An Atlanta charter school closes. Short funds, students.
Atlanta’s Tech High is closing. The charter school enrolled 200 students in grades 9 though 12, according to the state DOE
One persistent problem with charter high schools nationwide is that teens want a larger social pool and wider opportunities than many start-up charters can provide.
And the students want the fun stuff, the Friday night football games, the dances, the homecoming parades. It is tough to offer the social and extracurricular extras in schools with 50 kids or fewer per grade level.
Tech High could not draw enough students, partly because of its forsaken location on Memorial Drive. (A father recently told me that he took his child to visit the school, but turned around in the parking lot after seeing the run-down facility)
Probably more disconcerting to many Atlanta parents, Tech High’s math and science scores were not dazzling. On the 2011 state End-of-Course Test, 69 percent of Tech High students failed Math I and Math II, 40 percent failed biology and 58 percent failed economics.
According to the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, 13 students from Tech High took a total of 15 Advanced Placement exams in 2011. Of those 15 AP tests, only one test earned a score of 3 or higher, the threshold for college credit — an AP success rate of 6.7 percent.
Compare Tech High to Atlanta’s 1,500-student Grady High School, which had much lower failure rates on the EOCT in math and science. At Grady, the rate of success of AP tests — tests with scores of 3 or higher — was 65 percent.
Having visited Tech High three times, including an evening award program for the 50 seniors, I can vouch that the school had an incredibly dedicated staff and a lot of enthusiasm. Apparently, that was not enough.
Here is the official release:
Atlanta’s Tech High, the successful 8-year-old math-, science- and technology-oriented charter high school in the Atlanta Public Schools system, is being forced to close its doors amid an unanticipated revenue cut of 16 percent, school Board Chair Kent Antley announced today.
“It is with great sadness and disappointment that the Governing Board has informed families of the unforeseen challenges this promising school has endured over the past 30 days,” Antley said.
“Our talented, dedicated faculty and staff and our parents and students, who have demonstrated unwavering commitment to academic success, now face an obstacle that is impossible to overcome.”
Tech High School opened its doors in 2004 in a renovated section of the SciTrek Science Museum on Piedmont Road next to the Atlanta Civic Center. There were high expectations for the school, which boasted a who’s who of supporters including the downtown business community, the high tech community, civic leaders and unanimous support from the Atlanta school board
“Like the vast majority of charter schools, Tech High has had to operate on a very tight budget,” Antley said. “Our school was especially sensitive to setting an example in demonstrating high accountability and transparency in our spending.”
The Governing Board had delayed implementing next year’s teacher contracts until it received funding projections from APS. But during the summer break the school was notified, after those contracts had been signed, that a combination of factors would reduce funding another $360,000.
“The state’s average funding per student is over $11,000,” Antley noted. “This school, which has overcome so much, simply cannot operate on revenues of $7,411 per student – and that does not include our capital costs. This is a tragic, saddening last financial blow from which we cannot recover.”
One reason for the massive funding cut is APS’ decision to allocate unfunded pension liabilities to charter schools. Tech High, along with several other charters, disagree with the legality of the APS decision. Other charters plan to wage a legal challenge but, “Unfortunately, our families and teachers can’t put their lives on hold to wait for the legal system to resolve this issue.”
The school was forced to move from the SciTrek facility after only one year when SciTrek closed its doors and the City of Atlanta would not continue the lease. The school is currently housed in a building built in 1922, which means ongoing and major maintenance expenses. That, along with the revenue cut, threatened to force a midyear closure and enormous disruption to many already at-risk students. “At all times, our faculty and staff’s greatest concern and commitment are for the best interests of our students.”
“We are enormously proud of the many accomplishments of Tech High and the numerous students we have helped over eight years,” Antley said. “It has been direct reflection of the dedication of our great teachers and leadership. We are heartbroken that we will not be able to continue to be a positive contributor to Atlanta Public Schools.”
Tech High had just announced a strategic partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia and Georgia Tech Research Institute focused on becoming a state and national model for teaching math, science and technology at the high school level. This partnership was going to combine a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum and problem-based learning with college and career pathway course offerings through Georgia’s technical college system.
Dr. Barbara Christmas, an experienced and respected educator, was Tech High’s first CEO. As with all charter schools, Tech High accepted all students. “We consistently had about one-third of our incoming ninth-grade students reading at the 4th or 5th grade level,” said Christmas. “Their math skills were similar.”
Both the percentage of minorities and low-income students at Tech High have been higher than the average for Atlanta Public Schools. Despite these challenges, Tech High showed an amazing ability to graduate a high percentage of their students. “What I’m most proud of is that not only did we graduate over 90% of our students, but nearly all of them went on to enroll in higher education or the military,” said Christmas
• Four Graduating Classes, averaging a 93 percent graduation rate among seniors
• 78 percent of the graduating class of 2011 were accepted to a two- or four-year college
• Over $1.8 million in scholarships offered to the 2011 graduating class of 40 students
• Some colleges Tech High alums attend: Georgia Tech, Emory, Morehouse, Spelman, Notre Dame, University of Chicago, Brandeis University, College of Wooster, North Carolina A&T, Clark Atlanta University, Georgia State University, and Tuskegee University
• Some Scholarships earned by Tech High Alums: Gates Millennium Scholarship, Posse Scholarship, HOPE Scholarship and Legacy Scholarship
• Tech High has achieved AYP five out of six years the school has been measured
• 2011 Academic Gold Award for Greatest Gains from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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78 comments Add your comment
living in an outdated ed system
July 6th, 2012
4:34 pm
@Maureen, I’m a bit surprised with your partial supportive, sympathetic view on Tech High. I have met Steve Walker, their CEO, and he is one very passionate individual. But a few years ago, I told him exactly what the problem was.
The problem was simple. You can’t survive when 80% or more of your funding is coming from one source: this source was, of course, APS. Despite what they may say or not say about this relationship with APS, the bottom line is that this is a clear example of why public charter schools cannot be run by local school boards. The secondary reason was, of course, the location of their school, but that was not the reason for their closing.
There are/were good people there, and they were still in “turnaround” mode, so obviously, their academic achievement was not yet where it needed to be. It is very sad that this school is closing.
Bernie
July 6th, 2012
4:43 pm
As time passes the successes of the Charter Program will only prove that Charter Schools are marginal at best, despite all of the false claims of it being a better way to educate our children.
Fred in DeKalb
July 6th, 2012
5:00 pm
Though the students did not demonstrate a significant difference in outcomes on the standardized tests, I’m sure they benefited from being in this environment. Unfortunately some want to only look at those scores as a measure of success or failure. We all know there are other factors that should be considered. Obviously students were learning and aspiring to continue their education by looking at some of the colleges and universities their graduates attended. It is good to see that over 90% had a plan for after high school. I wish we could see numbers like that at other schools. I do realize they had smaller class sizes, which probably meant greater attention from the faculty.
It’s really too bad that a change in the funding lead to the demise of the school. One can only hope that both the parents and students take their determination and spirit to other schools and then inspire their fellow students to want additional rigor in their instruction. Sometimes that can be the start of having higher expectations and hoping it becomes pervasive.
Another View
July 6th, 2012
6:29 pm
One down, hundreds more to go. Let us hope they all keep closing.
GwinnettParentz
July 6th, 2012
6:35 pm
Imagine how many competing public schools would likewise fail to “draw enough students” if parents were given freedom to choose.
Indie voter
July 6th, 2012
6:41 pm
@Another View so a 93% graduation rate vs. a 50% traditional APS graduation rate means that a school deserves to close for the simple fact that it is a charter?
Why must the charters pay for unfunded pensions when charter teachers are not a part of the pension system as they are not APS employees. Bureaucracy at its finest. THAT is the problem while Tech High was pinching pennies APS was in spend spend spend mode.
living in an outdated ed system
July 6th, 2012
7:08 pm
@Another View – what the heck is your problem? Those poor kids. I hope they file a lawsuit against APS!
William Casey
July 6th, 2012
7:51 pm
The graduation rate is impressive. However, the A.P. success rate of 6.7% is AWFUL. I taught A.P. American history for over 20 years and never had a success rate (score of 3 or higher) less than 70%.
Atlanta Mom
July 6th, 2012
7:52 pm
” On the 2011 state End-of-Course Test, 69 percent of Tech High students failed Math I and Math II, 40 percent failed biology and 58 percent failed economics.”
BUT, 78% of the graduating seniors went on to a 2 or 4 year college. This is why we waste so much money on HOPE. While I realize that this year’s graduating class did not take the 2011 EOCTs, I”m guessing that the pass rates were similar.
If you can’t pass an EOCT, you shouldn’t be going to college.
Atlanta Mom
July 6th, 2012
7:55 pm
Mr. Casey,
I imagine the vast majority of your students did not start HS at a 5th grade reading level. And, I would imagine, if that the reading level was at the fifth grade level, the writing level was no better.
GParents
July 6th, 2012
7:58 pm
Imagine how many traditional public schools would likewise fail to “draw enough students” if parents were given freedom to choose.
playing the system
July 6th, 2012
8:31 pm
This article would seem to point at the rampant grade inflation, EOCT tests not necessarily the be all and end all of a student’s education and a test score is just a snap shot. What is troubling is the incredibly low pass rates- not score but just passing the exams. It is also concerning that the grads went to such illustrious colleges but did not muster passing scores on AP scores if this year’s current results are any indication of previous classes. College applications are so incredibly competitive and how frustrating for the students who took the courses, passed the ap exams and did not get into the u of chicago or tech. There are thousands of disadvantaged students who pass a reasonable number of ap exams and there are even thousands who pass with exemplary scores. It makes you think of student who is 20th in their class from a highly competitive high school not getting the Hope and someone not able to pass an ap exam but being in the top 3 from this class. How fair is this?
The graduation pass rate is one thing but to have these students going to some pretty prestigious schools and on hope with so woeful an academic record seems ridiculous. It isn’t to say that they didn’t benefit from the exposure to the rigorous course level but in this highly competitive college application pool, it would seem that grade inflation was greater benefit.
Pay ATTENTION!!!
July 6th, 2012
9:10 pm
PAY ATTENTION. So APS trying to cover its “cheating scandal” expenses passes on to charter schools a MASSIVE reduction in funds to pay for a pension that their teachers cannot participate in? Do you really think that is fair?
Current HS Teacher
July 6th, 2012
9:25 pm
Seniors graduating this year (2012) were required to take all 8 state-mandated EOCT’s. They were able to exempt the subject (Math, ELA, SocStds Science) Graduation test if they had passed one of the EOCT’s in the subject area prior to the March 2011 GHSGT.
Overcrowded
July 6th, 2012
10:55 pm
So – where will these ~150 students go? There’s no room at Grady…..
Who will be left to teach our kids?
July 6th, 2012
11:01 pm
Anyone considering a career in teaching should definitely RE-CONSIDER such a decision. The lack of respect and callous disregard for teaching professionals across APS is absolutely shameful.
Former Math Teacher
July 6th, 2012
11:04 pm
I don’t know anything about this school, but I have a few comments related to the discussion here.
1) The College Board actively discourages using AP scores to evaluate or compare teachers, schools, or districts.
2) The EOCTs (at least for math) are not the basic skills test that the graduation test used to be. Take a look at the material, and see how many of the sample problems you can get:
http://archives.gadoe.org/DMGetDocument.aspx/GaEOCT%20Math%20II%20Study%20Guide.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F6C78645369D44A865949E6ACA7CEBFCB980BF3EC48B1C55A5&Type=D
Don’t get me wrong; I love doing this stuff. But, is this what we want to require for a high school diploma?
3) APS asking this school to return money (as I read in the ajc story: http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/budget-cut-charter-school-1473097.html) is the same thing that they did to many teachers this past year – ask them to pay back money they had already been contracted for due to no fault of their own.
Proud Teacher
July 6th, 2012
11:33 pm
Good. Now take the super ideas and the great resources and move these ideas into the public school where they should have been able to thrive all along. There is no reason to create a “separate but better” public school within a district. Better discipline and better student advocates would go a long way in improved the public schools. The public school money is for all of the district, not just a select group.
Bruce Kendall
July 6th, 2012
11:50 pm
A high Graduation Rate does not mean that the students were provided a high quality basic education.
After taking the time to look at their accomplishments, I wonder if the school was closer to a Diploma Factory?
Consider the data, with comments:
EOCT, Percent failed vs. % of correct answers needed to pass:
Math I 69% failed vs. passing score 50%
Math II 69% failed vs. passing score 43%
Biology 40% failed vs. passing score 47%
Economics 58% failed vs. passing score 50%
9th grade ELA 31% failed vs. passing score 54%
U.S. History 27% failed vs. passing score 54%
Physical Science 22% failed vs. passing score 43%
ACT average for graduating class 17.8 out of a possible 36 = 49 classroom grade
SAT average for graduating class for Verbal, Math and Writing 1304 out of a possible 2400 = 54 classroom grade
SAT average for graduating class for Verbal and Math 867 out of a possible 1600 = 54 classroom grade
Number of Students Taking AP Tests 13. Number of Tests Taken 15. Number of Test Scores 3 or Higher 1. Percentage of Test Scores 3 or Higher 6.7%.
HOPE Scholarship Eligibility: Number of 2011 Graduates 36. Number Eligible 17. Percent Eligible 47.2%.
Not a school Charter Activists would use as an example. However, the reality of their efforts does not mean that they were not doing the best that they knew how.
If you have a question about my comments ask, nekb at charter dot net.
I will post explanations here.
William Casey
July 7th, 2012
7:15 am
@Atlanta Mom: No, the vast majority of my students didn’t enter high school reading at the 5th grade level. I didn’t see that in the article about the students takng A.P. tests at this school either.
Chris Murphy
July 7th, 2012
8:26 am
Most of the kids at Tech came from very low income homes. That they came in so unprepared is a testament to APS’s methods & personnel; many came from schools named in the cheating scandal. This school is about 3 mi. west of Drew Charter, and served a similar demographic- but without any where close to the same resources. The building- an old elementary school from the ’30’s- was a dump, the basement condemned. Despite an impressive list of individuals on their Board, the school did not have great support, nor very effective management.
I found the kids to be uniformly nice. On a stretch of Memorial Dr. more known for jackasses and jerks, these kids in their uniforms – and behavior- stood out. I could never square their EOCT results with what the school was saying about itself, either- but, out of a class of say, 60, 55+ would take the SAT’s- and their avg. scores put them at 3rd in the city, after Grady & North ATL (and well above the much touted Carver Early College- there’s another APS school where the numbers don’t square). So, the school was doing some things right, and lord knows the kids and their families did not have much of a choice given APS schools in the area. We hope the ‘new’ Jackson HS will be more accommodating, offer a better chance for the kids in this area, and are working hard to help the staff there.
Atlanta
July 7th, 2012
9:01 am
Comparing Grady kids to Tech High kids is an odd comparison. Grady has a much more diverse student population, particularly in terms of income.
Also, let’s remember that funding has been cut for paying for the AP Exams for low income students, so fewer students are able to afford the tests.
Maureen Downey
July 7th, 2012
9:23 am
@Chris, When Tech was first planned, the backers told me they envisioned a science/math school in the mold of the noted tech/science/math high schools in New York and California. That never happened in part because middle class Atlanta parents weren’t sending their kids to the school. I am very impressed with the kids I met at Tech High, but I would leave there wondering if those kids wouldn’t have more opportunities at a larger school with a larger pool of bright, driven cohorts.
I also think that Tech High lacked the high school milieu that so many teens crave.
Maureen
Chris Murphy
July 7th, 2012
9:48 am
Yes, Maureen, the students that were of middle-class background- mainly sent by parents that had no access to Grady, and didn’t want to chance MH Jackson HS- the kids complained of a lack of football teams, small cohort, etc. But also, the admin. would promise their parents programs that never existed- so they waited for the middle class that wouldn’t come, for programs that would only start when they came- nuts.
Those kids would not have been exposed to a larger, driven cohort at their zoned HS- SE ATL has been a HS wasteland for decades. However, Jackson has a new principal, and although interim, his record has excited the staff- an abused staff that hasn’t had anything to be excited about previously. With middle-class parents now forced to stay in SE ATL- where previously school families moved out, the housing market precludes that- there will be new pressures but also new support for the local school. APS has already exhibited, ahem, ‘discomfort’ with demands parents here are making, and we have let them know we’ll be longer here than they are there.
Realistic Educator
July 7th, 2012
9:48 am
APS is scrimping wherever they can to pay for the overspending of the last decade or so. Of course the CRCT Cheating scandal did not help. The superintendent only sees marginal costs and marginal benefits. He’s trying to balance the budget like it or not. There are a number of schools that could absorb Tech High’s kids including Douglass which is getting back a maverick principal. It’s too bad that most of that dynamic teaching staff he had originally was transferred and/or just retired. Still, I believe the school is up for a major comeback especially with so much support from the community and alumni.
Tech High had a chance to join Douglass and did not act on it. The school is in a great location with easy access to the MARTA rail line and I-20/I-285.
As for pensions, APS teachers retired in droves. Can someone please explain why the superintendent has not reached out and thanked the retirees for their years of service. Afterall, their leaving helped him avoid a major RIFF. What a thankless school system. Even if they couldn’t afford the annual Retirees appreciation dinner they could have at least sent a letter. Pot luck would have been better than nothing.
Just because a Charter is a Charter does not mean it is a good school. And, it is my opinion that kids do need more than academics. Why else would home schoolers want their children involved in public school sports?
catlady
July 7th, 2012
9:48 am
Was Tech High run by a for-profit group?
Pam
July 7th, 2012
10:14 am
When Tech High first opened, I pretty much decided that my son, then in 3rd or 4th grade, would be enrolled when he reached high school. After he attended Atlanta Charter Middle School (I was a member of the founding board) he decided that he didn’t want to attend another small charter school. He said the physical plant was in disrepair, that the media center didn’t have enough books, and that he was generally disappointed in Tech High. He went on to North Atlanta High School where he earned an International Baccalaureate Diploma and is headed to Columbia Engineering next month. I am an APS middle school teacher and I’ve sent a few children to Tech High. They were good students, but not phenomenal students, and none were old enough to take the EOCT’s. Many of those tests are challenging for students. My son had a small tutoring business and his clients always wanted to see him more around EOCT and CRCT time. His clients came from North Atlanta, Grady, and home schooled students.
You get a HOPE scholarship if your grade point average is a 3.8 or above. That’s roughly a 93 or 94 average.
AP classes are Advanced Placement. That’s supposed to equate with freshman year in college. that does not automatically ensure that you will post a qualifying grade on the AP exam, even if you have a good teacher. It takes a special teacher, a lot of time willing students and parents who now how to help and have the resources to do so to overcome the chronic under education that was rampant during the Beverly Hall years. I’m sorry to see Tech High close. And on another note, all public education teachers in the state of Georgia are a part of the Teacher’s Retirement System, so the Tech High teachers paid into the system because they are a part of the system.
taco taco
July 7th, 2012
10:31 am
@Former Math teacher, Thank you for the link to the high school math requirements. I think the math is wonderful but for all students, I don’t think they will all need this level. I think the state has to create better math options for students who are not math savvy. What happened to auto mechanics in the high school? Teach the kids to put together an engine who are not going on to high academia. Identify the kids that can not write a check and teach them. These standards to me seem like a one size fits all approach. Sounds like the common core.
Atlanta Mom
July 7th, 2012
11:05 am
“When Tech was first planned, the backers told me they envisioned a science/math school in the mold of the noted tech/science/math high schools in New York and California.”
That’s interesting. I have math and science kids and attended two meetings when Tech High was getting started. It was never clear to me which “end” of technology the school was aiming for. I couldn’t tell if they wanted students who would install computers or students who would design/program computers.
Digger
July 7th, 2012
11:23 am
Plato and Socrates couldn’t teach today’s fat, lazy, dumb kids. They would be the first to leave the ‘profession’.
bootney farnsworth
July 7th, 2012
11:24 am
I have no issues with charter schools per se, but if they aren’t getting enough students and/or funding…its a luxury we can’t afford right now
bootney farnsworth
July 7th, 2012
11:41 am
I’ve said this over and over again, but the idiots who run public ed continue to ignore it: a California solution is not gonna work here. same with a yankee solution.
southern education requires southern solutions.
living in an outdated ed system
July 7th, 2012
1:29 pm
There will be lawsuits galore here. This is EXACTLY why local school boards can NOT run public charter schools. This will be a lightening rod issue that will ensure the amendment passes in November. Local public schools want public charters to fail, period It doesn’t matter if their graduation rates far exceed those in the traditional public schools.
Davis will have more egg on his face, and this issue is far from over. Also stress the point that local public schools have mismanaged funds and failed to change their system for decades. Such a shame that they take out their anger on public charter schools instead of looking inward at their own failures.
living in an outdated ed system
July 7th, 2012
1:31 pm
@Bootney – that is your problem. Your comments make no sense – you will continue to ignore the possibilities because you won’t open your mind to best practices and trying to leverage sound practices with local implementation.
living in an outdated ed system
July 7th, 2012
1:31 pm
Catlady – Tech High is a public charter -funded almost entirely by APS. It is not run by a for-profit group, to my knowledge.
Atlanta Mom
July 7th, 2012
1:32 pm
There is something odd about the AP information. The numbers above are from the summary information, but the detail shows only 1 test taken.
http://archives.gadoe.org/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=102&SchoolId=36255&T=1&FY=2011
Good Mother
July 7th, 2012
1:52 pm
To Realistic Educator:
You complain that the super didn’t spend money to give the APS retired teachers a retirement dinner paid for by taxpayers.
Realistic, I wish you’d be realistic.
Teachers who are not retired have furlough days — would you rather give at work teachers another furlough day so that retirees could get a free dinner?
Your priorities are shocking.
Good Mother
July 7th, 2012
1:56 pm
THe Proof is in the Pudding.
We won’t know whether Tech High was better than an alternative until we see what happens to the students.
I wish we could follow their progress thorugh graduation to see if they performed better or worse.
catlady
July 7th, 2012
3:36 pm
Living….: Thanks! I wondered if it was homemade or store-bought. I don’t trust those store-bought charters (for profit) at all! Can’t see that any “company” should make a profit off our kids (Yeah, I know it flies in the face of all those companies that Georgia “rewards” with contracts for CRCT printing, scoring, preparation, and all the “canned” programs that are forced on teachers and students!) Folks, when Jesus comes again he won’t be in a pre-packaged, script-driven, for-profit program! No matter what your CO and the state and national DOE say! Not even what Bill Gates or Michelle Rhee, or those other educational toadies say!
catlady
July 7th, 2012
3:40 pm
Sorry. Let me amend.
Folks, when Jesus comes again He won’t be in a pre-packaged, script-driven, for-profit program! No matter what your CO and the state and national DOE say! Not even what Bill Gates or Michelle Rhee, or those other educational toadies and dillettantes say!
The NEA isn't about education
July 7th, 2012
4:17 pm
From this week’s issue of The Economist, discussing charter schools …
“It is pretty clear now that giving schools independence (from unions and bureaucracy) works. Yet it remains politically difficult to implement.”
“Poor pupils, those in urban environments and English-language learners fare better in charters.”
“In America, artificial limits on the number of charter schools must be ended, and they must get the same funding as other schools.”
– GwinnettParentz (now censored by Maureen)
The NEA isn't about education
July 7th, 2012
4:38 pm
A link to the Economist article: http://www.economist.com/node/21558265
economist correction
July 7th, 2012
4:40 pm
The Economist article has been roundly criticized for not examining the documents fully, relying on limited research and presenting a skewed viewpoint. Just because it is in the Economist does not mean that the article is not biased. No mention of for profit virtual charters at all as well…..
The NEA isn't about education
July 7th, 2012
4:54 pm
@”correction”: Please state who is “roundly criticizing” The Economist’s conclusions, etc. — so we can draw conclusions about their own credibility.
economist correction
July 7th, 2012
5:02 pm
For instance, although the Economist article does point out some flaws in the charter school model as based on research. It ignores the financial shenanigans found in the Gulan based schools, the egregious current legislature for charters in New Orleans and relies heavily on the CRPE study. The CRPE meta analysis study comes from a think tank backed by pro charter/anti public schools with deep deep pockets. Gates Walton and others can buy a lot of influence.
One of the conclusions made in the article stated that poorly working charters can be easily shut down and in New York that is not the case nor in other areas of the country as well. Serious litigation over charter renewals has cost districts money for legal fees that should be added to the tally.
Unrestricted charters and rampant growth of charters undercut the develop and actual recharging of the public schools. Jackson could be the next success story akin to Grady if there is enough parental support.
economist correction
July 7th, 2012
5:06 pm
I would say that Diane Ravitch would be consider credible among others. Social economists and educational policy experts, educators as well and even regular old readers of the Economist itself.
economist correction
July 7th, 2012
5:07 pm
And just to be snarky, nice cherry picking of the quotes from the Economist article which they cherry picked research to write.
Shame on union shills like you
July 7th, 2012
5:19 pm
@”correction”: We’re still waiting to hear of any credible sources for your drive-by slander of The Economist article.
WHO exactly is “roundly” criticizing it? The unions and their lackeys? Give us actual LINKS to critical articles!
An Atlanta charter school closes. Short funds, students. | Atlanta Informer
July 7th, 2012
5:37 pm
[...] in grades 9 though 12, according to the state DOE One persistent problem with. Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) ← Budget cut, charter school to close Cancel [...]
economist correction
July 7th, 2012
6:07 pm
http://dianeravitch.net/2012/07/07/the-economist-loves-privatization/
economist correction
July 7th, 2012
6:10 pm
Shame on union shills- Georgia is a right to work state. Unions have no influence here unfortunately. The union and their lackeys ? as for drive by slander. The Economist has some pretty impressive financial ties to the educational testing behemoth Pearson who is doing wonders for the educational system across the country. No wonder they don’t do a particularly good job of editing their pieces- neither does Pearson on their exams. Pineapple gate anyone.
living in an outdated ed system
July 7th, 2012
6:17 pm
Diane Ravitch’s viees are poison for public education, because she is still living in an analog, industrial-age world, when the world around her is flat and powered by digital technology. Anyone who agrees with her viewpoints is not thinking about what is best for our children and how to educate them in a digital world.
Ed Johnson
July 7th, 2012
6:30 pm
Very telling that an “Effective Investment Solutions” site presents the Economist’s article…
http://www.myplaniq.com/articles/20120705-education-charting-a-better-course/
Adult Mess Trumps Kids' Success
July 7th, 2012
8:57 pm
A number of thought-provoking comments exist in this blog regarding Tech High School’s closing. However, there is not a large amount of focus on the public education, dependent children being damaged by nonperforming public school systems and education platforms. Tech High School and many other charter schools are a blessing to so many poor, inner city youth in our country and the world. Maureen makes some interesting points in trying to bring what she may consider balance to her article about the closing. However, I want to point out two things related to the test results’ comparison made between Tech High School and Grady. First, I agree with one commenter that Grady and Tech High School are not equal comparisons as Grady in many respects receives far more advanced and affluent students than Tech High School. Several children from influential attorney and political families that I know attend Grady. I would beat that Tech High School does not have a comparison background of students. When being balanced in making a comparison of student performance, let’s be fair to the children and do an “apples to apples” comparison. Of course my children from a $200k income, 2 parent involvement, 2nd generation plus higher education background (and their friends of similar or not similar background) will perform on benchmark tests well above that of your typical Tech High School student. Let’s look at the background and challenges of the typical Grady student versus the typical Tech High student. I can connect my Grady student contact to Ivy League graduates because she wants to go to an Ivy. Will a Tech High student have that privilege?
Secondly, research for years have argued that test scores are not always true predictions of the success of a student in higher education and the work-force and that certain “standardized” tests are biased against certain groups of the population. For starters, lower income students in certain environments often have less exposure to the basic concept of how to properly take a “standardized” exam under time pressure. I cannot in this comment get into all the drawbacks that certain segments of students encounter with benchmark tests. I will say that I am a testament that a “standardized” test did not predict my performance in higher education – a slightly above average test scorer and a 3.9 GPA from a top state higher education institution majoring in a tough quantitative field. Also, remember that top higher education schools look at the full package of the student especially in focusing on getting a comprehensive class.
I am passionate about thinking outside the box to make sure that ALL of our children are afforded the opportunity and environment in which to learn and excel so I can go on for hours with this comment. However, I will finish with one comment which I hope is very though provoking to the readers. Why must our youth continuously pay for the poor decision-making – intentional in some situations and unintentional in others (I hope) – of my generation and the generations before me? Putting a high quality education on the last prong of the importance ladder with underfunded pension bills and high severance payments and bonuses at higher levels is baffling or better yet disrespectful and unfair to the youth. People knew or should have known that parties in pensions were living longer and there would be a large group of retirees exiting the system around the same time. I talk to a large number of youth and can understand their frustration. Why do they have to keep paying for our POOR CHOICES?
Good Mother
July 7th, 2012
10:48 pm
Catlady, APS, Atlanta Public Schools is run for profit. It is illegal but that’s how they run it — within corruption and greed. So to say that charters are for-profit and public schools are non-profit is to say that you don’t know much about Atlanta Public Schools.
Atlanta Mom
July 7th, 2012
11:26 pm
Lets keep in mind here, no one closed this school, not APS, not the state. At the end of the day, the school could not draw enough students to exist. How many 200 student HS do we have in GA?
bootney farnsworth
July 8th, 2012
5:58 am
@ living/outdated
I’m not ususally this rude, but this is the stupidist, most moronic thing aimed my way in my time here. besides the fact you very probably don’t know me and have no basiss to make such a claim, the claim itself shows a profound lack of comprehension capability.
I’ve been in education a very long time. I’ve seen us try trendy “new things” time and time and time again, only to have them fall flat on their faces. usually leaving us worse off than before. and most often they’ve been the latest stupid trend out of California or New England.
to fix a problem, one must first understand the problem.
Fred in DeKalb
July 8th, 2012
7:36 am
Those running the DeKalb School Watch blog will make a once great and informative site irrelevant as they do not allow comments that conform with their way of thinking. It is one thing to censor comments or posters that consistently provide false or inflammatory information. To censor someone simply for having a different point of view because of unique insight is wrong. More and more posters are recognizing that as they correct several of the incorrect allegations made on this site, they are needlessly flamed.
While one can still find good information there, perhaps that site should make their intentions clear so others can determine if it is fair and balanced.
William Casey
July 8th, 2012
8:06 am
@Bootney: persevere. Though I don’t always agree with you, you always bring something to the table. BTW– whenever I hear “best practices,” I run the other way. LOL
atlmom
July 8th, 2012
11:29 am
I know that this was a long time ago, but I took a BC calculus AP class and exam. The teacher thought there were too many students in the class, so he made it extremely difficult.
I did not understand anything that was going on in that class that whole year. It was TOUGH.
(I went to a public school in a very wealthy area, many of my classmates went to ivy league schools).
I was THRILLED when I got a 2 on the AP exam – it meant I understood something!
The point? I have a master’s degree in Applied Mathematics. AP exams don’t always mean anything.
In fact, many colleges *don’t* give credit for a 3. They don’t necessarily give credit for a 5. Just sayin’.
bootney farnsworth
July 8th, 2012
11:37 am
@ William
I knew GPC was in worse trouble than we had been told when out of nowhere the political toadies (are there any other kind?) started spouting “best practices” in meetings, committees, and such.
to me its like when someone calls for thinking outside the box. its a sure sign they don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.
bootney farnsworth
July 8th, 2012
11:39 am
@ adult mess
like anything else in the republic, the ultimate power lies in the hands of the people.
as long as the voters continue to send back the same group of idiots, the kids are getting exactly what their parents are asking for.
catlady
July 8th, 2012
11:42 am
“Thinking outside the box”, “best practices”, “research-based instruction”, “all for the kids”–can anyone else add to the list of phrases that should make you run for the door?
Shame on union shills
July 8th, 2012
12:34 pm
@bootney: Kids/parents getting what they’re asking for? What planet are you posting from?
When parental choice is the norm, that will be true. Right now, it isn’t—except in a very few lucky states/districts where kids are on waiting lists desperately hoping to fill non-traditional school slots.
Perhaps the key point in the Tech High story is that the school was allowed to fail. How many public inner-city schools would be in the same situation if parents really had their say?
MB
July 8th, 2012
12:37 pm
What does “Four Graduating Classes, averaging a 93 percent graduation rate among seniors” mean? If it is that 93% of those who started their senior year there graduated, what was the grad rate as calculated for other high schools? (Just a bit of the apples v oranges potential there…)
The national exam statistics (AP, SAT, etc.) are confusing – wonder how students qualified for Tech, Chicago, and Emory with an average of only one or two AP courses (without passing scores) and those SAT or ACT scores?
How many students from Ron Clark chose Tech High, BTW?
Adult Mess Trumps Kids' Success
July 8th, 2012
1:11 pm
Wow bootney, when did the innocent kid become the scapegoat for the sins/problems/choices/issues of the parent(s) who may not make the best choices or are not in the majority to change things with the voting process. Some parents of affected kids are disengaged or absent (physically or emotionally). Thanks that the Warren court did not include Bootney when Brown v. Board of Education was decided.
Without the sarcasm, yes, some voters unfortunately make uninformed decisions. However, we must remember that in politics there are behind the scenes actions that don’t get fleshed out with transparency. Yes, parents have to have accountability, but so does society for the advancement of its next generation. They may be someone else’s kids, but they are still my/our responsibility – in one form or another. We can properly educate now or pay in less constructive and desirable forms later.
Sorry, but I have to log out of the blog for the day since I need to provide some value (if only a little) to society by helping a young person improve his/her knowledge base. Even though the parent of the kid may make choices that don’t reflect what I view as best, I still can help the kid to make better choices.
Freedom of Speech
July 8th, 2012
1:59 pm
Beware everyone. @Maureen does not release comments in a timely fashion, if at all.
Freedom of Speech
July 8th, 2012
2:01 pm
Why are you ripping @Living? Is @Bootney = @Maureen? Maybe @Bootney is afraid of change. What are you afraid of? Tech High had a 93% graduation rate and it’s closing, thanks to people like you. APS just doesn’t get it.
Freedom of Speech
July 8th, 2012
2:03 pm
@Bootney is still living in the world of slide rules and abacases. You will fight every new reform tooth and nail. You read too much of Diane Ravitch’s blog.
Freedom of Speech
July 8th, 2012
2:05 pm
@Bootney, I understand the problem perfectly, and @Living is spot on. You are just incapable of solving the problem.
Freedom of Speech
July 8th, 2012
2:24 pm
One more comment, @Bootney. You show a real unwillingness to change the system. When a school district closes a school that had a 93% graduation rate, there are BIG problems, period. You would be wise to stop following Diane Ravitch and start listening to the winds of change. Public education in Georgia is toxic right now, and if the constitutional amendment doesn’t pass, then we will continue to see the monopolies win. APS has an inept Superintendent and unqualified board, and so do many of the counties in Georgia. Some counties have a 40% graduation rate! And you applaud public charters when they shut down. You are thinking more about yourself and not these beautiful children who had a real chance, and now they go back “into the system” where they will be just another negative statistic.
Prof
July 8th, 2012
3:31 pm
@ Freedom of speech, 1:59 pm, and others who have commented on being held in moderation for awhile (as I was too the other day, for about 4 hours before being released)… As Maureen announced here last week, she’s on vacation for a week at her mother’s house without a computer, so can’t check the bloggers very fast. Given the cruel/ freaky/ libelous comments some post, I can see her reasoning.
Fact Check
July 8th, 2012
4:50 pm
The grad rate last year under the new calculation was 56% so those latching on to the 93% 4 year averaged rate might want to take a deep breath.
It is disturbing that a high school would receive students functioning academically at such a low level but high school teachers all over have been complaining about this for some time. Those complaints are usually dismissed as making excuses, low expectations etc. For some reason when a charter makes the statement it’s received differently. It shouldn’t be. It’s a travesty for the students no matter what kind of school they’re in.
Based on the release and news story, APS did not terminate the charter. The governing board made the financial decision that they could not continue to operate. The release said “one” of the reasons for the cut was a pension payment. News stories have referred to state benefit plan payments, lower property tax revenue than anticipated, and the pension payments. Reports also said the cut applied to all APS schools. So without more info, the facts leading to the decision are a bit unclear.
Freedom of Speech
July 8th, 2012
4:55 pm
@Prof, what is cruel is that we are cheating our children, because the system is broken. Once everyone works together collaboratively to reform a system for the 21st century, then maybe our children will be motivated to learn,because then we will be teaching them using delivery mechanisms that they use in their daily lives.
Tech High could be saved if they shifted to a “blended learning” model. Those schools operate at a fraction of the bloated $15K per pupil of APS. And I know, that includes special ed. Well, blended learning schools operate at about a third of what APS needs.
So sad that you will all continue to look to spin any data to suit your protectionist needs. And I can bet that the majority of the @Profs on here who are protectionist are not under age 35. It’s the digital immigrants that are ruining it for the children who need the help most.
living in an outdated ed system
July 8th, 2012
5:18 pm
Here’s some info for all of you, from a fellow blogger who knows the truth:
“What strikes me is the hostility that is now openly being shown by APS towards the Charter Schools is simply stunning – and the reasons provided are pure BS. Let’s look at the statements made by the APS spokesperson:
Caused by Lower Property Taxes – “two-thirds of the cutback [to Atlanta Tech High] was due to an unexpected drop in property tax revenue” – What cave has this spokesperson been living in? Property taxes are projected to drop 7.4% in FY13 as compared to FY12 – and this has been common knowledge since at least April of this year. Unexpected? Hardly. Two-thirds? BS!
APS Has to Cut Expenses – “Regular Atlanta schools are enduring the same cutbacks” – this is incredible miss-direction! Total revenues from Local and State sources for APS are only down 1.7% as compared to FY12. And yes, APS has to cut expenses – not because its revenues are down – but because it refused to rein in spending in prior years and has been operating with significant budget deficits. The $360,000 decrease in funding for the Charter School is comparable to an $87 million reduction in APS funding. Apples and oranges – or let’s just make up stuff on the fly that sounds good.
“Pension Liabilities Caused Some of the Shortfall” – Some or most? Given that their earlier statements related to revenue and expenses are flat-out wrong or misleading – my sense is the statement is provably false. And to top it off, it now appears that APS is going forward with charging the Charter Schools with the cost of the underfunded pensions. This is a complex issue, but suffice it to say that APS incurred over a $500 million liability as the result of prior Administrations not funding the pensions properly. Since FY06, the annual cost to correct this has been $36-43 million per year – a cost that will continue until 2025. How is this related to the funding of the current Charter Schools? It is not – but it serves as a convenient mechanism to try to kill them off!”
Atlanta Mom
July 9th, 2012
11:27 pm
Freedom of speech, you state : Tech High could be saved if they shifted to a “blended learning” model. Those schools operate at a fraction of the bloated $15K per pupil of APS
So, why didn’t they?
Jovan Miles
July 11th, 2012
8:03 am
Good morning all.
Tech High’s problems did not start because of APS. Tech High’s problems were related to their lack of ongoing fundraising (which explains why they were in that dilapidated building in the first place) and their inability to provide the kind of rigorous and unique academic programs that they claimed they would.
Charter schools receive minimal support from school districts. They are given lots of autonomy in exchange for measurable results. One of the benefits of that autonomy is that they can raise money from private sources. High schools in particular require tens of millions of dollars annually to be run successfully. The average dollar per pupil for high school students that is provided by the state DOE is also quite low when compared to elementary, middle school, and/or special needs students.
The whole notion of charter schools being competitive with traditional public schools requires charters to offer an option that is at least as good as the students’ home schools…if not better.
If you’re a high school student and your school doesn’t have (1) an adequate gyn, (2) a football team, (3) a large student body, (4) transportation, (5) fully functioning science labs (6) a fully stocked media center, (7) update technology resources, etc….then your school isn’t very competitive.
Addressing the old building…the charter school board/administration/management team are responsible for securing a building for the school. In order for charters to be approved by the sate and/or local school board then the proposed charter school founders must show that they have secured a location for their school. It’s like starting a business. The founders are responsible for securing a location. Local school boards have been known to provide some assistance in doing so but it isn’t their responsibility. APS did nothing wrong here.
Tech High was NOT run by the APS board of ed either. It was run by the Tech High Board. APS does, however run two district sponsored charter schools. Those two schools are The B.E.S.T. Academy and Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy.
Tech High’s closure is a sad but it isn’t because of some large conspiracy. The school simply could not do what it set out to do. That’s all. The founders and board agreed to certain things in exchange for their charter. They did not fulfill their part of the obligation/agreement.
And to whomever said that the teachers at Tech who paid into a pension but would not be able to draw money from the pension later is false. All educators in the state of Georgia, including charter school educators, MUST pay into the teacher’s retirement system…and as a result they will be able to receive benefits from the TRS when they retire.
A student
July 12th, 2012
11:23 pm
Tech High was on it’s way to becoming something better, it is the lack of funds that stopped us. Our buliding maybe haven’t look like much, but on the inside, we had the best teachers and they wanted see us to succeed. Yes, i missed out on not having a football team, but hey i have 4 years of college for that. This is my last year as a high school and i didn’t picture it to be like this;I was looking forward to spending it with my graduating class. Eventhough, my school is being close i will forever live by our motto Sucess is the only option