Cherokee to consider ambitious expansion of choice programs in its public schools
In response to a call for greater school choice in his county, Cherokee Superintendent Frank R. Petruzielo has proposed an ambitious academies model that would offer specialized programs in science, technology, fine arts and performance arts, as well as a rigorous IB academy.
These desirable new programs would be county-wide and require students to meet admissions criteria.
Here is a memo Petruzielo sent on the academy programs, which I think parents in Cherokee will find very appealing. In the case of the science, technology, engineering and math academy, Cherokee could tap its Race to the Top funds, which have the expansion of STEM programs as a stated goal.
In response to Board Member Mike Chapman’s request at the August 18 School Board meeting that staff develop a conceptual framework and ideas for increased school choice within the School District, I am proposing for the Board’s consideration establishment of a Cherokee Academies initiative – - a system of specialized educational programs to be offered countywide and/or regionally where classroom space is available within existing schools and where stand-alone programs designed to offer more educational opportunities for students would be provided in repurposed CCSD facilities.
CHEROKEE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) ACADEMIES
Concept: Consistent with the School District’s participation in Race To The Top (RTTT), STEM programs would be offered in 2012-13 first for Grades 3-5/ 6 at elementary schools in designated geographic regions and subsequently expanded to a designated middle school(s) and high school(s).
Enrollment: Enrollment would be by application and documented academic achievement; if needed, a lottery system would be used.
Special Features: Alternative scheduling and/or virtual and hybrid models (as subsequently developed for the Board’s consideration by the Ad-Hoc Committee recently established by the Superintendent for this purpose) may be necessary to meet program needs.
Staffing: Existing CCSD personnel, selected through an application process; with outside hiring for STEM courses, if needed. Teach21 technology training would be required/provided for all STEM teachers.
Curriculum: Examples of electives offered at STEM programs elsewhere include: 3D Model and Design, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Conceptual Drawing, Digital Design, Engineering Digital Systems, Engineering Mechanical Systems, Modern Languages, Robotics and Web Design.
Notes: Some RTTT professional development funds allotted to CCSD could be directed toward establishment of Cherokee STEM Academies; and Cherokee STEM Academies for Grades 9-12 would incorporate apprenticeships and/or internships in related Career Pathways, as well as Senior Project requirements.
CHEROKEE FINE ARTS ACADEMIES
Concept: Performing and visual fine arts programs would be offered in 2012/13 first for Grades 3-5/6 at elementary schools in designated geographic regions; and these would subsequently be expanded to include a designated middle school(s) and a Performing and Visual Arts High School… to be planned, developed and implemented in cooperation with Reinhardt University and the Falany Performing Arts Center, as envisioned in CCSD’s partnership with Reinhardt.
Enrollment: Enrollment would be by application, audition and/or portfolio; if needed, a lottery system would be used.
Special Features: Alternative scheduling and/or virtual and hybrid models may be necessary to meet program needs.
Staffing: Existing CCSD personnel, selected through an application process; with outside hiring for Fine Arts courses, if needed.
Curriculum: Examples of Fine Arts electives at programs elsewhere include: Dance, Instrumental Music, Literary Arts, Music History, Music Theory, Theatre, Visual Arts and Vocal Music.
CHEROKEE TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMY
Concept: In cooperation with Chattahoochee Technical College and local businesses and industries, a Cherokee Technical High School Academy for Grades 9-12 would be collaboratively planned and developed to open in the original Teasley MS facility with a potential start date of August 2014.
Enrollment: Enrollment would be by application; if needed, a lottery system would be used.
Special Features: Alternative scheduling and/or virtual and hybrid models may be necessary to meet program needs.
Staffing: Existing CCSD personnel, selected through an application process; with Technical College instructors and/or outside hiring for Technical courses, if needed.
Curriculum: Examples of electives offered through high school Technical programs elsewhere include: 3D Modeling and Analysis; Animation and 3D Design; Architectural Drawing and Design; Business Essentials; Carpentry; Computer Applications; Computer Programming; Computer Science; Construction; Drawing and Design; Electrical; Electrical/Electronic Systems and Design; Energy and Power Technology; Engine Performance Concepts; Engineering Applications, Engineering Concepts, Graphic Design and Production; Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Concepts; Masonry; Metals; Plumbing; Principles of Accounting; Research, Design and Project Management; Transportation & Logistics; Welding and Web Design.
Notes: Cherokee Technical High School Academy would incorporate apprenticeships and internships in related Career Pathways, as well as Senior Project requirements. The original Teasley Middle School facility would also serve as the North Campus of Polaris Evening School.
CHEROKEE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) ACADEMY
Concept: An IB Academy program would be offered to CCSD students in Grades 9-12 at a designated High School location; and a pre-IB program would be offered at a designated Middle School location.
Enrollment: Enrollment would be by application and testing; if needed, a lottery system would be used.
Special Features: Alternative scheduling and/or virtual and hybrid models may be necessary to meet program needs.
Staffing: Existing CCSD personnel, selected through an application process; with outside hiring for IB courses, if needed.
Curriculum: Examples of courses offered at IB programs elsewhere include: Language (English I and II, AP Language and AP Literature); Foreign Language (French, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish); Individuals and Societies (American Government/Economics, AP World History, AP American History, Geography, History of the Americas); Experimental Sciences (Biology/Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry and AP Physics); Mathematics and Computer Science (Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry/Analytic Geometry, AP Calculus and AP Statistics); The Arts (Art/Design I-IV, IB Music 9-12, IB Design Technology 11); and, Theory of Knowledge.
Notes: To earn an IB diploma, students are required to pass at least six IB exams and complete an Extended Essay (4,000 words) and Creativity, Action and Service hours (150 hours total: 50 hours of each). In addition to the prestigious IB diploma, the opportunity for students to earn college credit would be pursued.
Please be prepared to discuss District Strategic Plan incorporation of this conceptual framework and other ideas which School Board Members may have in this regard at the next (October 20, 2011) Superintendent/School Board Strategic Work Session.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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76 comments Add your comment
Eric
September 2nd, 2011
6:19 pm
It all sounds good. However, it’s unfortunately that technology has to be the centerpiece of the program. Aren’t people getting sick of technology?
Dekalbite
September 2nd, 2011
7:30 pm
Cherokee taxpayers should have a problem with any “lottery” system for a magnet school. Why should one child get to go to special school because they were “lucky” that their name was drawn while the equally capable student does not have those services. I don’t think educational opportunity should be left up to luck. DCSS has a lottery system for their high achiever program and it is seems very unfair that students get in because their name is drawn out of a hat. My child was one of those drawn out of the hat and attended the high achiever school. Meanwhile, many friends just as capable were not given this opportunity. I have very mixed emotions about those programs and stand alone schools. No matter what the administration says, they generally mean a higher per pupil cost, and that revenue must come from somewhere. Almost always it comes from the regular education classrooms.
If the magnet and choice programs can be done for exactly the same per pupil cost and all students who meet the standards are admitted, then I would say move ahead. But this has not proved the case in DeKalb. Maybe Cherokee will do it differently.
Dekalbite@Eric
September 2nd, 2011
8:23 pm
Technology is the lion’s share of high paying future jobs. Kids love it and it’s an extension of the way they learn.
Here’s a very funny video – it’s old but IMO – timeless:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAWR6hzZek&feature=youtube_gdata_player
John Konop
September 2nd, 2011
10:15 pm
Dr. Monica Henson,
…..The fact that Cherokee County Schools’ leadership is coming out with these options is testament to the power of school choice to spur innovation and improvement…….
In all due respect not true! I have been suggesting the solution for years and have had a very positive response from the board members as well as Dr.P. This blog has even posted the suggestion from one of the many essays I wrote over the years on the topic.
…..What can we do? First, Math 123 should be withdrawn and Georgia schools should return to the traditional math curriculum. Second, public high schools should link their curricula and graduation requirements with local universities, junior colleges and technical colleges to give kids a chance to pursue vocational training or advanced academics. Third, college-prep students should be eligible to have their course work coordinated with a university system. This would challenge Georgia’s top students and give them a leg-up when competing with kids from other states for college admissions.
Finally, we should increase the linkage between our schools and business communities by creating local all-star teams for math and science students based on criteria established and judged by the business community. This program could reward top students with scholarship money and truly celebrating their achievements…..
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2011/09/02/cherokee-to-consider-ambitious-expansion-of-choice-programs-in-its-public-schools/#comments
Remember, y'all
September 3rd, 2011
12:12 am
http://www.marietta-city.org/curriculum/programs/choice.php
http://www.marietta-city.org/curriculum/programs/magnet.php
http://www.marietta-city.org/curriculum/programs/ib.php
http://www.cobbk12.org/schools/magnet/
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/about/schoolchoice/
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/about/schoolchoice/magnet.html
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/about/schoolchoice/themeschools.html
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/about/schoolchoice/montessori.html
Remember, y'all
September 3rd, 2011
12:13 am
Remember, y’all, other systems have been doing this model for a while now:
http://www.marietta-city.org/curriculum/programs/choice.php
http://www.marietta-city.org/curriculum/programs/magnet.php
http://www.marietta-city.org/curriculum/programs/ib.php
http://www.cobbk12.org/schools/magnet/
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/about/schoolchoice/
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/about/schoolchoice/magnet.html
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/about/schoolchoice/themeschools.html
http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/about/schoolchoice/montessori.html
Remember, y'all
September 3rd, 2011
12:15 am
Filter?
Remember, y'all
September 3rd, 2011
12:16 am
Maureen?
Chris
September 3rd, 2011
11:46 am
As a parent with school-aged children residing in Cherokee County I will be following this closely. I like the idea but the devil is in the details.
Cobb Parent
September 3rd, 2011
12:02 pm
New Haven Ct uses a “magnet” school concept for its public schools. The city school system has about 44 schools and 20 magnet programs with over 7,000 students. They can only accept about half the students that apply for slots in the magnet schools. I don’t know if they are a good model, but they are a model that can at least be looked at for ideas and comparisons.
I can understand the concern about having enough room for all those who want to attend a school with a particular emphasis which seems to be a concern of some commenting. But, we can’t choose to have none of it because we can’t have enough of it. That is also not fair. These are good ideas coming out of Cherokee.
And, like some others who have posted here, I think the idea of magnet schools for the trades is outstanding. There are lots of kids who will be excellent plumbers, masons, electricians, metal workers, carpenters – and make a good living at it. We have needed this turn back to a broader range of training people for additional kinds of work that also needs to be done – instead of concentrating on the next batch of accountants, financial masterminds, or public relations gurus.
Dr. Monica Henson
September 3rd, 2011
12:49 pm
@ Really Amazed: the point that you are making is the same point I made (the choices proposed by CCSD are within the district). I am submitting that it was the opening of CCA that spurred CCSD to go ahead and move forward with the district choices.
@ John Konop: Thank you for clarifying that the improvements have been in the works prior to CCA’s opening. I still think that the competition provided by CCA moved the decision along faster for CCSD to start offering choices.
Dekalbite@Cobb Parent
September 3rd, 2011
3:30 pm
“I can understand the concern about having enough room for all those who want to attend a school with a particular emphasis which seems to be a concern of some commenting. But, we can’t choose to have none of it because we can’t have enough of it. That is also not fair. These are good ideas coming out of Cherokee.”
So don’t choose to have no “choice” programs. One way is to make the entrance requirements more selective. High achiever magnets might have the entrance scores raised, while other programs may need recommendations, auditions, interviews, essays written by students, etc. There are many ways to “attract” the students who are truly gifted and/or interested in high achievement academics, technology, engineering, math, science, performing arts, the trades, etc. It might require more planning and thought, but that is critical if you cannot serve everyone who wants a slot.
And ensuring that magnet seats do not cost appreciably more than regular education seats is of the UTMOST importance. That is one of the biggest bones of contention in DeKalb. The per pupil cost in DeKalb is all over the map. Some magnet programs cost $13,000 a student and some cost $8,000 a student although almost all cost more than regular education students. If the per pupil cost to serve a student with a special and compelling talent and/or interest is the same as serving a student who is content with the regular education program, then there should be very few qualified students not able to get services. For example, perhaps the cost can be held down and more truly qualified students served by placing a science magnet program in 3 existing facilities rather than building a stand alone school with the substantial admin, support and physical plant costs associated with such a plan. BOEs and in particular upper echelon administrators love to build these brand new facilities because they look so impressive, but they are very expensive in terms of overhead. Put your money in quality teachers and student selection. That is where success lies.
The worse thing you can do is have a lottery. That teaches students that luck is more important than merit and hard work. This is not a good philosophical foundation for a productive nation. A good education should not be the luck of the draw. With proper planning and an eye to selecting students who truly have a compelling interest in an educational area, special programs can accomplish much of what they purport to accomplish and qualified students will not be left out in the cold.
Entering the system soon
September 3rd, 2011
4:09 pm
fascinating, however they need to address how to continue with the elementary programs into the JR/high school years, or else it will be just a nice class but wasted in the long run if the kids dont continue learning in it so not sure what kind of current advance sciences there are if in the later years.
Just really GLAD Cherokee is applying more money to those students that can excel in these areas and providing those outlets to gain more education in those areas. I was a C student in HS and when I went to College, I became an A-B student (overall 3.3) becasue i was able to select the course I had an interest in and to help further in life with. lets be real the information taught is HS is useless (important only to those that teach it) just look at Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader. we dont use the information therefore we dont try to retain it.
John Konop
September 3rd, 2011
5:11 pm
Dr M,
….@ John Konop: Thank you for clarifying that the improvements have been in the works prior to CCA’s opening. I still think that the competition provided by CCA moved the decision along faster for CCSD to start offering choices…..
You may be right, but I do know from numerous conversations over the years with Dr P and some board members that they supported the concept. Cherokee has had tremendous success with gifted math students using the concept, ranked top 10 in the nation. The biggest issue has been heavy handed one size fit all mandates from the state like math 123, No Child Left behind……. I do think a combination of factors have helped the situation from Kathy Cox being replaced with someone who supports the above concept, combined with many in both parties realizing No Child Left Behind is a failed ill thought-out project.
Lovin It
September 3rd, 2011
8:00 pm
1. This is a much better approach for taxpayers than blindly giving tax money to a for profit corporation for no differential of educational offering. That’s not “choice”. It is “stupid”. Keep in mind that politicians get in office and gain power from large donations from corporations.
2. The academy model certainly has potential to help teens and their families adapt to our changing economy. We MUST have trained workers. We need workers that have technical college training too. (Isn’t that also college?) The proposal is ambitious and needs work on the specifics, but CCSD has consistantly shown the willingness to lead the pack and Dr P has the personality to make it happen.
3. Hopefully this will start the conversation on the right direction of how to improve our educational offerings by linkage to industry and colleges INSTEAD OF those with a political or cultural agenda driving the train. Yes, these folks have driven the train right off the tracks all over America!
4. This will involve parents and families in the educational process of their child from an early age. That is a winner.
N Ga Teacher
September 3rd, 2011
10:51 pm
Cherokee’s proposals are focused in the right direction. High schools in particular need to allow students to pursue their interests and strengths. I guarantee this will cut down dropout rates. However, one more step needs to be taken, and that is to relax the severe graduation requirements in the four core areas. For instance, a student who is seeking a career in acting and attends a fine arts academy would probably be better served by just 2 years of GPS math and science instead of 4, with vice versa for the STEM magnet kid.
Fred
September 4th, 2011
8:00 am
Remember, y’all, DeKalb has been doing this for years. Jim Cherry created DeKalb Community College (Georgia Perimeter College now but with a new name coming soon) with the vision that residents could attend school in DeKalb though junior college. Add the partnership with DeKalb Tech and DeKalb Early College Academy (DECA), students have more options that any other school district in GA for getting additional diplomas and certifications by the time they complete high school.
Unfortunately this is one of the great services provided for residents over the years that most still don’t seem to know about. It hasn’t been for a lack of trying.
Everyone must also acknowledge that lotteries exist because the demand for seats is greater than the supply. DeKalbite is right, you can change the entrance requirements to make the process more selective and objective. The reality about this method is it can create racial imbalances with the student populations that some might not want to deal with. This is unfortuante.
BTC
September 4th, 2011
3:59 pm
Okay, this is a good idea, and the other headline today in the AJC is a good idea about giving reading teachers more money —– BUT, who do I see to ask about paying me for the 10 furlough days that our system has had to take for the last THREE years?
Hello? Is anybody looking into that? Who do I ask to just pay me what my original contract said they would pay me?
Am I the only one who sees a problem here? If we can pay math, science, and reading teachers more, why not bring all teachers pay back up to what it should be without all the cuts? Is this going to happen anytime soon? Anybody out there know?
Douglas County
September 4th, 2011
4:07 pm
Has anyone on here heard about the Douglas County College and Career Institute in Douglasville? High school students from all the high schools in the county can take electives at CCI. It is a great program!
Johnny B Good
September 4th, 2011
7:41 pm
I love how all you conservative republicans in Cherokee will back the ideals of every tea bagger and right wing nut job out there unless it is about public education. When it comes to public K-12 education, suddenly the government knows how to run educational systems and parents, like sheep, follow along because to do anything different would destroy education as we know it. Time to wake up folks in Cherokee and elsewhere, school choice is good. What Cherokee County Schools is offering is only part of the answer. Having TRUE competition, like we see with Cherokee Charter Academy is the other critical part of the solution for a better educational environment.
John Konop
September 5th, 2011
9:29 am
Johnny B Good,
The problem with many on all sides is the debate about education becomes too much about my way or the highway. This is a letter I wrote about the issue that was in the local paper. We should embrace what is best from public, private, home, charter……..not tear it apart with winner take all approach.
THE LETTER:
I live in Cherokee county and have friends on both sides of this issue. And to give full disclosure my wife and I used private schools through 3rd grade for both of our kids. And we have one kid graduating next year from high school at Woodstock (public) and the other child is at Sixes (public) going into 5th grade.
Overall my wife and I are very pleased overall with the quality of education. Also my son did have Mrs. Chapman (board member wife) as a teacher in junior high and she is an excellent teacher.
With that said it does seem like this issue has gotten very personal and emotional on both sides. And I was asked about this issue by local representative what my overall take on the issue. And below is what I said.
I do think Charter schools can serve a great need for school districts. Yet the following should be considered before jumping in:
1) Since the charter school uses tax payer money no school should be allowed to spend a dime unless it has a proper bond or form of security in case it goes out of business. Otherwise the school could spend tax payers’ money and than dump the kids back into the system forcing us to pay twice and or create oversized classrooms.
2) The school should only get the true rate of revenue school taking into consideration the cost of special needs, ESL………..
3) The schools would best serve a community if it was designed to take on a very focused group of kids enhancing special needs ie math/science school, performing arts, vocational…………………
4) The school should have to submit a high level plan with tough audits to make sure they are meeting high standards to make sure this is not just way to make money off tax payers.
I realize many on both sides will not agree with my opinions like on many issues. But in any deal if both sides do not walk away thinking they did not get what they fully wanted, yet can live with deal, it is usually a very good compromise.
Tony
September 5th, 2011
10:44 am
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2011/08/16/lifestyle/features/american-schools-crisis.html
Here’s a good read for you on this Labor Day.
Time4change
September 6th, 2011
5:22 am
Great ideas during a time of few ideas in education! As a teacher, it is appealing to apply in Cherokee. Thank you for thinking outside the box. I hope other counties follow your model.
John Konop
September 6th, 2011
8:51 am
Tony,
You and I have debated this issue on this blog. Do you now support this concept?
Jerry Eads
September 6th, 2011
11:06 am
Of course, no one ever bothered to ponder Wainer’s words (the next piece on Get Schooled). What the EVIDENCE shows is that “choice” makes no difference whatsoever in improving schools. It DOES, of course, allow a few parents who care and have the resources to move their kids to another school – - so test pass rates (NOT SCORES) go up at the ‘choiced’ school and down at the departed school which is left with the kids with less or no parental support. AND, because we believe in test pass rates (which we confuse with scores) above all else as the holy grail of school judgement, OF COURSE we conclude (delusionally) that the ‘choiced’ school is “better” and we ‘proved’ that the departed school was ‘bad’ to begin with because its pass rates go down. And nothing changes about the quality of schooling. Rome burns.
SejonSD
September 9th, 2011
12:57 pm
Hmmm! Smells a little like election propoganda. Where were these concerns all this time and how convenient they are proposed so quickly now. The red tape has been cut with the scissors of hopes for re-election. Wake up people!!!!
I think it’s disgusting the way so many “adults” hope CCA fails. Again, we are teaching our children to wish the worst for those you disagree with instead of focusing on promoting the ideals you support. When will we learn? How many of you would ask the paramedic sent to save your life if they graduated from a charter school, IB program or some other specialty school. Let’s get some perspective people.