AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2007 > August > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCharter Schools Get Short Shrift In Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta, Gwinnett County and DeKalb County school systems recently denied three charter petitions by Building Excellent Schools graduates. BES, based in Boston, is the leading charter school training program in the nation.
Now BES founder Linda Brown is considering ceasing further efforts in Georgia. She thinks the prospects for new charter schools here might not be worth her group’s time, money and effort.
One local fellow, Nina Gilbert, is a former Gwinnett County Public Schools teacher and administrator. Her recent charter petition would have allowed for a public school for underserved, mostly minority, female middle and high school students.
But Gilbert’s petition was denied by the Gwinnett County Board of Education under the recommendation of Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks, who said he had legal concerns regarding Title IX, a federal law barring gender discrimination in public schools.
These concerns were made in spite of expert testimony by Rosemary C. Salomone that Gilbert’s proposal was well within legal parameters. Salomone was well-qualified to interpret Title IX. She drafted recent Title IX regulations for the U.S. Department of Education.
Wilbanks’ protests also continued in spite of assurances by officials at the Georgia Department of Education that they would not approve a charter school that was not 100 percent within the letter of the law.
If Georgia is to improve the opportunities and achievement of students in public schools, we, as a state, must embrace innovation.
To embrace innovation, education leaders must re-evaluate their chartering practices — or allow others, who will take the responsibility of authorizing charter schools seriously, to do it.
Today’s guest blogger is chief programming officer for the Georgia Charter Schools Association. He wants the state Legislature to explore new avenues for creating charter schools. To be a guest blogger here, send an entry on any education topic to bgutierrez@ajc.com.
Comments
By Jeff
August 22, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this
Andrew,
With all due respect, a spurned organization isn’t one that is exactly believable in calls for change of the organization that spurned it.
Just as I am not the best one to put forth an argument that schools need to be forced to put kids in jail who assault teachers and not hide it.
And for similar reasons: though I openly acknowledge that I have a major axe to grind - and will do everything within my legal power to see that it is done - such things ALWAYS appear as someone has an axe to grind, admitted or not.
By Monica Bomengen
August 22, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
With the current charter law, the only recourse a denied petitioner has is to apply directly to the state for a state-sponsored special charter. This is problematic from a funding standpoint because the petitioner then loses access to any local school funding in the district where the school is geographically located. I’m sure that superintendents recognize that if their district denies a petition, the petitioner will in all likelihood not be able to afford to operate the school on state funding alone. Legislators need to recognize this problem and remedy it by enacting legislation that requires that at least a percentage of local funding be allocated, regardless of which entity authorizes the charter. I would wager that there would be very few denials of deserving petitions in that case, because districts would rather retain a little control over the funding than hand it over completely to the charter school governing board.
By Andrew Lewis
August 22, 2007 9:05 AM | Link to this
Jeff, you maybe correct. Building Excellent Schools may feel spurned. They probably do. But, in the end, as a life long resident of Atlanta, I find it reprehensible that a state which has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% in our nation with regards to public education will allow school boards to rebuff the attempts of proven education reformers and allow the status quo to continue.
Is change difficult? Is most certainly is! But, Georgia’s position as an economic engine in our country depends on our ability to improve public education. As President Kennedy said, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education.”
By Jeff
August 22, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Andrew:
Ah, but then you get into the state comparison argument, and GA has a pretty strong case that since we test EVERYBODY and other states don’t, we actually rank higher than many states that appear to be above us.
I’m not denying that we have many idiots running our school systems - Bobby Jenkins is among those, and from what I’ve heard about the guy, so is Alvin Wilbanks. Nor am I denying that in many areas, GA is still ruled by political bosses and the “good ol’ boy” network.
I am simply saying that we - like ANY state/area - don’t like outsiders trying to come in and change things. MUCH better (and typically easier) for a home-grown organization to fight for the needed change than to have someone - particularly someone from the same state as Ted Kennedy and John Kerry - outside try to come in.
By Monica Bomengen
August 22, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
It’s not just a matter of alternate authorizers. District superintendents are well aware that if the local board denies a petition, the only recourse is a state-sponsored charter, which precludes local funding. This is extremely difficult for most charter schools to manage financially, so very few of them go on to apply for a state charter after a local denial.
We need a legislative remedy to allocate a percentage of local school district funding to the charter school, regardless of the authorizing entity.
I would wager a significant sum of money that if the local districts knew the local funding would go to the charter schools regardless, they would be much more inclined to approve deserving petitions.
By Monica Bomengen
August 22, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
It’s not just a matter of alternate authorizers. District superintendents are well aware that if the local board denies a petition, the only recourse is a state-sponsored charter, which precludes local funding. This is extremely difficult for most charter schools to manage financially, so very few of them go on to apply for a state charter after a local denial.
We need a legislative remedy to allocate a percentage of local school district funding to the charter school, regardless of the authorizing entity.
I would wager a significant sum of money that if the local districts knew the local funding would go to the charter schools regardless, they would be much more inclined to approve deserving petitions.
By JustMe
August 22, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
This does make me angry. Charter schools are the only way a public school can get out from under ridiculous school system rules that handcuff good teachers. That is why DeKalb and Gwinnett do not want them. Those schools systems are power hunger and want to insist that ALL of their schools do things THEIR way (even when THEIR way does not work).
By mmm
August 22, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this
I have very mixed feelings about multiple authorizers. On the one hand, the highest good is to both provide an innovative school and to inspire and trade those good ideas proven by the innovators back to where they benefit all the children that need it.
All friction between charters and their hosts is not bad if it is the friction of exchange of views and methods. To completely remove local boards is to set up a separate and unequal parallel system. (i.e. I trade my right to a publicly financed building for the right to a direct say in the fiscal management and priorities of the school). However, if the alternative is that there will only be one system because the local boards just don’t want what they will always view as competition, than we have a long road forward that must pass through hands other than the local school boards before we will see any meaningful outside ideas pushed into our public schools.
By SET
August 22, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this
Typical trade-guild behavior.
In CA during the early part of the 20th Century the physicians handily blocked the Chiropractors from being allow into California. Physicians had better lobbyists, and “donated” more money to the legistlature re-election campaigns.
After years of trying, the Chiropractors gave up trying to get anywhere in the state legislature and put a ballot measure up creating the CA Board of Chiropractors, allowing practice and defining the practice of Chiropracture as being anything the board says it is. The new governoring board was required to have a majority of - Chiropractors. The ballot measure passed and the Chiros have pretty much done what they wanted ever since.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat. The charter schools probably need to look into bypassing the bribe center/state legislature and write their own rules using a ballot measure if the state constitution provides for it.
By Terry Baradine
August 22, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this
DEAR Set—oh such words of truth..
Regarding Education Issues— We Need more Choices and We need them now— forget the educrats.. There are many things you can do.
list all the complaint processes imagineable on that discussion forum - state, federal, office of inspector general. GA Professional Standards Commission - List all the state school and local school board contact info. so you can people to write, write and write more letters to whomever.
do investigative work in each district— through freedom of information first access your entire educational record— yes you are entitled to it.. give them a 3 day deadline and quotet the law.
examine your educational or employee record carefullly to be sure it is accurate. if not start filing complaints with the state and feds and office of civil rights, and professional standards commission— read the georgia ethics code of educators— your eyes will be opened.
ask for financial data — view the check registers month to month out of general funds of the school district— put all data up on your blogsite.
publicize educator ethics code in your state— most if not all have them. Publicize ethics violations that have been filed with the office of ehtics on your blogsite.. those are public record too. don’t let them kid you— The Georgia Professional Standards Commissioner has a data base they keep on educator ethics violations— if you have a questionable educator you are dealing with, check their history with them
file ethics complaints on any educator using restraints or isolation rooms or physically abusing or verbally abusing children
ask each district about what their policy and procedure is for use of isolation rooms and restranits— publicize that.
Tape record all school meetings and keep all communications of emails, etc with your school system.. Usually if you ask questions of high level people, you will find them hanging themselves.
Same thing holds true of state dept of education people— tape them or keep emails of them too. publicize the question and publicize the response.. that gets attention.
Bring large issues up to your local school board with a bunch of people— reporters are usually present at school board meetings..
If you are a special ed parent— and have contract service providers by the school— View contracts obtained from your service provider so that you understand where the service provider allegiance really is.. Ask for full disclosure- after all you are the customer.
Learn all your rights if you have a sick or health impaired child and use them .. Know ADA law, 504 accomodations and IDEA for more info and you need help obtaining this information contact me. If your child is having learning difficutly due to a condition make the school teach them appropriately so they do not slip through the cracks.
In my district— we used this angle on the isolation rooms— started asking for documentation to prove they were wired for the fire alarm and what were the precautionary safeguards. Funny thing is - they didn’t answer our question but had an executive meeting and reversed their useage and abolished them.. However, we have not seen this policy in writing and we are working on getting that and pressing hard on the issue.
Work the press, its almost like you have to convince them its a story. work locally and work your way up nationally. If you can’t get any press to cover— start writing opinion pieces in the local papers, main papers and always leave your contact information to draw others in or have other press contact you. get real friendly with the press.
Right now we have 2 atlanta tv stations competing for the stories because we have leaked so much— most detailed financial information and situations where parents hae been wrongly accused of truancy, etc and failure by our psych- ed facilities to provide a safe environment for children
If you are going to speak to press- keep the issue broad and to the point— leave your personal issue out, to save yourself from personal attacks..It works everytime.
If school districts are refusing to give up records you are requesting—you can bring a reporter with you to the district offices. Also, be friendly with school office staff- they are privey to much and when you bring them gifts—candy, donuts, coffee— they become your friends. Also, to keep your copy costs down, bring a portable copier with you if you are reviewing records. This way they won’t charge you.
If you are not comfortable dealing with press- always share your information with your friends, someone will end up taking the bull by the horns with the information. Crossing the gap and meeting people in your locale that have a vested interest in education— businesses and parents.. really makes a difference. Its not for the faint of heart.
PS— Learn to advocate for yourself and for your child effectively— By Yourself - Your Own way. it will impact your child greatly.
Terry Baradine
Please share, forward, and have people contact me. baradine@bellsouth.net 404 966 8986
Forsyth County Parent/Teacher Coalition- Want to learn more— Join the Group.. stay in the loop http://groups.yahoo.com/group/forsythcountyconcernedparents/
By Martha Nesbit
August 22, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this
I helped to found a successful charter school in Savannah. We are entering our 9th year, and have successfully educated hundreds of middle schoolers whose families were thrilled that they had a “choice.” It would have been such a shame to never have been allowed to open. Thank you, Chatham County! Good ideas come from many arenas - solid applications with indicators of success should not be categorically denied. Are they? Are the applicants given reasons for the denial and an opportunity to remedy the application? Is there a district group that works with charter applicants to make sure that the applications are worthy? Don’t give up!
By Molly
August 22, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
Georgia is by no means a welcome environment for charter schools. Charters require local school board approval - and the local school boards are very careful about guarding what they consider to be “their” money. DeKalb is a great example - Dr. Jim Mullins oversees charters for the DeKalb County School System, but he was quoted in the AJC last spring as being opposed to charters, because they steal funds from public schools. He seems to have forgotten that charters are public schools, and that students who opt for a charter school have the same rights to public funding as those in the traditional public schools.
By V for Vendetta
August 22, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
CHOICE, CHOICE, CHOICE …
It is NEVER a bad thing. As for Wilbanks …
Is anyone here surprised that pathetic excuse for an educrat didn’t want to do something that may serve the best interest of education? Pretty much par for the course from ole’ Jalvin.
By SET
August 22, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this
I have always thought that a nice choice is having high school programs on college campuses. Our local Jr. College has a fully accredited high school on campus that is not widely advertised. It (the HS) actually belongs to a school district from the North part of the County. It has open enrollment, by application only. This is the only full time HS I have seen operated at a college campus by a School District.
University of CA has an acccelerated HS program but it consists of regular UC college classes attended by high school seniors. They need to finish high school also.
UC also occupied local High School buildings and ran HS summer school taught by University graduate students. It was open by application only with no geographical limits. Some students commuted an hour each way to go. Classes were 6+ hrs a day.
The more choices to rack up HS graduation credits in an academically challenging atmosphere the better. And non of these schools charged a significant amount of money to go. But any absenteeism, performance or behaviorial problems you were OUT. I imagine they were fun to teach at.
By Lisa B.
August 22, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this
Georgia Southwestern State University has an accredited high school program on it’s campus. Students must apply for acceptance. At the end of four years, most students will have not only a high school diploma, but a college Associate’s Degree as well. The program is free, but very small at this point. I wonder if there are other programs like it at other universities in Georgia.
Back to Charter Schools, I thought last year’s new legislation was passed to make it EASIER to create charter schools in Georgia. I have to go with the above comment. Students need CHOICE, CHOICE and more CHOICE!
By mmm
August 22, 2007 6:21 PM | Link to this
Lisa B. Last years legislation was supposed to make it possible for whole systems to convert to charter status—but only if the system wants to delegate, fiscal, hiring and true governance responsibility down to the local schools. The rules on this are still being written and it remains to be seen if any system actually trusts their individual schools with this independence. (Does anyone see the “High performing principals program” here?) The only effect on true start-up schools that aren’t the idea of the district itself is that they are going to start getting a proportional share of food service and transportation funding. This step toward fiscal equity has caused a virtual shutdown of approvals in the metro area—-and the law doesn’t do anything to challenge the surpremicy of the local boards.
By Lisa B.
August 22, 2007 7:03 PM | Link to this
mmm Ahhh, once again education law SEEMS like it should help, but doesn’t. We should be used to this by now.
By jim d
August 23, 2007 8:05 AM | Link to this
Just my humble opinion but one would think that this could become a hot button campaign issue and help rid the good taxpayers of Counties like Gwinnett of the life long educrats that set on their BOE. Hey who knows, might even get some folks with some real back bone that are willing to replace an overbearing, self righteous, egotistical, Napoleon complexed superindendent.
By WFC
August 23, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
Dear Terry,
You provided tons of good info. Thanks for that! However, you are somewhat naive about the Professional Standards Commission. The PSC is a highly political organization that school systems use against teachers who are critical of school systems. But, when the chips are down (the teacher has political support), the PSC gags. How do I know? Fulton County reported me for an “ethics violation” in February 2007. The PSC has done NOTHING about my case since then because I have tremendous support from parents and students who know that the “charges” are bogus. Don’t believe that the PSC is “independent” or impartial in any way. This is ALL politics.
By mmm
August 23, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
Added to that about the PSC—they are very protective of their accreditation monopoly. The mere suggestion that their might be “alternative routes to certification” or even that there may be individuals from other countries or states that are able and should be allowed to teach GA children produces the same “it wasn’t my idea so I’ll give you all the reasons is shouldn’t be done” reaction that start-up charter applicants get from districts like Gwinnett. No autonomy or innovation needed.