BOSTON, Mass. – Massachusetts lawmakers are reportedly celebrating a $27.6 million education spending spree to “fully fund” public schools, even if they lose students to charter schools.

While some see that as a fair system, particularly if it results in the uncapping of the number of charter schools. We see it as a potential mistake, because it would eliminate the competitive element from education.

If poorly performing government schools never have to sacrifice a penny, even when their students are fleeing, they would have no incentive to improve.

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The state House approved the mid-year, $27.6 million spending bill to ensure compliance with Massachusetts’ offensive school funding formula that double taxes residents for some students. The new money will go to “fully fund” local public schools for students who opt to transfer to charter schools, according to a critical editorial in the Worchester Telegram & Gazette reports.

“We believe that formula is flawed because it hits taxpayers twice for the same students – providing funds to the charter school they attend and funds to the district school they left,” the newspaper opined.

The Telegram & Gazette also criticized lawmakers for celebrating the spending bill and treating their compliance with the nonsensical funding rules as a major accomplishment, when in reality it was “merely routine business.”

Local school choice advocates also view the bill as a sign that lawmakers could soon lift a state cap on charter schools, though others contend that’s far from a guarantee.

Regardless, few are discussing the real issue with the double funding: that by paying both charters and traditional public schools for the same students, state officials are essentially removing any competition for those students, and the funds that should follow them.

That’s a very critical issue because the power of school choice – its inherent affect on improving instruction in all schools – rests on competition, and market forces.

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When traditional public schools and charter schools are forced to compete for students and funding, all sides strive for excellence, and both types of public schools are the better for it. The competition forces school officials to focus on what students and parents want in a school, and it inspires competing schools to create innovative and specialized education programs.

Without competition, there’s stagnation and mediocrity. There’s failing public schools graduating students who cannot read.

That’s what students, parents and school choice advocates in Massachusetts should be most concerned about.

And the demise of that competition certainly is not cause for celebration.