Chester Upland Education Association

In May 2000, the Education Empowerment Act, also known as Act 16 was signed into law.  

Chester Upland School District was the only district that was immediately "Empowered". There 11 school districts on the list to be targeted.

Act 16 allows the school board or board of control to:

• Waive mandates for students.
• Waive the hiring of home & school visitors/attendance officers.
• Use tax money to construct a facility for a private charter school.
• Approve a charter school at ANY TIME, no public hearing, and without evaluation.
• Charge students for use of textbooks and supplies.
• Close a school without conducting a public hearing or any notice to parents and employees.
• Hire unlicensed persons to teach and fill positions of suspended teachers.
• Hire improperly certified teachers without losing state funding.
• Allow For-Profit companies to un schools.
• Subcontract the operation of schools to private For-Profit companies that are not accountable to the public.