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Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2007 > September > 12 > Entry
Dann sues two Dayton schools
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann today filed suit in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court against two Dayton charter schools — Colin Powell Leadership Academy and New Choices Community School. He argues that they have failed to fulfill their obligations as a publicly-funded charitable trusts by their poor academic performance. Here is the guts of the compalint against Colin Powell:
“Colin Powell Leadership Academy (CPLA), a state funded community school, Ohio’s name for a charter school, is a charitable trust and/or a public trust. It is a charitable trust under R.C. 109.23, 109.24 and the common law because Ohio law provides that recipients of public moneys hold them in trust subject to fiduciary duties, the general structure and specific provisions of the CPLA arrangement manifest intent to create fiduciary relationships, CPLA has declared itself to be a charitable organization under federal and Ohio law, it has represented that the funds it receives will be used for educational purposes, and education is a purpose traditionally recognized as charitable. It is also a public trust because it is largely funded by public moneys and such funds constitute a public trust fund. CPLA is therefore subject to the principles of trust law.
It has failed under trust law standards. CPLA’s performance would be measured by generally applicable State standards and a comparison of CPLA’s performance to those standards reveals that:
- It has met only 1 of the 61 applicable indicators of school performance during its six years of operation.
- Its Performance Index Scores have been persistently abysmal, averaging 51.58 out of a possible 120, giving it an institutional G.P.A. of a very low “F.”
- It has failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress standards for the last 5 school years.
- It has consistently lagged behind the performance of the Dayton City School District on the State tests common to both CPLA and Dayton.
No one doubts that CPLA’s organizers meant well and tried hard, but those undeniable facts show that the trust has failed.”
And here’s what Dann wrote in his complaint about New Choices Community School:
“A comparison of NCCS’ performance to those standards reveals that:
It has met only 1 of the 29 applicable indicators for school performance during its six years of operation.
Its Performance Index Scores, which more precisely measure how its students have performed on State tests, have been persistently abysmal, averaging 49.26 out of a possible 120, giving it an institutional G.P.A. of a very low “F.”
It has failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress standards for the last four school years.
It has persistently lagged behind the performance of the Dayton City Schools, from which it draws most of its funding and students.
Trust law therefore requires that the trust funds be redirected to enterprises more likely to achieve the trust’s general purpose: to provide a public education meeting State standards. The Attorney General therefore asks the Court to restrain NCCS from further operating a community school and directing NCCS, its directors, and its sponsor to see that NCCS’ students and their accompanying state funding are transferred to other schools in an orderly manner and that NCCS’ affairs are properly wound up.”
Permalink | Comments (44) | Categories: Charter Schools and School Choice
Comments
By null
September 24, 2007 11:24 PM | Link to this
yes at New Choices the class day is short classes are small and maybe little work is getting done but at least the kids are going to school and liking it unlike DPSBy TRS
September 18, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
I would echo Byron’s comments. What is to be feared is is Dann’s political agenda. HB79 specifically addresses Charters and how they are to be dealt with; yet, because the AG could not effectively shut them down according to legislative guidelines, he has filed suit. He is counting on the fact that the financial resources of these Charters are limited or that they cannot afford to fight him. Even though the Charters would most likely prevail in the Ohio Supreme Court, the cost of getting it there would be huge. In essence he is attempting to legally extort them out of business, hoping they will go away. Whether you a for or against Charters is not the issue - it is the tactics of Dann that should be a little scary to all. Remember, the shoe can always be on the other foot.By lou
September 18, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
Mary, maybe the children wee happier but how far did the research follow the students. I don’thave the journal entries off hand but I studied this intensivley several years ago. I remember several 20 year studies I researched that found academically they did very well it was socially that the students failed. Time provided I will look up the journal articles.By Mary
September 17, 2007 6:54 PM | Link to this
Lou, I think you need to recheck the educational research on grade and class acceleration. Two easy to read repots are the cover story from Time magazine a few weeks ago and Volume 1 of the Templeton report at www.nationdeceived.org. Both point out that schools ignore the educational research on high ability students who are usually much happier being accelerated multiple grades. So why aren’t there more public, private and charter schools for these students? I know New York has a public school or gifted students, Cincinnati has at least one private school for gifted, but I know of no public or charter school in Ohio for gifted students. It is my understanding that the rules on Ohio’s charter schools changed a few years ago to allow a charter school for gifted students.By Byron
September 17, 2007 5:37 PM | Link to this
It’s easy to look at what’s going on with the two charter schools currently under fire from the Attorney General and make it into a debate about the broad issue of charter schools. However, the issue that should be of immediate concern is that Mr. Dann’s office is suing a school (New Choices Community School) that works primarily with students that the public system has failed. They are overwhelmingly succeeding in that mission (even doing better than some Dayton public schools). To attempt to close this particular school seems to be contrary to the monopoly on compassion that the party of the current administration claims to have. Instead of drawing a conclusion about the merits of charter schools and applying that generalization to New Choices, the courts, the media, and the public should focus on the specifics of this situation. It’s true there needs to be a broader debate about charter schools, but a much needed school shouldn’t be used as a pawn in a political agenda.By lou
September 17, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
Mary, I agree that parents should have choices. But please show me a charter school that is for the gifted, as far as I know there aren’t any. As far as reseach goes, there is more out there that say kids that start earlier or are “double promoted” fail socially by high school. Before you say that isn’t always true, your correct. But the majority of kids fail because of maturity level not academic performance. I have a child who is gifted and austistic. He gets his education because I demand it. He is not in gifted classed because when they test for that they were more interested in getting my child out of their classes and into a special needs class for students with cognitive disabilities. They refused to see how intelligent he was. I finially moved and he changed schools. The staff there saw how truely brilliant he is, with no social skills because of the autism. I give him the enrichment he needs at home, as well as you probably did. But I am actively involved in his school work and I demand that he gets everything he needs. This country has several prep schools taht address the gifted needs and there are many scholarships that can help with the cost.By Mary
September 16, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this
“but also, to require public schools to discipline and educate”. I agree with you on that, Jim, but even with that, the devil is in the details.By Happy Homeschooler
September 16, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this
(sorry for 2 messages. I was breastfeeding my baby during the last one, and she kicked my mouse, which caused me to submit my message before I was ready). Laura- I’m more worried about my tax dollars supporting graduates and dropouts of the public school system, especially looking at the condition of DPS. Almost any homeschooler (even the bad ones) can do better than DPS.By Happy Homeschooler
September 16, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
Parents should be able to choose whatever works for their children. The children do belong to the parents- not to the state. If there is a PROVEN case of abuse, then by all means, control should be taken away from the parent. But to just assume that the government knows better is just wrong. Police can’t just enter a house (without a warrent) because they feel that they know about something going on in that house- they have to have EVIDENCE. The same goes with educational choices- until it is PROVEN that the individual in question is not educating, the government has no power and should have no power. Do not try to say that the majority (good, hardworking, loving parents) should be punished for the few. That is a socialist mentality. And no, it’s none of your business how I educate my children. I assure you that I care more about them getting the best education possible than you do. I am, after all, their mom.By No Name
September 16, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
One thing that many people fail to see, is that charter schools are very new. They are just getting started and it takes times to run these schools efficiently. Public schools have been around for a long time. As a homeschooler, I know how much better it works for my kids. My son was two years behind in English when he tested for entry into the homeschool curriculum. What does this tell me about the public schools? They are doing their job either.By Jim
September 16, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this
RE: “lot of taxpayers…send…to parochial or private schools at significant personal cost.” That is their choice. It’s their responsibility to pay taxes to support the society. If they choose not to support the public schools which don’t discriminate then maybe I don’t want to subsidize their social security payments, or their human services levy, or their roads to their parochial school/private school. Maybe I shouldn’t pay taxes to the state to educate their doctors or lawyers—they should only use doctors who graduate from religious/private colleges, although those receive great subsidies from states like UD does. It comes back to it’s everyones responsibility to support public schools, but also, to require public schools to discipline and educate. It’s also the requirement on the state/county/city/-federal government to require parents and citizens to be such and not to hand out money just for existing in a less than civil and moral manner.By DPS teacher
September 16, 2007 7:25 AM | Link to this
Anne, You are 100% correct about the unfair advantage charter schools have in student selection. Count week is coming up. For three to four weeks following it we will be inundated with charter school rejects who are extreme behavior problems and/or very low functioning academically.By Mary
September 15, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Rick, a similar money and choice issue is also true for the Post Secondary Enrollment Option (college classes for 9th-12th graders) where only state money follows the students. A few years ago, the political lobbying arm of the association of boards of education tried to curtail parental choice in that program, as well, because they did not want to see the state money leave their districts and argued superintendents knew better than the parents. The same school boards were doing very little to improve academic opportunities for these students such as early graduation, grade or class acceleration or more comprehensive programs for gifted students. Sometimes, I wonder if it is really about the money or about power and control. I dare any superintendent to tell me he or she knows better than I about what is best for my child- that is after I see they could probably not even identify my child in a student group. Laura, I think some parents and students really need more choices for an appropriate education to occur for their child. Many students find the traditional school environment toxic, too limiting and underchallenging and deserve some options out. School districts just do not appear to understand the educational needs or associated research regarding these students. Meanwhile,their parents are paying property taxes for a free and appropriate education system.By Laura
September 15, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
Happy: It bothers me when people say that parents should be able to do “whatever” because they are the parents and not the states or govt. I know this isn’t your intention but that is the same rationale I have heard parents say about their right to discipline their children any way they chose. I have no problem with homeschooling as long as the parent is actually homeschooling. I do feel the state has made it too easy in some cases. As far as people saying it isn’t my business, it is in the sense that people who are not educated are unable to support themselves and ultimately, I end up having to do it.By Rick
September 15, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Most posters here have missed a key point on charter schools: when students leave public schools for charter schools, there is MORE money per student in the public system. Why? Because only the state money follows the student. The money raised from local property taxes all remains with the local system. As I have stated before, I favor choice and accountability.By Mary
September 15, 2007 7:51 AM | Link to this
old prof, let me be clear. For the most part, neither public schools nor charter schools work to many parents’liking, yet there are compulsory education laws. As someone mentioned earlier, it is at least a little more tolerable if parents have some choice or sayso in choosing their own “devil” to work with. A lot of parents involved in public schools do not seem to be education focused either. Public school administrators and boards sometimes seem to not be education focused, either, or their priorities would be different.By Oldprof
September 14, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this
Null: your assertion that parents send their kids to the school that offers the best product (that is, the best education) was contradicted by Taft’s own education liason, Susan Bodary, who publicly said that education quality does not seem to be a significant factor in parents’ choice to send their children to charters. In essence, people are sending their kids to charters primarily for non-education reasons. In some extreme cases, it might be religious or racial bigotry, a generally anti-social attitude, or some personal connection with charter school sponsors or staff. In essence, the administration that presided over the charter-school experiment in Ohio conceded that it didn’t work the way you, BHA, Mary, and others keep saying it does.By Happy Homeschooler
September 14, 2007 10:14 PM | Link to this
Laura, basing your opinion of homeschooling on the few homeschoolers tht you know personally (and that may do a poor job) isn’t the best way to prove your argument. That’d be like me saying that since my sister (a strip dancing drug user) sends her kids to public schools, the majority of the parents that utilize public school must be just as bad. I keep hearing these horror stories from people who don’t agree with homeschooling, and yet I have only ran across one family in the last 8 years that doesn’t seem to ‘really’ be homeschooling- and I encounter a lot of homeschoolers every week (between church, gym class, art class, playdates, story times, volunteer opportunities, etc…). Likewise, just become some charter school parents want an easier time for their children, doesn’t mean that all do. I have seen some DPS parents want their children to just slide through the system without really working, but that doesn’t mean that they all want that. Either way, parents should always be able to choose for their children. Who do the kids belong to- the state or the parents?By Colin Powell Parent
September 14, 2007 8:25 PM | Link to this
As a parent of the Colin Powell Leadership Academy I am excited about what is going on in that school, academically and socially. CPLA is one of a few schools who have Art, Gym, Music, and sports. They’ve sent students to NASA Space Camp, students also participated the LEGO robotics tournament. CPLA has before and after school programs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scout programs, they have an awesome partnership with the Dayton Boys and Girls Club. They even had students who we scored at “Accelerated” on the OAT. Yes, we have had our troubles in the past, but that is because a lot of the kids we educate come to us 3-4 grade levels behind in reading and math. A lot of things have gotten a lot better at CPLA. We have a new teaching staff, a new principal (Dr. Carl Robinson), a new superintendant (Mr. Shane Floyd, M.Ed)and a great adminstration. I’d invite any one to come visit and see the small class sizes, caring teachers, and the school focus on Academic Achievement.By Laura
September 14, 2007 7:49 PM | Link to this
I imagine it is possible for some parents to do a good job homeschooling their children, but I believe it is rare and often for the wrong reasons. I have a cousin who homeschools her children because she couldn’t find a school district that would put her children in special ed. I do believe they belong there, but the schools wanted to try them in a least restrictive environment and my cousin did not. She is barely literate herself and the whole family tried to talk her out of it. When it comes time to submit their portfolio, she finds someone who will sign-off on it just to keep peace and make a little money. I imagine there are others like her. I have had parents move their children to charter schools because their friends were there and told them how “cool” it was and how much easier. That doesn’t sound to me like a parent is sending their child there to get a better education, just to have their child get better grades or so they won’t complain as much.By Caroline
September 14, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
I am positive that some homeschooling parents do a good job. However, I have also seen the opposite. I have seen many students who don’t want to come to school, and when truancy comes after their parents, the parents remove them from school and “home school” them.By Mary
September 14, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
Jim, in my suburban community a lot of the taxpayers who vote for or against levies send their children or grandchildren to parochial or private schools at significant personal costs or home school. Many do not feel the obligation to support a “public” school system with what they consider high spending ways, inappropriate priorities, and arrogance. So just remember,voters have choices too, and what goes around, sometimes comes around.By Happy Homeschooler
September 14, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
OldProf- I can’t speak for the children in your neighborhood, but must ask- are they just out playing in the neighborhood during the day or are they out causing trouble? Most homeschooled children don’t take anywhere near as long to do their schoolwork as their public schooled counterparts, and will be out playing during the day. As a matter of fact, my boys are out right now riding their bikes. They have both done reading, science and math and needed a break (it is 9:40 am). Who should decide which parents deserve choice and which don’t? All homeschoolers in Ohio are evaluated every year (some by standardized test, some by portfolio option). If we don’t do well, then our children can be forced into school, so if the parents in your neighborhood are truly not teaching, then it will come back to bite them in the rear. And, as far as the different learning styles- yes, all students do need access to different styles, but why not allow the child to learn the majority of their lessons in the way that suits them best? When I was in college, I was able to always study in the way that benefitted me most… isn’t it better to make sure that children get the most that they can out of their education? It’s just too bad that the public schools do not have the time, resources or ability to do the same. I bet they’d see the test scores raise in big ways if they could work with the children as individuals, rather than trying to force them all in the same ‘box’.By Ben
September 14, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this
You all are missing the real issue here - you can debate this issue of charter schools and parent resposibility all day long the real story here is that dann has chosen to sue a school in new choices that serves students who have been kicked out of the public schools, 97% of them are well below the poverty level, 17% have learning disabilities, a school that moved from academic emergency to academic watch and a school that is outscoring 7other charter schools in Dayton. The issue is dann trying to bully schools that don’t have the financial resources to fight this in court - hold schools accountable but do it in the right way & at least know & visit the schools you attempt to shut down!By Jim
September 14, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this
Will, parents do have choice. They can send their kids to any school they wish to choose. They have parochial, public, public charter, private schools. All receive government funding in some ways. If they want to choose they can pay for whatever cost is incurred. It doesn’t have to be a publicly-funded charter schools with my tax dollars through Columbus and local property taxes footing the bill. Perhaps even better is require accountability on the part of all parents. We need some school board and administrator folks and judges willing to do what Hamilton did a few years back with truancy and we need to hold parents accountable for their kids.By Jim
September 14, 2007 8:04 AM | Link to this
The charter schools are public and use public monies that could better be used for an effectively run public school system (that might eliminate DPS, but…). Newprof is right, they are public. And they were allowed to form by the republiCANS because they said they CAN do better with less money if only they were given public money taken from the public money for public schools. But we find these two CANNOT perform. There may be other factors besides the obvious being stated by Dann’s office. I recall one north Dayton school that was cited by the auditor for $50,000 or so of funds—including a Cincinnati boat dinner for teachers? Poor management if I’m recalling correctly. Smaller schools and larger numbers leads to more misuse of the public trust monies. Perhaps these impending closing of these nonperforming schools is why Dann’s office has been targeted with bad news in Columbus to try to discredit his operation. But for those whining about their favorite pet school’s being held to evaluation: remember when these were being proposed and the word “accountability” was bantered about so much in re public schools. It’s come full circle, despite the efforts of DDN and Fordham. I expect to see a catfight in Columbus now with Husted & republican friends trying to salvage their payback to their political friends for their support from the religious and charter proponents and public school haters.By Will
September 14, 2007 2:09 AM | Link to this
First parents should have choice. It may not solve the education issue, but I’d rather choose my devil than have one forced on me. Second quit yelling about this move being political. Of course its political, anytime you have money and power involved, there will be politics. Education is political and that is the nature of the beast. Third get behind ANY school that the STUDENTS/PARENTS say is working and penalize those that aren’t.By Oldprof
September 13, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this
BHA and Mary—show me where giving parents choices and creating artificial competition has worked. Oh, maybe in a few cases and in one out of 40 states—but even a broken watch is correct twice a day. Look, who really wants it both ways here? Charter schools ARE public schools—and so you have a dilemma; either the state is capable of administering a system of education, in which case ONE system will serve and will save taxpayers money—or the state is incompetent in which case multiple systems will only open the door to corruption and failure. Considering the number of charters closed for financial malfeasance, the state test cheating scandals at charters, and also the sexual assaults at charters—I’d say the evidence supports more corruption and failure. Those are the facts, aren’t they?By Oldprof
September 13, 2007 11:06 PM | Link to this
Hi Happy. Look, I don’t know you. Some parents are great authorities on their children’s needs. Perhaps your homeschooling is superior to public schools; I support competent, responsible homeschoolers. But even you must admit that the little miscreants who run loose through my neighborhood all day, who when asked why they’re not in school say “we’re homeschooled”, are an advertisement that not all parents are of such quality. By the way—that stuff about “visual” and “kinesthetic” learners is theoretical buffoonery; the goal of education is to enable the student to learn in ALL ways, not just the ones that come easy.By Anne
September 13, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this
It is really not fair to target Old Prof here. His words in this case ARE supported by hard data. As for the fact that the best of the Dayton schools operate like charter schools, this too is correct, but overly simplified. They operate like charters in that they accept select studnets, have smaller class sizes, and eliminate, or to be PC they transfer out, the students who are too much of a behavior problem or who are too academically low functioning. This allows them to have the best students at these schools and the teachers can teach beacuse the problem students are filtered out. The students can learn because the focus is on the teacher, not on one or two children who constantly disrupt the classes. The regular public schools cannot possibly perform as well because they teach every student who enters the room. Charter schools simply do not have to follow the same rules. I have had many students show up in my DPS classroom after having attended a charter school. They ‘decided’ to leave. Wonder upon wonder, they were always either at least 2 grade levels below, or their behavior made it an extreme challenge to teach each day (let alone to just go into the room each morning knowing what they were likely to do). Charter schools have a huge, unfair advantage, and still they are not performing exceptionally well. I just wonder if this correlates with low wages and long hours for the teachers. Do the teachers even have to have an educational degree?By Happy Homeschooler
September 13, 2007 7:02 PM | Link to this
Old Prof, are you saying that parents shouldn’t have choices? That the ‘experts’ will make better decisions than the parents? I am, and always have been, the expert on my own children. No one knows them better than I do; no one can tell me the best way to teach them, and I have two that have to be taught in VERY different ways (one visual learner and one kinesthetic). I take what the ‘experts’ (teachers, doctors, etc…) say and weigh it against what I know and then make the best decision for MY children. Children belong to their parents, not to the government, and it is a socialist mentality to think that the government makes better decisions than the individuals. Some may make mistakes, but we shouldn’t punish the many for the few.By null
September 13, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
Oldprof. Instead of showing your ignorance, why don’t you take a look at the charter schools that are making a difference?! I really think you need to get your facts straight. Parents send the best that they have to ANY school. It’s their choice, just like which restaurant they go to. They’ll go to where they get the best results/service. Funny how the top 4 DPS schools are ran/modeled like a charter school…. Take a look at the article “Dayton charter school get better results” and see how well many of the local charter schools are doing. Many ARE making a difference in children’s lives.By newprof
September 13, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
Colin Powell has been a dismal failure, according to their performance on state tests. (Of course every other week people cry about how unfair the OATs are, but want to use that same rope to lynch a charter school). In almost every category, Colin Powell’s students performed within the lowest three schools in the city (community or traditional public). After all of this time, they should closed…but then Fairview Elementary and/or Middle should be scrutinized a little more closely. I support charter schools (I don’t hate traditional public schools), and I say, close schools that do not perform. Our children deserve better. But JIM, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. There are high performing charter schools out there that do not need to make excuses. I doubt you’ve ever been in one, perhaps you should visit. They are public schools.By lou
September 13, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this
Belle Haven Alum, you are correct that DECA might not have opened. But I bet the public system would have more money to have more AP classes, High Risk programs, more electives like Auto, wood shop, and computer programming if the charter schools did not take that money from the public.By Mary
September 13, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
old prof, seems to me you want to have it both ways. You want to hold parents accountable when their child does not adapt to your and others’ idea of an appropriate education environment, but then withhold appropriate choices and options outside your form of “education utopia”. Seems to me you are helicoptering around some parental rights, choices, and responsbilities. Mind your own business. Belle Haven Alum is right about the flaws in taking away choice. It is a violation of basic rights and freedoms.By Belle Haven Alum
September 13, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
Oldprof - it is not a reasonable expectation that each and every charter school perform at a very high standard (and yes there are a few that do; want proof, go find it, its out there); the point of the matter is that charter schools very existence has caused traditional public systems to behave more competitively. Would DPS have opened an all girls & boys school otherwise? No. DECA? No. You are projecting onto charter schools - rearranging deck chairs - DPS’ modus operendi. Competition is not a panacea, however it goes a LONG way toward improving choice and quality for end-users; its called a “free market economy.” The problem is that you and other charter school opponents don’t believe fat meat is greasy.By Oldprof
September 13, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
Belle Haven Alum—have you got any proof at all that giving parents a choice (beyond those which already existed—private and home-schooling) improves education? No, you don’t—all it does is re-arrange deck chairs on the Titanic. You seem to think that procreating automatically makes someone knowledgable and objective enough to make sound choices about education. Repent, BHA—that way lies continued ignorance and failure.By former employee
September 13, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
Look at the report cards for these schools- Colin Powel has consistently performed poorly. Last year was their best year. See for yourself. http://dnet01.ode.state.oh.us/DistrictRatings/Buildings.aspx Of course I haven’t looked at every school in the county, but having only 4.8% of your 4th graders be proficient in math can’t be allowed to continue, charter or not. Public schools get reconstituted and all this other stuff, but charters get nothing? Maybe closure is going too far, but something has to happen!By Ben
September 13, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
What the uninformed article fails to mention is that New Choices has outscored numberous public schools and multiple other charter school in Dayton alone. The reason these 2 schools have been targeted is not because of their academic abilities it is because they don’t have the backing of a larger corporation to support them financially and the attorney general believes he can bully them. The only one who loses here is the kids who make these schools their homes, a large percentage of who are at risk kids who have been expelled from the public schools. You are only hearing one side of the story people, don’t believe everything you read. This is a political agenda that is hurting no one but the children in these schools, many of who are attending school consistently for the first time in their life. Who will be a voice for them in this mess? I’m certain it won’t be Scott Elliot who has always been against charter schools!By Belle Haven alum
September 13, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this
Several folks continue to make comments that highlight a lack of understanding around charter schools. Like anything else in life, some charter schools are very good, some are very bad, and some are just mediocre. The whole point to charter schools is that they provide parents w/ ALTERNATIVE to the monopoly of public school systems, which have consistently performed poorly for at least 15 years. And there is a process by which charter schools can be shut down; to the extent that public schools can be shut down/”reconstituted” only came about w/ NCLB. I’ve said it before and I say it again - anyone arguing against parents’ right to CHOOSE how to educate their children supports a fundamentally flawed position.By Rick
September 13, 2007 6:43 AM | Link to this
I believe this is politics pure and simple. The legislature has put in place a process to close underperforming charter schools. What the Attorney General is doing is ignoring that process. Now please do not misunderstand me, I am in favor of closing consistently underperforming charters; I just favor doing it in a legal manner. Jim, in Georgia, the charter schools are doing well throughout the state. Visit the Georgia Public Policy Forum’s website for more info.By Caroline
September 12, 2007 6:29 PM | Link to this
I’d like to see the comments about New Choices. I’ve seen very poor achieving students from my school go over there, and then tell me how wonderful that it is. They say that the class day is short, and they do little work.By Jim
September 12, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Jackpot. Right on the mark. Now let’s see the public school haters respond with excuses. Remember when these were proposed then started they were going to show the public schools how it should be done. If only the public schools were as knowledgeable and capable as the charter schools, the Public Schools would do just as well was the message. Charters don’t and can’t perform. They even get to pick their students and staff and can’t perform.By David
September 12, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
So, Dumbo, you read it and got it right.