Get Schooled

By Jeff

February 22, 2007 08:04 AM | Link to this

The current system is FAR beyond repair. Better to sink the money into getting an entirely new system developed and prototyped, then replacing old with new.

By WFC

February 22, 2007 08:16 AM | Link to this

Charter schools at their best allow school systems to move away from the “one size fits all” public school model that has dominated American education for the last fifty years. However, local school politics have hindered their development.

By KA

February 22, 2007 08:20 AM | Link to this

The Charter School system appears to be the best of all worlds as far as school choice goes, with college coordination, private development, local government control, etc. The problem remains as to how to successfully engage and educate the reluctant group of students and parents who don’t take school seriously. IMO nothing will change for the slackers until they are required to take responisbility for their attendance, studies, and conduct.

By RJ

February 22, 2007 08:23 AM | Link to this

The current system doesn’t work. While not all charter schools are equal (I pulled my daughter out of one that was even more unorganized than our local school), they offer parents a choice. I am an advocate of charter schools and vouchers. I know as a public school educator that this sytems is faulty and I’m sick of it. Let me decide how my tax dollars are spent, not the government. I say build, build, build.

By CJ

February 22, 2007 08:27 AM | Link to this

I work in a charter school, and we get to modify our curriculum to best fit our teaching styles. We meet all the standards, and get to do it in a innovative way! :)

By WFC

February 22, 2007 08:38 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately, there are few charter schools designed for the children who need them most—- the ones who are totally disengaged from regular public schools.

By MBW

February 22, 2007 09:00 AM | Link to this

I’m a big supporter of charter schools. Charter schools provide a way for parents to exercise school choice while still maintaining a healthy degree of public accountability that is not found with private schools.

A common misconception is that private schools and charter schools are the same….they are NOT.

Charter schools aren’t perfect, but they do have flexibility for innovation and thoughtful design. Instead of being mired in traditional public school politics and bureaucracy, charter schools allow teachers and administrators a better chance to focus on what counts: the students.

I used to teach at a traditional middle school in APS….and routinely heard about a charter school in the same neighborhood that outperformed us on the state tests by an average of nearly 20 percentage points.

Give parents the option to take their kids out of schools that are failing. A little competition is good for everyone.

By Monica Bomengen

February 22, 2007 09:04 AM | Link to this

I am principal of SIATech Charter High School, a charter school that IS designed for “the ones who are totally disengaged from regular public schools.” We are working small miracles every day with students who had already dropped out of high school (mainly Atlanta Public Schools), getting them through to graduation. Our attendance is terrific and our teachers are excellent. Unfortunately, we are just now reaching the academic standards for AYP, in the final year of our charter. APS refuses to submit our renewal petition to the State Board of Education, which means they will close our doors on June 30 if we cannot convince them to mediate and reconsider. It has taken us four years to get where we are, but we have made tremendous progress. Our GHSGT pass rates have increased by double digits in only one year, due to our hiring a whole new staff of excellent teachers. (This would never have happened in a traditional district school, where terrible teachers are allowed to stay on for decades.) Our math pass rates have gone up 11%, science 25%, English 38%, and social studiesn 54%. Our students are a 100% former dropout population, 100% eligible for free and reduced lunches, 97% black and 2% Latino. Many of them are single mothers. Our attendance rate is 20% higher than the state average. Yet APS wants to shut us down, “in the best interest of students.”

By Red

February 22, 2007 09:32 AM | Link to this

Monica, someone at the AJC needs to take your story and run with it. This is the type of story that should be the lead/front page and should be making the nightly news.

By KA

February 22, 2007 09:37 AM | Link to this

Monica, Congratulaions on your success. Why don’t you get the ajc to do a story or call the local tv stations. Sounds like you need to start speaking up loudly now to keep open!

By JustMe

February 22, 2007 09:52 AM | Link to this

Current Charter Schools are great. But, the idea of making every school a “charter” school is stupid.

One of the tremendous benefits to being a charter school is that you can expel a student (for behavior reasons, etc.). This expelled student then must attend the regular public school.

If all schools were charter, then all schools would kick out their trouble makers. Even Monica’s charter school could kick out a student that doesn’t respond. Besides, not all school systems can afford (money wise or student population wise) to support a charter school such as Monica’s.

Where would these trouble-students end up? Would they simply slip through the cracks? Would they end up selling crack?

I really really hope that the “powers that be” think through these issues before championing such causes!

By lucky

February 22, 2007 09:59 AM | Link to this

Walton High School in Cobb is a charter school - 2006 SAT score: 1705, 99% of students took the test.

Parents at the school must be involved, and that is the difference. The most dedicated and motivated teachers cannot reach students who grow up without valuing education.

For the most part, if a parent is not happy with their child’s education, they need to look in the mirror. Poor performing schools can produce great individual outcomes for those who want to learn and appreciate the opportunity.

By Jeff

February 22, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

JustMe:

One of the greatest problems with the American education system came from this change:

The change from seeing education as a priviledge into seeing it as a right.

By jim d

February 22, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this

Charter schools are great in that they offer a bit of diversity to a rather stagnant, outdated educational system. Are they a total answer to our educational woes? I think not.

I think when we really get serious about education we’ll see a whole new concept of education that will include schools open twenty-four hours a day that can provide a customized educational experience. Schools where kids arrive at different times. Students will begin their formalized schooling at different ages. We will have a curriculum that is integrated across disciplines. Schools where non-teachers work with teachers. Where teachers alternate working in schools and in business world and local businesses will have offices in the schools.

But I suppose that until we get real serious we’ll just have to live with the existing charter school concept.

By mmm

February 22, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this

I glad that you all feel so positive about charter schools. It makes me feel old and jaded. While there are tremendous possiblities, it is extremely difficult to do public education well either as a charter or a traditional school. People tend to overestimate how much charters are exempt from, but if you ask what specific things frustrate them—they are mostly federal requirements that aren’t waiverable, or things like health, safety, serving all students, or giving the special services required for special needs kids—-non of which is waiverable.

One of the reasons that there are so few charters in Georgia is that only the best ideas and those most politically savy with community support make it through the gauntlet. It is usually not our laws, but our expectations, traditions, assumptions and habits stop us from innovation. I fear that opening the floodgates to either calling traditional schools charters, or “authorizor shopping” by for profit management companies and developers will do little to create truly innovative and excellent schools. Can we not look at Arizona, Indianapolis or many other states that went down this path and choose instead to maintain a close relationship between traditional and charter schools? It would be better if we copy ideas back and forth in both directions rather than changing the sign over the door.

Georgia put the ability in law two years ago for ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL to ask for a waiver of any specific regulation that they felt impeded their ability to achieve results. This ability to waive regulations was placed in the law to address the unfairness issue that charters could get exemptions that traditional school could not. Except for system requests for class size waivers, this feature has been virtually unused. Why? As I said earlier—it is not our laws but our conditioning that stops us from thinking outside the box.

Don’t get me wrong—I am a dedicated advocate for my charter school and program. And for innovation and the importance of public education as originally envisioned by the “common school movement” 150 years ago. But having been there and done that, some of these laws will have side effects or no effect that we should be opened eyed about if we choose this direction.

By decaturparent

February 22, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

Charter systems are a good idea because the status quo isn’t working. Innovation cannot come from schools who have to follow all the bureaucratic garbage that the state and larger districts require. They are like the Titanic, they are just too big to turn.

A small system or a charter school in a larger system that is released from some of the bureaucracy can serve as a laboratory for new ideas and new ways of reaching children. If the ideas work, they can slowly be worked into the larger systems. That is the only way to get reform in public schools.

My kids’ system is very small and my understanding that we plan to take advantage of the charter system law if it passes. We are in a really good place to do that b/c we have a lot of initiatives that are sort of cutting edge and don’t necessarily fit well into the typical public school mindset.

So far our school reform initiatives (Expeditionary Learning and IB) are getting results, particularly at the elementary level where they are more fully implemented. We can implement them much better in middle and high school if we can be released from a bunch of top down management coming from the state.

Now if we could just get out from under the idiots at the federal level we could really get somewhere.

By wwww

February 22, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

Monica’s email above is a great example of what charter schools are supposed to do. I would bet that the teachers, admin and students all have an interest in seeing the school succeed, they work together, not as separate entities. This is the main component of a successful school, charter or not. I sincerely hope the AJC does story after story on this, until APS is forced into the spotlight and required to make a decision that is in the best interests of the students and the community in which it is located.

My first teaching job was in a charter school, and unfortunately, it was a complete joke. Total disorganization from the top down. This is what many think of when they hear “charter school”.

They DO work, if run properly, but it takes teachers and administration more dedicated to seeing it succeed than most educators are willing to do. Many, many hours, late nights and weekends, becoming emotionally involved with students, well, a good educator does this anyway. But on top of this pressure, you must worry about your job constantly, trying to keep the school afloat. It is quite a bit of pressure.

By jsmom

February 22, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this

I thought Walton HS was a magnet school, not a Charter school. Learn something new every day!

Monica, I sincerely hope that the AJC and the news channels read what you wrote. Your work is amazing.

I hope to send my child to the charter school in the coming years, that will be opening in Smyrna. However, they recently parted ways with the principal, and the church that they were buying land from backed out of the deal. Not a promising start, IMHO.

By alice

February 22, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Walton is both and frankly, I am not sure what it uses its charter for. What waivers do they have?

By JustMe

February 22, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

Given the choice, I would certainly send my child to a charter school or even a magnet school. The reason is because I would know that the school could/would/should be on top of not only academics but also be able to enforce behavior standards. So, my child would not only get a great education but also be safe.

Again, I do not think that ALL schools can be charter schools. It just doesn’t make sense and doesn’t accomplish the current society goal of educating the masses.

By Monica Bomengen

February 22, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this

KA, thanks for the encouragement—I am working diligently to notify everyone in the media, including the AJC. I spent the whole day yesterday at the Capitol, lobbying for support. I am confident that the news will get out, that we are saving a little corner of the world and TRULY leaving no child behin

By Monica Bomengen

February 22, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

JustMe posted: If all schools were charter, then all schools would kick out their trouble makers. Even Monica’s charter school could kick out a student that doesn’t respond.”

Not true, JustMe. Charters are public schools, and they are required to have the same avenues of disciplinary intervention as a “regular” public school. They are required to have open enrollment, and they cannot kick anyone out unless the student has gone through the same type of tribunal process they would go through in the public district.

Monica

By Monica Bomengen

February 22, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

“not all school systems can afford (money wise or student population wise) to support a charter school such as Monica’s.”

Not true, in our case. We are partners with the Atlanta Job Corps Center. AJCC provides us (and the taxpayers), FREE OF CHARGE, with classroom space and office space. Our students are concurrently enrolled in AJCC to complete vocational courses as part of their high school diploma program. AJCC provides a cafeteria, meal service, transportation, custodians, a wellness center, sports teams, music a program, and counselors for all their students, along with a library. SIATech, as their partner, is allowed to use these services. No cost to APS, no cost to the local taxpayers, beyond federal taxes that are already going to support Job Corps via the Department of Labor.

This is truly “thinking outside the box.” Most charter schools struggle to pay for a building and support services, and districts don’t want to fund them because it takes away from what they already fund for “regular” schools. SIATech has solved that problem by finding a partner that can provide those things. What do we buy with the extra dollars? Technology for students and staff development for teachers. Our students all have work stations with internet-connected computers. This is one of our selling points to high-risk kids who didn’t succeed in the regular school. Our waiver allows us to eliminate the “seat time” requirement. Students can complete their courses as fast as they want, allowing them to graduate when they are ready instead of forcing them into the artificial four-year cohort model.

The interesting thing is, many of the things we do ought to be done by “regular” schools for ALL kids. As a regular principal, I had difficulty selling these kinds of ideas to teachers and district administrators. That’s why I work now in the charter sector.

Check out our website: www.siatech.org

By mmm

February 22, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this

Justme—Monica is correct, that has been my charter school’s experience as well. The district folks in Dekalb went so far as to tell us that we must supply the alternative school ourselves and cannot get the child into their alternative schools unless it is their tribunal, dicipline policy and process that is followed. But state and federal law give that child a right to an education until age 21, so if the parent feels that the charter that her child is in is preferable to what the district will require—-then the school must figure out how to manage her little darling.

By Monica Bomengen

February 22, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

Thoughts on the issue of kicking out problem students:

If more “regular” high schools were run like SIATech (students move at their own pace, hold three graduations a year instead of one, interesting and high-tech environment, great teachers for ALL kids, not just the smartest most well-behaved ones), there’d be very little need to kick anyone out. The main reason that a significant number of students struggle in “regular” schools is because they are bureaucratic and tradition-bound. I know this because I worked in “regular” schools for most of my twenty-plus years in education. Changing a “regular” school really is like turning the Titanic. When a maverick comes in and offers innovations, it’s like a machine kicks into gear that keeps everyone locked into the old ways of doing business.

By Monica Bomengen

February 22, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

One more note about SIATech Charter High School’s partnership with Atlanta Job Corps Center:

If a student quits high school and enrolls in Job Corps, state law requires that the student be coded a dropout. This affects a school and district’s ability to make AYP. It’s a shame, because Job Corps provides a great vocational education program. However, if a student transfers to SIATech when enrolling in Job Corps, as 20 students did in January from APS, then the sending school can code the student as a transfer instead of a dropout. Everybody wins—the APS high school principals, guidance counselors, and graduation coaches have recognized this and have started sending us students who are on the verge of dropping out. I can’t figure out why the APS board of education and central office administration don’t see this as a positive. Now that we are poised to start making AYP for the first time, there is truly no logical reason for APS not to want us as a partner. Our students are not going to go back in waves to APS if we are closed. They’ll just be dropouts, or perhaps get a GED, and many of them won’t go on to contribute to society. It costs $20,000 a year to maintain an inmate in a prison. SIATech turns high school dropouts into graduates for a fraction of that cost.

By mmm

February 22, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

My point exactly in my earlier post about it not really being our law per say, but our habits, traditions, expectations etc.

These effects are prevalent in any large, long-lived organization. What the free-market folks don’t realize is that even those who sell a product often miss the effects that innovation in another industry or country can have because they also face inward until the wolf is not only at the door, but devouring their children. When chartering ceases to be a process by which we create new and innovative schools—it will become just another way for management agencies and politicians to point to a distinction without a real difference. Monica’s school should be saved, but more importantly Monica’s school’s example should be followed.

By JustMe

February 22, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

Monica,

Sorry, but I must call “BS” to some of your posts….

First, charters do NOT have to adhere to the same rules as public schools. I taught at a charter school and saw FIRST HAND the principal walk a student to the registrar and have them booted. That student had to then attend their regular public school. This action cannot happen in a regular public school.

Possibly, YOUR charter states that YOU will use the same proceedures, but that is NOT true for ALL charter schools.

Secondly, ALL school systems CANNOT afford (money wise or student population wise) to have a charter school such as yours. This is true even if APS gets theirs for “free” as you so claim. Why? Look at the tiny school systems in south GA. They may have only one high school, one middle school, and one elementary school. There is no way that they can support a school such as yours. After all, doesn’t APS at least still pay for the teacher salaries and administration salaries?

Please understand that I am NOT demeaning your schools accomplishments at all. However, you need to realize that this solution is unique for APS.

By jim d

February 22, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this

mmm,

“Monica’s school’s example should be followed”

Yeah, and entire school systems should not be allowed to convert to 100% charter just to avoid regulation and gain the distiction, as you mentioned.

Rumor has it that the largest system in the state is considering doing just that. Nothing changes other than in name!

By Janis Ian

February 22, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

Why is Monica posting during the school day? Shouldn’t she be acting as principal of her school?

By mmm

February 22, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

Jim d,

The charter systems law as it is presently written would require that the board and superintendent turn over full fiscal management to a council that is made or a majority of parents—-do you really think that they are prepared to do that?

By jim d

February 22, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this

Bridget,

What’s so great?

Lret’s look at whats been happening in NC.

North carolina instituted its charter school law at a time when very few traditional public school systems had open enrollment, extensive magnet programs, theme schools, etc. As charter schools were approved, the school districts began looking at these options for students. School systems put in programs that mirrored the charter programs that had been approved for the area. As the movement grew school systems became more receptive to the perceived needs of the community. Also these areas of change have experienced some of the greatest academic improvement as reported by the state’s accountability testing program.

there was a study released last year from the National Bureau of Economic Research that showed that the introduction of charter schools in North Carolina affected the performance of traditional public schools on statewide assessments. Researchers found that charter school competition raised the composite test scores in district schools, even though the students leaving district schools for the charters tended to have above average test scores. The introduction of charter schools in the state caused an approximate one percent increase in the score, which constitutes about one quarter of the average yearly growth.

By jim d

February 22, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

mmm,

Uhm yes. To hand picked parents and teachers much like current school councils that will just rubber stamp whatever they are presented with.

By Todd

February 22, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

Charter schools should not be saved if they suck. That is the whole purpose of them in the first place. Find alternative methods and if they work then great and if not then create new ones.

Charter schools are supposed to find creative ways of instructing children and even possibly in specific fields. The more legislation we pile on them, or bureaucracy, the more and more they become like regular public schools.

In all honesty, I don’t care how a school teaches kids—whether through osmosis or telepathic abilities or by beating it into the kids or by following some GPS standards. Whatever works, works. So create as many charter schools as possible or allow kids to go to private schools and if the kids then pass whatever assessment is going to be used to measure achievement, then great. If they don’t, that system is not working.

Regular public schools are bogged down with kids who can barely read and bring with them their social issues to school. We are paid babysitters, social workers, parents, and teachers—yet there are too many restrictions on what we can do.

So sure, create more charter schools. But only allow them to stay open that work. And certainly, certainly do not regulate them. Then they become the problem they are trying to solve.

By jim d

February 22, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

Monica,

It is unfortunate that most of the georgia public school systems view charters as a threat and competitor rather than as the great partner they truly can be.

By jim d

February 22, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

public school innovations.

KA,

are you responsible for the new reading elective class that is being started next year at Mill Creek HS. to help kids that are having problems in the area of reading/comp? If you are—thanks—if not then we owe Jim Markham a huge thanks (well another one anyway) I find his leadership at the school to be exceptional!

By Tanya

February 22, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

Monica,

You need to light a fire under your parents and have them at the Capitol with you. This is how we kept our Charter school open.

By jim d

February 22, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

Monica,

To expand on tanya’s thought about having parents join you. Have you considered a lesson in Government for the entire school by having them join you?

By JustMe

February 22, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

mmm -

You are confusing “alternative” schools with “charter” schools. They are very very different things!!!!!

By Vicki

February 22, 2007 02:00 PM | Link to this

Bridget -

What happen to Mary McDonald? She used to cover Fulton County and I noticed not listed on your update.

Thanks!

By Kimberly from Atlanta

February 22, 2007 02:07 PM | Link to this

My son is supposed to go to a traditional school in our district but given his special needs, the school has elected to place him at the local charter school. I opted my son out of that charter school as the one in our district does worse than the traditional schools. Unfortunately, in doing so, I have been told that I bear the burden of transportation. Has anyone had any luck getting school bus service when you have opted out of a charter school in preference for a traditional school? I know this is a bit off topic but any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

By Bridget Gutierrez

February 22, 2007 02:49 PM | Link to this

Vicki: Mary’s moved on to work with another team at the paper. She’s no longer covering education.

By lynn d

February 22, 2007 03:00 PM | Link to this

Kimberly

Something smells funny about your situation… do you mind sharing more information?

Charter schools are suppose to be a choice made by the family — no one should be placed there. And transportation to your neighborhood school should be provided, if you live far enough away.

If you don’t mind posting specifics, like what charter school you were placed at, I might be able to be of some assistance. If you are uncomfortable doing so here, please email me at reachlynn@yahoo.com.

By catlady

February 22, 2007 03:16 PM | Link to this

I want to see the research when students are RANDOMLY assigned to charter schools. I’d like to know if it is the methods or the entering materials that make any difference in outcomes. If anyone knows of any REPUTABLE research on charter school achievements when self-selection does not cloud the issue, let me know.

By lynn d

February 22, 2007 03:27 PM | Link to this

catlady

Actually most research on charter schools on a national level, doesn’t show such great academic achievement, but does show much higher parental and student satisfaction.

Keep in mind, that on a national level, many charter schools target high-risk, disadvantaged populations that enter the schools significantly behind. Many, especially those that follow KIPP and SEED models, are having great success. Others aren’t.

Even the founders of KIPP have been quoted as saying that they had no idea how expensive it is to remediate high schoolers and how much time it would take.

In Georgia, our situation is fairly unique. We require charter schools to operate with a lottery admission and don’t allow them to really target a specific population. Therefore, many are attracting families who have the wherewithall to make a choice, which may explain why, in Georgia, charter schools out perform the state as a whole.

Finally, research on how school choice relates to academic achievement is fairly murky. Most research has concluded that the act alone of making a choice does not improve academic outcomes.

By high school teacher

February 22, 2007 03:27 PM | Link to this

One of the tremendous benefits to being a charter school is that you can expel a student (for behavior reasons, etc.). This expelled student then must attend the regular public school.

Does anyone remember the scene in Lean On Me when the principal had all the troublemakers up on stage and then kicked them out of the public school? If only…

I have been teaching 13 years, and I had no idea that Walton was a charter school. It’s not fair that superintendents across the state belittle the high school teachers in their district because they don’t have the same results that Walton has. What a shame!

By Jeff

February 22, 2007 03:46 PM | Link to this

HST:

That was actually one of my favorite scenes in the movie! Showed someone actually doing WHATEVER IT TAKES to get results. Unfortunately, generally when admin uses those three words, they mean the TEACHER needs to change!

By Jmarsh

February 22, 2007 04:08 PM | Link to this

We’ve continued to dump massive amounts of money into conventional public schools for decades, so “fixing the one(s) the majority of children will attend” is nothing but more of the same.

By lucky

February 22, 2007 04:10 PM | Link to this

Walton is a charter school, not a magnet school as someone said previously. The magnet schools are Campbell, North Cobb, Pebblebrook, Kennesaw and Wheeler. You must live in the Walton district in order to attend, but again, the parents who move to that area value education and foster a culture of educational success in their homes.

We all have experienced malaise toward our responsibilities, but it is the parents who must keep these children on task. My son did not do his best, did not complete his homework assignments and chose to forget to bring home the books he needed to study in the fourth grade. I signed him up for summer school, got him up early every day and made him go. He failed nothing - not even close, but goofed off. So instead of sleeping late and spending a traditional lazy summer, he had to go to school, with a bunch of losers yet. It gave him a glimpse of what he would be like if he didn’t buckle down.

Going to college was a given and failure was not an option. He was just promoted to vice president of his company.

By MrLiberty

February 22, 2007 04:30 PM | Link to this

Really, why would a charter school actually be any better than a traditional government charity school?

They are both based on socialism. They both get their money regardless of performance. They both have no incentive to actually respond to the needs of the customer (parent or child), and they both are still extensions of the government indoctrination system. Charter schools may be dressed up like something special, but free market choice (which is the only solution that will ever work) is a whole lot different.

The conformist, government bureaucratic mentality pervades everything that goes on in government schools. This isn’t going to wash off overnight simply by changing the name to “charter.”

By JustMe

February 22, 2007 04:47 PM | Link to this

Mr. Liberty -

Yawn. Won’t you please go to a revolution blog to beat your drum?

By mmm

February 22, 2007 06:09 PM | Link to this

Justme

I am not confusing an alternative school with a charter school. We had a kid that brought a knife to school and threatened another child with it. The child did everything that should have gotten him expelled from any of the Dekalb schools and into their alternative school. They refused to admit him to the alternative school and told us that we were still responsible (after the 10 day suspension) for giving him his legally entitled education. If we had to hire a separate BD teacher to watch him in a different part of the building, that was our problem.

Just because you saw kids escorted to the door without due process and without the principal being told he can’t do that at your charter, doesn’t make it either legal, right or prevalent elsewhere. Please stop claiming that it is the only reason to be a charter.

p.s. the knife was just under 2 inches long and yes we did call the police

By tim in smyrna

February 22, 2007 06:32 PM | Link to this

Charter schools are far from perfect but they are FAR better than the public school options. Rather than delaing with caregivers, parents get to send their kids to schools and have them spend their day with educators. And of course educators prefer to educate.

In Smyrna 1000 kids were in a lottery to get into the new charter school that begins this year and they don’t even have a principal or a place to meet. But the alternative public schools are far worse and this is Cobb County. So, parents and taxpayers and begging for some type of school choice and thankfully they are finally getting some.

Please research Arizona public schools and see how they have succeeded. That would be a good use of the AJC paper and bandwidth.

By JustMe

February 23, 2007 08:10 AM | Link to this

tim in smyrna:

It is just wrong to say ALL charter schools are better than ALL public schools. It just ain’t so.

My public school is far better than many or even most charter schools by any measure.

Making blanket statements like that is wrong and very misleading.

By Tony

February 23, 2007 08:16 AM | Link to this

The fascination with “Charter Schools” is very intriguing to me. One of the tenets of charter school philosophy is that the school should be granted certain exemptions from rules in order to improve their effectiveness. If these rules impede the effectiveness of schools, then perhaps the rule should be repealed for all schools. Many people complain about the beauracracy of public schools, but it is state and federal legislation that has created the seemingly endless stream of paper and rules.

Jim D asserts a CAUSAL relationship between establishing charter schools in a state and the subsequent improvement in public schools. Causal relationships are very difficult to establish and the evidence used is very weak.

Charter schools can serve useful educational purposes, but they are not the “cure all” as touted by so many.

By jim d

February 23, 2007 08:43 AM | Link to this

Actually Tony the evidence is pretty well documented. Below are a few links to some studies and some observations by the educational establishment—-Some even appear to be rather unbiased.

There’s a lot there to read, but if you have time,—-take a look and see if it helps put any concerns to rest.

http://www.nber.org/digest/jan04/w9683.html

http://www.wacharterschools.org/learn/index_studies.htm

http://www.johnlocke.org/newscolumns/displaystory.html?id=1415

http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=3786

http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/charter/ctcsevalexecutivesummary.pdf

http://www.educationsector.org/analysis/analysisshow.htm?docid=428171

By Sped Teacher

February 23, 2007 09:34 AM | Link to this

The Senate Charter System bill would exempt them from Title XX. Teachers would be “at will” employees, have no contract, pay scale, or rights. Five systems in GA will be chosen, and more than that are ready to apply. All but one are small systems with just one Elem, one MS, and one HS. Hall Co is the exception.

Don’t see charter schools rushing to take Sp Ed students—do you?

By Jeff

February 23, 2007 09:39 AM | Link to this

Sped:

Teachers would be “at will” employees, have no contract, pay scale, or rights.

With education as it currently exists, that is EXTREMELY dangerous… for the teacher!

By lynn d

February 23, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this

SPED teacher

Under the federal and state charter law, charter schools have to take and serve special ed. students. In Georgia, the inability to serve these students properly is the reason that at least one school shut down.

Charter Schools are not allowed to waive rules about IDEA and 504.

I am guessing that most of the sytems that are interested in pursuing charter status want to eliminate class size requirements.

Some of the examples Casey Cagle has given, of what types of schools he would like to see, simply can’t exist under the current funding formula. However, if schools can raise the class size in order to hire multiple foreign language teachers then some may choose to do so.

By Vicki

February 23, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

Thanks, Bridget. I wish Mary much luck.

By jim d

February 23, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this

lynn,

I’m beginning to believe that some people just don’t get it. Either from a choice to ignore the law or an ignorance of it. And to be brutally frank, I don’t think they ever will.

Charter schools in fact serve more under-priviledged and Sped students (per ratio) than almost any public school. This is the case because these are the students that aren’t being served by our public school system and they are desperate to try something else. Why is that so difficult for folks to understand?

By Monica Bomengen

February 23, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Don’t see charter schools rushing to take Sp Ed students—do you?

SIATech Charter High School’s special education percentage is 20%, far higher than the state average. We conduct weekly child find with Job Corps to ensure that any new enrollee who is special ed. is identified and immediately enrolled, if eligible (residency must be in APS district). This costs us when AYP graduation rate is calculated, because we are not permitted to include special education diplomas in our grad. rate. But we think it’s the best thing to do, so we do it.

By Monica Bomengen

February 23, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

*Teachers would be “at will” employees, have no contract, pay scale, or rights.

With education as it currently exists, that is EXTREMELY dangerous… for the teacher!*

With traditional public school structures that pay teachers based on the years they have taught and the number of degrees they hold, without any regard for their effectiveness in increasing student achievement, it is EXTREMELY dangerous for the STUDENTS, in my opinion.

SIATech’s employees have one-year contracts renewable upon demonstrated effectiveness. Our salary scale is slightly higher than APS’s. Our employees are all protected by federal and state employment laws. Our waiver only exempts us from seat time, not from any other state rules.

(PS—for those who are concerned that I am not acting as principal of my school, please be advised that I am blogging this week from the National Association of Secondary Schools Principals conference. I believe that advocating for my school in a public discussion forum is the BEST way to act as principal of my school for the immediate future, while we work on getting our charter renewed.)

By Jeff

February 23, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this

Monica:

When all students come to class on exactly the same level, THEN I will support such an idea… NOT BEFORE.

By Monica Bomengen

February 23, 2007 02:13 PM | Link to this

Jeff posted: “When all students come to class on exactly the same level, THEN I will support such an idea… NOT BEFORE.”

Jeff, our job as educators is to get all kids to proficiency and beyond, regardless of the level on which they arrive at our doorsteps. I gave up a long time ago wishing that every kid would come to me ready to learn. I work now to identify where the student is, then moving the student on. It’s difficult, but extremely rewarding!

(I am a National Board Certified Teacher as well as a principal.)

By jim d

February 23, 2007 02:38 PM | Link to this

Monica,

YOU GO GIRL!!

By Jeff

February 23, 2007 02:39 PM | Link to this

I’m all for that, Monica. What I am DEAD-SET AGAINST is Merit Pay based on student test scores. Because we BOTH know that there are several kids (gifted, high performers) that will do wel NO MATTER the teacher, and there are several that will do poorly NO MATTER the teacher. But what do you do when you have 3 teams in a particular grade in MS, one team gets the gifted kids, another the average kids, and the third team gets the remedial kids. Merit Pay says that only teachers with students with high test scores get paid more, yet the teacher that took her kids from a 35 to a 50 achieved FAR more than the teacher that took her kids from a 95 to a 98. THAT is my argument.

By Monica Bomengen

February 23, 2007 04:50 PM | Link to this

I don’t favor merit pay either. What I support is a bonus for the second example you provide, which is the teacher who takes the kid from a 35 to a 50.

I agree with you that there are many students who do well no matter who the teacher is. In my experience, however, there are not that many who do poorly no matter who the teacher is.

The students who do well no matter who the teacher is usually get the best teachers. The majority of students who do poorly in school have teachers who are the least effective. What I propose is to turn the model on its head, and put the strongest teachers with the neediest students. THIS is the way to turn around student performance. But it’s an extremely difficult sell to most teachers.

If you were to review the faculty resumes at SIATech, you’d see a group of teachers and administrators who look like the faculty of any high-achieving, affluent suburban school. That’s a huge distinction from most urban alternative schools and schools like mine that cater to a high-risk population.

Teachers are the key. It doesn’t matter how bad the home life is, how disengaged the parents are, how much TV the kid watches, or anything else—if a needy student has a great teacher, magic happens. And a great teacher is one who can take a group of students who score 30 and get them to 50, and beyond.

That’s what we are doing at SIATech. We just need to be able to show that we can push them up to proficiency and make AYP for 2 years to get out of Needs Improvement Status. We’ll have 1 year of AYP this July—but if APS has its way, that won’t matter. We won’t get the chance to do 2 years in a row.

By jim d

February 23, 2007 05:00 PM | Link to this

Monica,

fraid we disagree on this one.

“Teachers are the key. It doesn’t matter how bad the home life is, how disengaged the parents are, how much TV the kid watches, or anything else”

I don’t care how good you are at leading the horse to water you still can’t make him drink.

By Jeff

February 23, 2007 05:09 PM | Link to this

jim:

AMEN!!

By Monica Bomengen

February 23, 2007 05:27 PM | Link to this

I accept that reasonable people can disagree. But I truly do believe that all high school students can learn and will learn, IF they get great teaching. I’ve made it happen, and I see my teachers making it happen.

By luvs2teach

February 23, 2007 05:35 PM | Link to this

Monica - I’m with Jim and Jeff on this one - while I do think it’s important for our struggling kids to have better qualified teachers, I don’t think the teacher is the key.

It’s true that lower-performing schools often have less-experienced teachers - they also have more turn-over. These are the schools where first year teacher “cut their teeth” and then move on to greener pastures when they get some experience!

I was a disenfranchised student in high school - I had wonderful teachers who cared (probably more than my parents did)and tried to help, yet I did not want to be helped - to use jim adage - I wasn’t thirsty, and I wasn’t drinking ANY water!

There recently have been studies showing 14 keys factors for student success - 6 were school-based, and 8 were home-based. While I have no doubt the experienced teachers help make your school work, I also think the fact that parents choose your school is a more important factor.

By Jeff

February 23, 2007 05:40 PM | Link to this

Monica,

What you and admins like you fail to realize is that at the end of the day, ONE SINGLE factor determines student achievement more than ANY other:

THE STUDENT

Don’t focus on holding teachers accountable so much. Focus on holding STUDENTS acountable. THEN you will see real improvement!