LWV-US
Positions

Positions

The League of Women Voters is noted for its thorough and intensive study of important issues that affect citizens and our communities. These studies are the basis for the member consensus process, which we follow to arrive at and adopt positions that direct our action and advocacy efforts on the local, state, or national levels.
LWV-MD
Positions


Positions of LWV of St. Mary's
 Housing                 Charter Schools


Affordable Housing (May 2003)

Read LWV-SMC's Housing Study

  1. Creating a Housing Trust Fund from fees, taxes, and contributions to be used to construct low income/affordable housing.
  2. Establishing a community Land Trust of donated or purchased land to encourage builders to construct low income/affordable housing.
  3. Examining the concept of monetary incentives for developers who build low income/affordable housing or include a percentage of such housing in new developments.

Public Charter Schools (2001)

No consensus was reached by the Maryland Leagues on whether to support or oppose charter schools.  However, the League encourages the inclusion of the following criteria in any legislation or regulations governing the establishment of Public Charter Schools in Maryland: 
  1. Public Charter Schools must be non-sectarian, non-profit, and not home-based;
  2. Applications may be submitted by a variety of groups or organizations, including, but not limited to, parents, teachers and institutions of higher learning; 
  3. Local boards of education determine which groups or organizations will be granted contracts, (i.e., "charters"), with the right to an appeal of that decision to the state board of education; 
  4. Waivers (to be specified in the contract) may include some public school regulations governing curriculum, calendar and teaching methodology. No waivers may be granted from regulations governing fiscal accountability, nor (as specified by federal regulations) from civil rights or health and safety standards; 
  5. Quarterly financial reports should be made to the local board; 
  6. Academic standards, including testing, required of other public schools student must be met;
  7. Admission must be nondiscriminatory and open on a first-come, first-served basis to all students who wish to apply; and  
  8. Public Charter Schools must be funded at the same per pupil level as students in other public schools.