Senate rejects Baker’s approach to charter school expansion

STATE HOUSE — An amendment mirroring Gov. Charlie Baker's approach to charter school expansion failed in the Massachusetts Senate on a 5-30 vote Thursday afternoon. Arguing instead for legislation tying charter school expansion to major increases in overall public education spending, Sen. Karen Spilka told her colleagues that a proposed ballot question on charters would cost $1.5 billion over six years and affect 4 percent of students in Massachusetts.

STATE HOUSE — An amendment mirroring Gov. Charlie Baker's approach to charter school expansion failed in the Massachusetts Senate on a 5-30 vote Thursday afternoon. Arguing instead for legislation tying charter school expansion to major increases in overall public education spending, Sen. Karen Spilka told her colleagues that a proposed ballot question on charters would cost $1.5 billion over six years and affect 4 percent of students in Massachusetts.…