Keller @ Large: Gov. Baker Defends Ballot Question To Expand Charter Schools

BOSTON (CBS) -- One of the hottest questions on the Massachusetts ballot is about expanding the number of charter schools.

Governor Charlie Baker has taken the lead, pushing for "yes" on Question 2. Baker, who sat down with WBZ political analyst Jon Keller for an exclusive interview, says he considers the question of charter school expansion a "social issue."

That's because, Baker notes, the charter school population is predominately poor and non-white.

Opponents of Question 2, which would allow up to 12 new charter schools each year, have raised an array of concerns about creating more charter school seats. For example, opponents claim charter schools drain funds from conventional public schools.

"Dollars for public charter schools follow the kids the same way they do for voc-tech [vocational-technical] schools and agricultural schools," Baker responded. "Nobody's ever accused those other schools of draining money from public schools."

Another concern is that charters are seen as an avenue for corporations to start turning profits off of public education.

"Under state law, they're all non-profits," Baker responded. "The idea here that somehow, somebody's getting rich on charter schools  in Massachusetts is ridiculous."

Opponents also claim there is no real difference in outcomes between conventional schools and charters.

"The folks at MIT said the difference between the performance of the kids in the charter schools and the kids in the traditional schools in Boston was so astounding they went back and checked their work because they couldn't believe it," Baker said.

Keller proposed another claim: Charter schools are basically about union busting.

"If people want to try to organize the teachers and the people who work in charter schools they're free to do so," said Baker.

"For me this is really simple, if this was your kid, what would you decide to do?" Baker said.

A Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll found a dead-heat on this question: 45 percent support Question 2, and 45 percent oppose it.