Even as CPS opens more new schools, children with special needs have a tougher time finding options. Placements in private therapeutic schools are scarce, and some charters are reluctant to enroll them.
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More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
By: Alexander Russo / May 05, 2008
The CTU is ramping up its opposition to an expansion of Chicago's charter schools, and indeed many traditional teachers and educators see charters as educational hype more than anything else (Take Action: SB 2402 - Unlimited Charter Bill.). Indeed, not all charters have panned out, and there are some practices -- refusing to take students during the year -- that are objectionable. But on the fundamental issue of charter expansion, I'm not so sure there's a compelling argument against making high-quality charters available to parents who want them. (Neither are lots of parents and teachers, not to speak of Barack Obama and -- yes -- NYC teachers union president Randi Weingarten, who have both supported the charter option.)
Chicago's charter authorizing system -- charged with approving and monitoring the autonomous schools -- is one of the most careful and buttoned-down in the nation. New types of charters -- including ones that combine innovation with union job protections -- are being tried, and there's lots of federal and private money to help create new schools. More charter slots would let teachers and nonprofits and community organizations set up schools that are tailored to students needs. They could also slow the exodus of parents from Chicago and declining enrollments citywide.
So, why not more charters for Chicago?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
I understand that you are involved in the charter schools movement because you believe.I hope that in the future you will not have to learn lesson like some believers in the AUSL concept.
They used them and disposed.Very simple.Why there are only few charter schools in the suburbs?
It is a concept to make money out of our,taxpayers pocket.
The economy turned bad therefore some people turned their eyes to the public fund.
Charlie, think about it.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Perspective renaming ceremony Perspectives is holding on May 22, 2008. Rodney Joslin deceased husband of Jeanne Nowaczewski- Senior Manager Director of Office of New Schools Recruitment Department...interesting news.
Did anyone see the invitation?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Perspective renaming ceremony Perspectives is holding on May 22, 2008. Rodney Joslin deceased husband of Jeanne Nowaczewski- Senior Manager Director of Office of New Schools Recruitment Department...interesting news.
Did anyone see the invitation?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Dear Charter Charlie
This all started because someone said public education was not a right from the Constitution And someone else said that is correct but the right of a free public education is older than the Constitution. The concept of “Public money to pay for public educationâ€
Is the point here? Rich white men poor black men, are all taxed for education.
The purpose of section 16 was for the land to be used, public land, to pay for public
education. The founders were smart enough not to lay out a roadmap for public funding,
Just the means to accomplish that end.
Charter schools are just little annoyances right now. Soon they will be used to break the CTU .In so doing the only intuition that cares about students at all will be gone. But then all these committed Charted School Teachers will learn how the real world of Chicago
Operates, it will not be pretty.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Thanks for the condescension...always appreciated. This conversation started because you said:
"I hope you know that the right to an education pre-dates the Constitution .Review The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and let us know the purpose of section 16 in every Federal Township. Legal description is not mentioned in the Constitution because it was already in effect .In fact that is why Abraham Lincolns Father moved to Illinois .But I’ll save that story for my kids. Remember Section 16."
We've all read it now (thanks for the history lesson) and again, what I'm reading in know way even implies education as a right. It guarantees the provisions for a school to be built as a part of a township, again presumably for the sons of white land-owners.
While the charter school movement is currently, in some cases, being usurped by conservative corporations and individuals to bust up unions, that is certainly not why charters were started. (In fact, if you look at the history of charters across the nation, you'll see that unions were quite involved in the beginning). And that is certainly not why teachers choose to teach at charter schools (although I look at escaping the CTU as an advantage, certainly) or why parents choose to send their students to charter schools. Charter schools are not even inherently anti-union, although they certainly wouldn't work well with the kind of union the CTU has become.
Charter schools at their highest height will make up a maximum of maybe 12-15% of the total district. Eventually the ability to replicate under one charter will die and more than likely be replaced by a provision to lift the charter cap to some degree. If the district still remains 80-90% under the control of the unions, I'm not sure how we're possibly going to break the unions, unless your union is really weak, and while it is a lot of things, it is not weak or small. Sooner or later, I'm also sure some charters will choose to unionize, probably not all of them, but at least a small pact of them. Will you still hate them then, even though they are leagally not allowed to be part of your union?
Do you hate charter schools or do you hate the conservative think tanks that are championing the New Orleans model. Because if you think that a union run CPS school is any less susceptible to the ills of corporate America and all of its anti-union bias. Charter Schools are not the enemy, but its good to see that you've been fooled enough by the people who really want to destroy your union and your school to blame someone else.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
CORRECTION, should read "four out of nine" and not "five out of nine". All of this information is in the "ILLINOIS CHARTER SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT-2008" LOCATED ON THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WEBSITE! READ IT YOURSELF!
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Excellent post retired principal and here's my post from another thread on charters that I posted yesterday:
I'm not a fan of charter schools because my neighborhood elementary school is out performing all of the charters. There are several neighborhood school out performing charters. Why don't we just use the charter school money to help the neighborhood school performs. It is not fair to compare charter schools to neighborhood schools that are not performing because many charters don't reenroll all students and have an easier time getting rid of low performers. Also, I think they have smaller class sizes because they can cap enrollment, which neighborhood schools are not allowed to do. Under NCLB neighborhood schools that perform well must take in failing students without their SES tutors. It is crazy to compare them to neighborhood schools so lets make all neighborhood schools great and stop diverting funds to charter schools.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Thank you for your valuable information.Is it true that new administrators at CPS associated with the ONS do not have to meet the City requirement to be placed on the principals eligibility list?
Is it true that all others must meet the requirement above their type 75 certification?
Do you think that such kind of situation constitute the Unfair Labor Practice?
Also because new administrators are young and older,experienced administrators are not able to secure employment could it be a case for the Office of Human Rights?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
According to the Illinois State Board Of Education "ILLINOIS CHARTER SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT-JANUARY 2008", five out of nine CPS charter high schools with at least an eleventh grade in the 2006-2007 school year had a higher drop out rate than the CPS District rate of 8.3%: Youth Connections-46.5%, Aspira-9.5%, Young Women's-9.4%, ACE Tech-9.3%, Chicago International-6.3%, The Academy-4.2%, Perspectives-3.6%, North Lawndale-3.2% and Noble Street-0.7%. The percentage of students leaving or not returning for these schools are as follows: The Academy-17%, ACE Tech-12%, Aspira-6%, Chicago International-7%, Noble Street-13%, North Lawndale-12%, Perspectives-15%, Young Women's-16% and Youth Connections-13%. The students with disabilities rates for these schools are as follows: The Academy-14%, ACE Tech-19%, Aspira-11%, Chicago International-12%, Noble Street-12%, North Lawndale-15%, Perspectives-14%, Young Women's-14% and Youth Connections-10%. According to the Charter Schools Law in effect for 2006-2007, beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, at least 50% of the instructional staff in Chicago charter schools established after July 2003 shall hold teaching certificates. In the 2006-2007 school year, the minimum number of certified instructional staff increases to 75%. Here are the instructional staff certification rates for these charter schools: The ACADEMY-71%, ACE Tech-100%, Aspira-85%, Chicago Internationsl-86%, Noble Street-87%, NORTH LAWNDALE-65%, PERSPECTIVES-49%, Young Women's-91% and Youth Connection-80%. ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE CERTIFICATION OR PARTICULAR QUALIFICATIONS!!!!!!!!!! Here are the administative staff certification rates for these charter schools: The Academy-50%, ACE Tech-.09%, Aspira-80%, Chicago International-78%, Noble Street-10%, North Lawndale-33%, Perspectives-65%, Young Women's-0% and Youth Connection-13%!!!!!!!!!! Here are the Chicago charter schools not making AYP: The Academy, ACE Tech, Aspira, Chicago International, Noble Street, North Lawndale, Young Women;s and Youth Connection. Here are the Chicago charter schools that have been identified for school improvement: The Academy, Aspira, Chicago International, North Lawndale, Perspectives, Young Women's and Youth Connection. Here are the Federal Improvement Status for these schools: The Academy-Restructuring, Aspira-Choice, Chicago International- Restructuring Implementation, North Lawndale- Restructuring Implementation, Young Women's- Choice and Youth Connections- Restructuring Implementation. Here are the State improvement status for these schools: The Academy- Academic Watch, Aspira- Academic Early Warning, Chicago International- Academic Watch, North Lawndale- Academic watch, young women's- Academic watch and Youth Connections-Academic Watch. P.S.- I see why CPS had the RAND Report released on May 7, 2008!!!!!!!!!!
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Dear Charter Charlie
Do you ever read what you write? Let me explain in English. The 223 year old provisions for land established the legal principal of public funding for education.
As you know 223 years ago we the People had no common money, or nation, that
Came later. The land was sold the money used to establish free public schools.
I hope you do not think each school was built on section 16 that is a square mile.
Charter schools will be destroyed by there expansion just like communism was.
The concept of competition in charters only exist to destroy the CTU by establishing
an alternative school network. When that is done all you poor Charter fools will
See what the Board thinks of Children when you are no longer needed as union
breakers.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
The guarantee of a plot of land to build a school, which at the time was certainly meant (as can be inferred from other language in the document) for free (white) land-owning men is a far cry from establishing a free high-quality education for all. You have to make more than a couple of illogical jumps to get there, anyhow.
I think there should be an amendment to the constitution in order to guarantee all the right to a free, high-quality education.
Either way my original point was actually that whether it is a right or not, I don't see why, like many other "rights," we can't expect "the people" to keep up their end of the bargain in order to take advantage of that right. A one-page application and some basic expectations around parental involvement would not, in my mind, be too much to ask.
I don't think it makes charter schools or their operators horrible people because they have decided to take advantage of their ability to do these things, quite frankly, in the name of providing their students with the best education possible. If the rest of CPS wasn't such a damned mess they would be incorporating some of the same philosophies when it comes to enrollment caps and lotteries, not too mention trying to provide different educational environments and "counseling" students into an environment that may better suit them.
Regardless, a 223 year old provision for land use does not equal the establishment of public education as a right for all, as much as I wish it did.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
George
You are correct about Midway. But remember Chicago as we know it today
Contains all, and parts, of different Townships. Midway was section 16 of Stickney
Township which went from Western Ave to Harlem Ave and from 39th to 87th.
Only with the annexation of part of that township did Chicago get its hands on Midway
Airport. And it shows how well the government of Stickney Township held its
School Section in trust.Most other Townships in Cook County sold off the land
In section 16 for seed money to create schools in the 1840’s.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
I was talking about this:
"...There shall be reserved for the United States out of every township the four lots, being numbered 8,11,26,29, and out of every fractional part of a township, so many lots of the same numbers as shall be found thereon, for future sale. There shall be reserved the lot No. 16, of every township, for the maintenance of public schools within the said township, also one-third part of all gold, silver, lead and copper mines, to be sold, or otherwise disposed of as Congress shall hereafter direct....
"...Now that comes from the Virginia Land Ordinance of 1784, which of course became The land Ordinance of 1785, carried over to the Northwest ordinance of 1787..."
This also explains why Midway Airport (one perfect mile square) was the last perfect piece of that land in Chicago until CPS was forced (by the School Finance Authority) to transfer it to the City of Chicago 28 years ago at Dollar Store prices. Midway was one of those "Lot 16" pieces of land.
During the fast shuffle (and privatization nonsense) that followed the Shock Doctrine of 1979 and 1980 (the "school financial crisis that gave rise to the School Finance Authority and put Martin Koldyke in power as SFA chairman into the 1990s), Midway, and its future revenues, was stolen by Chicago from the public schools and turned into a slush fund for the city.
Now Mayor Daley is trying to privatize it (er., excuse me, form a "public private partnership" that would take Midway away from public use for 99 years or so).
Midway should go back to CPS ownership and management, with the revenues going into the Operating Fund.
By the way, the lease fees and other revenues from the Lot 16 lands could be used for the Operating Fund, while any money from sale of school land -- like the sale of the land at the corner of Halsted and Madison by Paul Vallas and Rich Daley more than ten years ago -- has to go into the Capital Fund.
Anyway, if Daley gets away with stealing Midway from the public and privatizing it for 99 years (like he did with the Skyway, after spending a half billion dollars renovating it; resurfacing and all), the schools are, once again, the big losers.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Not a section of legalese, but [i][b]a section of land[/b][/i], Chuck.
"The Ordinance of 1784 established that the western territories would become states, [u]but it failed to establish how the government would distribute the land or how the territory would be settled.[/u] "
[b]The Land Ordinance of 1785 dealt with these issues[/b]. [u]As the states and Indians relinquished lands, government surveyors were to divide the territory into individual townships.[/u] Each township was to be square. Each side of the square was to be six miles in length, and the completed square would include a total of 36 square miles of territory. The township would then be divided into one-square mile sections, with each section encompassing 640 acres. Each section received its own number. [i][b]Section 16 was set aside for a public school[/b][/i]."
http://www.lanepl.org/Blount/jbplaces/documents/F04E7B9F67558E1272C0F356...
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Charter Charlie Good Evening
Actually no, I was not referring to article 3 but I’ll comment on that in a second.
I was talking about this:
There shall be reserved for the United States out of every township the four lots, being numbered 8,11,26,29, and out of every fractional part of a township, so many lots of the same numbers as shall be found thereon, for future sale. There shall be reserved the lot No. 16, of every township, for the maintenance of public schools within the said township, also one-third part of all gold, silver, lead and copper mines, to be sold, or otherwise disposed of as Congress shall hereafter direct....
Now that comes from the Virginia Land Ordinance of 1784, which of course became
The land Ordinance of 1785, carried over to the Northwest ordinance of 1787.
That piece of work was so well written that its provisions were the blueprint for every new state since. And yes public support for schools is not listed in the Constitution because it had already been written into our law. And note they used the only thing of real value owned by the united colonies--- land to pay for a public school system.
I think the schools set up by good intentioned idiots on Indian reservations would
Make the damnation of them an indictment of, not public schools, but school’s not
unlike our present charter schools. These modern Urban zealots will change our very
society because of their overwhelming commitment to the Ideal of the present.
But who is right Nattie Bumpo or Sitting Bull? I guess only Chingacook knows for sure.But the Rev.Wheelock tried.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Hi 1.04,
Are you referring to Sec. 14, Art. 3:
"Art. 3. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them."
Perhaps this specific line: "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."
Encouraging education is certainly a far cry from guaranteeing it as a right. And let's think about how closely we followed the line that follows about never taking lands or properties from [Native Americans], we sure upheld that one.
Next question...
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Hi 1.04,
Are you referring to Sec. 14, Art. 3:
"Art. 3. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them."
Perhaps this specific line: "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."
Encouraging education is certainly a far cry from guaranteeing it as a right. And let's think about how closely we followed the line that follows about never taking lands or properties from [Native Americans], we sure upheld that one.
Next question...
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Student raped at CICS campus
http://www.nbc5.com/news/16207896/detail.html?dl=headlineclick
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Right?
Dear Charter Charley
I agree where you work is your business. However I think you wrote once
You are at a charter school? I am at a General High School.
I don’t like personal attacks so let me just ask. Where did you learn US History?
I hope you know that the right to an education pre-dates the Constitution .Review
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and let us know the purpose of section 16
in every Federal Township. Legal description is not mentioned in the Constitution
because it was already in effect .In fact that is why Abraham Lincolns Father
moved to Illinois .But I’ll save that story for my kids. Remember Section 16.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Charlie, CPS won't go along with your plan!!!!!!!!!! The general elementary schools and general high schools have been calling for this for a long time!!!!!!!!!! General elementary schools and general high schools MUST TAKE all students who can't go anywhere else from August to June!!!!!!!!!! When students are kicked out charter schools, contract schools or anybody else's schools, the general schools MUST TAKE THEM!!!!!!!!!! That's the way it is in the land of CPS!!!!!!!!!!
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Let us not forget that charter schools were originally proposed by the president of the American Federation of Teachers, the mama of teacher's unions. They were never designed to be "for-profit" or run by corporations. Children are not products and it is impossible to turn them out in an assembly line fashion. It is a shame that society's ills affect the ability of some children to grow and flourish like other's (and as some on this blog intimate parents who don't care). The worst crackhead in America cares about their kids. Whether or not they can provide is another subject, but they care and their children are entitled to a quality education.
Charter schools are not an attempt to provide a better education. The children who would benefit most rarely get into charter schools. Their sole purpose in Chicago is to PRIVATIZE education. My only question is this: If the union is destabilized and all schools are private, who then will take the blame for students who do not "achieve". No Child Left Standing??? Parents? Our illustrious mayor (Mr. Take the bar 7 times before you pass????)
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Charlie - Tell me more about how CPS would, with such a plan, address kids without immunization, no applications turned in, missing info on the applications, the kids who act up or act out, the disabled kids, homeless kids, etc. What would be the plan to capture these students? (not a challenge, just want to know)
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Announced earlier this week as part of the press release on the RAND study, the Chicago charter schools performance report is now out and [url=http://www.ren2010.cps.k12.il.us/docs/2006-2007_Performance_Report.pdf new=true]online as a PDF.[/url]. It's put out every years by the Office of New Schools and can be accessed through the following link. I haven't looked at it yet, but wanted everyone who's working in and thinking about charters to know it was there.
UPDATE: The folks at UNO didn't waste any time in sending out a press release highlighting how they did, on average (not sure if campus-specific info is available). Click below to see the text.
/ alexander
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
I don't say what school I work at because I don't want anyone to assume that my opinions reflect that of the school I work for, or vice versa. I'm not afraid of being fired or being found out, but when I comment here (although it is often during quick breaks from work) I am not commenting on behalf of my school, but myself and my own opinions.
Here's an idea (which will be very unpopular, I'm sure)...why not require a one page application for all public schools? why not put enrollment caps on all schools? you could still have neighborhood boundaries, but if you get more applicants than the enrollment cap, you hold a lottery and a few students might end up being bussed to the next nearest school with open spaces. Why not make it easier for all schools to kick out kids who are not making any attempt to participate in their education or who are violently disrupting the education of others?
Why are these, at face value, bad things?
Education is not a constitutional right. Maybe it should be, but it's not right now. And even the rights that do exist require involved and active citizenship to take advantage of them. For instance, the right to bear arms is a constitutional right, but I still have to go through a ton of paper work to take advantage of that right, and if I'm not a good citizen that right can be taken away from me. I have to sit in long lines, fill out paper work, pay a fee and then wait half a year to get my passport just so I can leave the country. Just getting an idea, period, which is required to do many things that most people would view as "rights" takes more than a bit of effort.
It takes the same amount of paper work to get into a charter school as it takes to vote.
So why is it that I should just be able to walk up to the door of the closest school and demand that might kid has the right to learn there?
I want to see all kids receive the best education possible as much as anyone else, but increasing, what I'll call the "civic responsibilities" to take advantage of that "right" wouldn't be the worst thing. And if it's done right, it doesn't have to be a classist or a racist thing (which I can already hear people yelling at me about).
So I'm proposing a city wide school application. To enroll any student at any school, you must fill out a one page application (this would also be a way to make sure kids have their immunizations and everything else). I'm also proposing enrollment caps that are in line with the union's maximum class size agreement, with a built in lottery for schools with too many applications and then a busing system to take younger students to the next closest elementary school. As part of this, charters would be required to leave some open seats for overflow from nearby elementary schools.
What do people think?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
At this rate, in what year will CPS be 100 percent charter schools?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Dear need advice, here are the ISAT Composite Scores for all the campuses for Chgo Intl Chrt: Basil, 2004-24.9, 2005-43.4, 2006-55.7, 2007-65.6; Buckt, 2001-57.2, 2002-60.7, 2003-67.1, 2004-60.3, 2005-59.9, 2006-77.1, 2007-76.4; Longw, 2001-39.6, 2002-51.0, 2003-67.1, 2004-66.3, 2005-71.2, 2006-76.4, 2007-77.7; Prair, 2001-33.7, 2002-56.5, 2003-58.4, 2004-57.3, 2005-68.1, 2006-65.8, 2007-65.3; Sshor, 2006-57.5, 2007-60.2; Wbel, 2003-48.4, 2004-65.0, 2005-58.9, 2006-73.7, 2007-76.7; Wpk, 2001-23.4, 2002-28.2, 2003-39.0, 2004-40.1, 2005-47.5, 2006-62.4, 2007-57.7; Wwood, 2006-46.5, 2007-54.8. P.S.- The Chicago Public Schools are closing general elementary and general high schools for every charter or contract school that they open!!!
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
From what I've read with the report and others, there are some messed up charter schools, just as there are messed up traditional schools. Some students and parents are satisfied at the charter schools; some are satisfied with traditional schools. Some students graduate and go to college from charter schools; some graduate and go to college from traditional schools. Some students attend school at the charters each and every day; some attend the traditional schools each and every day. Some teacher work hard at charter schools; some teachers work hard at traditional schools..I'm not seeing a big difference here. SO, AGAIN I ASK: Why charter schools? Why not FIX the traditional schools that aren't working? Why must everything be "charterized"? If everything is soooo bad, why can't we just fix the schools we now have?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
I've always emjoyed your responses. Can you answer the previous post. I'm just curious? I have a friend who is sending their child to CICS for Kindergarten in the fall.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
There are so many campuses for CICS--is that a good charter school? My child was accepted and because they have so many campuses I was thinking they are good. Please someone help me decide. Could parents who have children at these schools tell me if they are satified? I looked at ISAT scores and some campuses are better than others. My neighboorhood school's ISAT scores are higher in reading and lower in math. What should I do?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
is that none of the charter school teachers EVER say what school they work for. I know many of the posts are "cloak and dagger" but many people mention what school they are talking about. I guess you charter school employees with no union potection are vey afraid to mention your schools. Is it because some parent will have somthing negative to say about what goes on?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
You should visit a charter school. Parents are pleased. Students are learning. Teachers are working hard and have gains to show for it. Now need to be scared. Come visit. I promise--there is no boogity boogity scary stuff happening. Just learning.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
I have a friend who is a case manager at a multi-campus charter school. The salary of all the SPED teachers is paid by CPS. Too many of the resources that would go the students in CPS general high schools are diverted to private concerns. The regular ed teaching staff does not get compensated on the same salary scale as we do. They do pay into the CTPF, so all they lack is union protection. They have required meetings - after school - and Saturdays. Anyone whose Sabbath is Saturday would be ineligible for employment.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
The Charter Schools are doing a great disservice to students in CPS schools. The ancillary service teams, nurses, social workers etc. not only service CPS students but must service Charter Schools too. This practice takes precious time away from the students of CPS.
There is a problem with that practice.
Why don't they have their own teams?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
From Charter school report at RAND:
"The research team gauged the achievement effects of charter schools in elementary and middle grade...Consistent with similar studies in other locations, the team found only SMALL DIFFERENCES in average achievement gains between charter schools and CPS schools, and these differences do not point in consistent directions. The only strong fidning regarding achievement is that charter schools do not do well raising student achievement in their first year of operation."
"The overall performance of Chicago's charter schools in raising student test scores is approximately on par with that of traditional public schools in Chicago."
For more info, visit RAND website.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
here's what CPS has to say about a new study about charters:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 7, 2008
National Study Finds Chicago Charter School Students
More Likely to Graduate from High School, Attend College
Charter schools are one of many high-quality, diverse educational options, says Duncan
According to a recent national study conducted by the RAND Corporation and Mathematica Policy Research, Chicago Public School students continuing in charter high schools have a better chance of graduating high school and enrolling in college than students in other public schools.
RAND and Mathematica determined 8th-grade charter school students continuing in a charter high school are 7 percent more likely to graduate from high school, and 11 percent more likely of enrolling in college.
The study also found 8th-graders who continue in charter high schools in Chicago have an ACT score half a point higher than students at traditional high schools.
“We’re very pleased to hear how well our charter school students are prepared for their future,†said CPS Chief Executive Officer Arne Duncan. “But we aren’t surprised by these results. We work hard to make sure all of our schools are among the many high-quality educational options for parents looking for the right fit for their children.â€
RAND and Mathematica further concluded Chicago charter schools do not “skim the cream†by attracting the top students from nearby neighborhood schools.
On average, the study found that the prior achievement levels of students transferring into charter schools differed only slightly from the achievement levels of their peers at the neighborhood schools.
On the heels of the RAND/Mathematica study, a charter school report issued this week by the CPS Office of New Schools came to similar conclusions when comparing charter school students and comparison neighborhood schools.
According to the Office of New Schools’ 2006-2007 Charter School Performance Report, charter elementary school students achieve at higher rates than the district average, and charter high school students are more likely to have higher attendance rates than students attending neighborhood schools.
—more—
In 2007, 68.7 percent of charter elementary school students met or exceeded state standards on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) composite score, 4.6 percentage points higher than the district average.
The report also found 92 percent of charter high school students attended school during the 2006-2007 school year, compared to the 84 percent district average.
And overall, the report found charter schools outperformed neighborhood schools on 84 percent of the student measures used to evaluate each school, including standardized assessment, attendance, transfer-out, drop-out and graduation rate.
“By and large, this data shows why charter schools are in demand—high education standards set and adhered to by charter school operators, teachers and staff on a daily basis,†said Josh Edelman, CPS executive officer of New Schools.
To date, 30 charter schools on 67 campuses have been created, mostly under Renaissance 2010, Mayor Richard M. Daley’s initiative to create 100 new schools by the year 2010. This fall, of the 21 new educational options available for students through Renaissance 2010, 11 will be charter schools.
The Chicago Public Schools is the nation’s third-largest school system. It includes more than 600 schools and about 415,000 students.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
The other day, I was at a professional development meeting which involved teachers from both charter and regular CPS public schools. At my table were myself, two teachers from charters, and two teachers from CPS schools, including one of the best English teachers I know of. She's relatively young, with about 10 years experience and teaches in a high school that has a good reputation but recently had its very popular principal removed by the LSC.
She is frustrated with the idiotic district mandates that are imposed on her, with very heavy budget cuts over the last few years, with deadwood staff that she says occupy many key teaching and non-teaching positions in the school.
In the course of our conversation, she said she had thought of switching to a charter school where she could concentrate on teaching, but she had two young children and was afraid that the required hours for meetings and activities in the late afternoon and during the summers would not allow her to raise her kids. Both of the young men from (two different) charter schools agreed with her. They both said that their schools are really more suited for young people who don't have families yet.
This is anecdotal, of course, but the same story is told over and over through the world of teachers: I hear that most of the charters, especially the organization-run ones are more focused on implementing an institutional strategy, which involves endless meetings and trainings and collective activities, than they are on supporting individual teachers who have figured out how to do it right.
I had a colleague a year ago who threw herself heart and soul into her teaching and got results, in both engagement and test scores. Her juniors in English made the highest gains of any small CPS school--once selective enrollment schools are taken out--in the city on PSAE two years ago. But a nightmare principal pushed her to switch to a multi-campus charter school, where she was much happier but she is now leaving teaching. It isn't so much the individual administrators in her school, but the company policies and the requirements for non-classroom meetings and work that leave her no time or energy for her life.
I write this as someone who teaches in a regular CPS school, who generally is in school weekends throughout the school year, gives my cell phone to parents, and is in school from 7 a.m. till 5 p.m. most days. It's not that I am looking for a place with short hours; but a place where my hours are mine to work with students. I wonder whether someone with some years of experience in both charters and CPS would want to respond to these stories and the implications they raise.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
I will admit that I believe charter schools are safer (because as I noted in my previous post--charters will "put a child out" who behaves/performs badly on standardized tests) than CPS schools and might even consider enrolling my son in a charter HS but only if one of them could posibbly produce higher ACT scores and sucessful college entry than a CPS selective enrollment/magnet school. If this doesn't happen and my child is not enrolled in a magnet/selective enrollment CPS HS, I may have to send my child to a catholic HS (only because private will be out of my price range).
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
When charter schools MUST enroll every child in their attendance area and reach the class size that my son's neighborhood school has (36 in 3rd grade) instead of cutting off and keeping small class sizes AND when the charters educate special ed students properly and with the proper personel (check out the reason most don't make AYP) AND when behavoir problem students can't be counseled out/de-enrolled AND when you see TWO classrooms of K, 1st, 2nd and 3rd only to find after ISAT's the charters NOW have one of each garde 4th-8th, THEN and only THEN can the charters be compared to neighborhood schools. The vast majority of neighborhood schools out perform the charter schools. I wish someone would count: How many charter schools out perform ALL neighborhood CPS schools on the ISAT...
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Chris, Chicago Academy HS PSAE % Meet/Exceed for students for 2007 was 29.8.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Renaissance 2010 is an attack on the general elementary and general high schools!!!
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
dear retired principal (and many others) --
since you're anonymous, why not tell us what schools you're talking about so we can better know what you're talking about and weigh your claims more clearly?
-- alexander
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
wrong my dear. Charters are being open in areas where enrollment is dropping and now dropping more due to the charters and those charters are not doing well. Then, the charters kick out the underperforming kids, and send the to the 'hood school which was working hard and smart and showed excellent growth, but then those kids that get kicked out have to be taken by the 'hood school. Charter scores go up, 'hood school scores start to drop along with enrollement.
If the Ren 10-charters was NOT about sabotage, I would believe their miracles. I teach in a school that is closing becasue of the charter and we performed better for years and had better capacity--now charter moves in, parents come and ask for test scores from the counselor, becasue the charter requires them for their child to get in. IEP? They automatically came back to us. Behavior problem?, they automatically got expelled from the charter. Some parents have come back to us saying they were sorry they left. oops! Too late; we are closed.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Charles -
Being a non-profit amateur doesn't make you more competent than a dishonest mercenary. It only makes you more pious.
Being a good educator [b][u]doesn't[/u] automatically [/b]make you a good educational administrator, although to be a good educational administrator you need to have been a good educator (are you listening, Arne and your pack of B school idiots?).
Do[b] all [/b]good cooks make good restauranteurs?
Do [b]all[/b] good musicians make excellent conductors?
Do [b]all[/b] good artists make perfect museum curators?
No. No. No.
And, sorry, Charlie; no.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Charlie,
Agree CPS has plenty of corporate/patronage smoke and mirrors. Two wrongs don't make a right.
Also agree about good intentions of teachers and others who started charters for innovation and ed. reform.
What do you think about charters being accountable to communities in the ways I mentioned, elected board, lsc, open meetings, due process, workplace democracy, etc.? As CPS demonstrates, families voting with their feet by leaving doesn't solve many problems. Why not put the public in charter public schools? You may say parents are involved, and they are sometimes, but on administration's terms only. What about governance?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Dear Retired Principal:
Would you please check for the Chicago Academy(officially CPS Performance unofficially contract school).During my battle against closure of Orr I was able to pull different numbers from different sources(INSIDE the CPS!).AUSL advertised in the Union Teachers thanks to the intelligence of the combination of MS and JO) is the operating body.
Today I was told about 5 year contracts with their new staff.How about our Agreement?Waiver as a condition for employment?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Mayor Daley began Renaissance 2010 over three years ago to create 100 new schools (now 150 new schools) by 2010, replacing low-performing schools (i.e. general elementary and general high schools) with new educational options (charter schools) in underserved communities (south and west side of Chicago) and relieving school overcrowding in communities (southwest side of Chicago?) experiencing rapid growth!!!
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Do not believe the hype your are hearing about charter schools;They are dealing with the same type of students as regular public schools but are some how managing to hyde under psuedo stats that imply they are doing a better job. Most Teachers working in charters do not have cerificates or are seeking alternative certification. Would you let some one operate on you who does not have the appropriate medical certification? Classes are not smaller by any means and they are totally inept when having to establish curriculum for special needs students. I resent the fact that some of them promise that all of their enrolled students will have an opportunity to go to college. No one can garantee that. Some Parents buy into the hype because they do not want to face serious reality regarding their own negligence in establishing a conducive environment for their children to learn. Also, the concept that those teachers who work in charter schools work longer hours and are better teachers than regular public school teachers is a complete farce. Charter school teachers work longer hours because now they have no union to protect and fight for them and charter schools have become big corporate business with children becoming products on an assembly line rather than individual human beings.
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
More Charter Schools; Less Office of New Schools (ONS). ONS is the worst thing to happen to autonomy and charter schools. Time to end it. Say no to ONS. Greg Richmond, we miss you!!!
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Those are interesting stats. What's the name of the school, and I'll check it out and maybe put my children's names on the waitlist?
More Charters For CPS -- Why Not?
Sun Times
Dear retired Principal
Good job. I hope the Sun Times editorial board realizes that ,like the CTU, they have lost a tremendous amount of influence
over the last few years. More than one Chicago Public School Librarian has discussed the wisdom of buying a newspaper
that has become in reality a local paper. Some schools I know of are seriously discussing dumping the Times entirely in favor
of A Tribune, Defender combination, or just buying the Defender to start and relying on the Drudge Report for national
and international news. Look at the drudge report today and in three days the Times will run the same stories.