, we’ll be funding our education system using one-time grants. Once the grant money runs out, we’ll have
to find another way to pay for the programs the grant money initiated. What’s more, because it’s federal
funding, it is money that’s coming from our national indebtedness. That’s not a sustainable economic model!
Also, rather than bolstering its application for Race to the Top funding by simply lifting the overly restrictive
100-school cap on charter schools, the state instead created a new category of “charter-like” schools earlier
this year. These “charter-like” schools – while said to have more flexibility than a typical public school – would
not have the same freedoms to tailor their curriculum to a specific target audience of learners. They will also
miss out on the private funding option that bolsters charter schools. Thousands of children in North Carolina
are on waiting lists for charter schools. Why not simply allow more charter schools to open?
Now all this support for charter schools is not to imply that I don’t support a strong traditional public school
system. I do! I am a product of public schools and a proud graduate of West Charlotte High’s Open School
program – which was groundbreaking when I went there way back when. So I understand the value of having
more conventional public programs alongside innovative options.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on education. And, if you have any other topics you’d like me to discuss in the
newsletters to come, please go to my website – www.RuthSamuelson.com - and click on “Ask Ruth” to submit
your idea. I look forward to continuing our conversation.
Best wishes,
Ruth Samuelson
District 104, Mecklenburg County

3. P.S. Thanks to everyone who sent congratulatory messages on the marriage of my son, David. His bride
Courtney recently began her second year as a teacher at Coulwood Middle, where she was placed by Teach for
America – an innovative program that complements our Race to the Top funding. I know she’d appreciate
prayers for her and ALL the teachers in Mecklenburg County. God grant them strength and wisdom!
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Ruth Samuelson
1432 Ferncliff Road, Charlotte, NC 28211