Latest charter-school fight shows Legislature must act in 2012
One of the nation’s best schools may have to pack up its chalkboards and lock its doors come June because of a fight that would appear to concern money. But the bottom-line problem with the Fulton County school board’s refusal Tuesday to grant an extension of the contract for the Fulton Science Academy isn’t really the acclaimed charter school’s bottom line.
It’s this: While adults argue about the length of the contract for one particular school, the worst schools throughout Georgia have perpetual contracts with scant chance of ever losing them due to poor performance, fiscal mismanagement, cheating scandals — you name it.
Like a lot of big school systems, Fulton has some schools that are stars, and others that are so pitiful, you’d be forgiven for thinking you can’t spell education without “dud.”
Four of Fulton’s 23 middle schools, including Fulton Science Academy, ranked in the top 10 statewide for standardized test scores, according to the Georgia Public Policy Foundation’s 2010 Report Card for Parents. But four others were on the wrong end of the spectrum, landing in the lower fifth of those same rankings. Two of them failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), determined by the federal No Child Left Behind law, four times since 2007.
The Fulton system as a whole has failed to make AYP each year since 2008. Unfortunately, it’s not alone: The Atlanta, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Paulding systems are in the same category.
Yet, there is no debate about shutting down the underperforming schools — one of which is even a charter school and should be easier to close. Instead, the only school that faces closure is Fulton Science Academy, which was designated this year as a national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Nor is there serious debate about shutting down any of the 44 Atlanta schools where teachers and principals were found to have cheated to make sure students passed the state’s standardized test. Ditto for Dougherty County in south Georgia, where just this week state investigators announced similar test cheating took place at 11 schools.
Last year, more than one in four schools in Georgia failed to meet the federal standard. The state’s reaction was to seek a waiver from No Child Left Behind. That could be a boon if it allows for more detailed and nuanced measurement of students’ progress and teachers’ effectiveness — or a farce if it merely leads to protecting schools and teachers that perform poorly.
Even if the state takes the high road, it’s unlikely any of the laggard schools will be closed to make way for better options for students. Compare that to the record for charter schools. The Center for Education Reform reports that, nationwide since 1992, about 15 percent of charter schools have been shut down, for a variety of reasons.
You will never see that kind of accountability among traditional public schools.
And, yes, charter schools are public schools: They’re publicly funded and are governed ultimately by public institutions. Which brings us to a point that will become very important in less than three weeks when the General Assembly reconvenes.
Ever since the Georgia Supreme Court’s decision last spring overturning the state’s strongest charter-schools law, there’s been much talk but few specifics about how the Legislature might set things right again.
The belief among many, including yours truly, is that a constitutional amendment is necessary if the state is to get back in the business of approving charter schools. However, almost as many people share the fear that it’s unrealistic to think two-thirds of legislators will sign onto such a measure. Both Speaker David Ralston and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, in separate interviews with me during the past few months, questioned the odds of success for a charter-schools constitutional amendment.
I have my doubts about the political feasibility, too. But there could be no better argument for choice measures than the cases of cheating in Atlanta and Dougherty County, and the recent school-board fights over charter contracts in Fulton and Gwinnett.
If not now, when?
– By Kyle Wingfield
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84 comments Add your comment
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
11:26 am
d @ 11:01: And yet, those overhead costs in Gwinnett don’t go down when you move to Rockdale…
Also, many of the overhead costs — i.e., those in the central office — don’t change if the child is going to a charter in the same county as before.
And I’d like to see some stats bearing out your claim that “it is often the students who are thriving in their current environment that leave,” because all the evidence I’ve ever seen suggests just the opposite. So does common sense: If you’re doing well at your current school, why go through the uprooting process of moving to another school?
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
11:27 am
@Dusty…”“run down” the leadership of Georgia”
Well they really don’t need my help, they do a great job all by themselves. However why don’t you give me your top 3 Leadership moments from the last ten years. My are:
Praying for rain on the Capital steps
Protecting the population from electronic chip implants
Sonny’s advice to the guy regarding the process for obtaining real estate tax breaks “first you have to get elected Governor”
@@
December 22nd, 2011
11:28 am
Government can’t abide competition. Makes ‘em look bad.
schnirt
carlosgvv
December 22nd, 2011
11:33 am
On the one hand, you have the powerful Christian right, who want charter schools that teach fundamentalist beliefs and tell their students that all science is just theory. On the other hand, you have the Fulton County school board, who know cheating is the only way most of their students will ever make passing grades. Ultra liberal vs ultra conservative. Who will win?
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
11:34 am
td @ 11:16: I’m not sure which examples you’re talking about, but generally speaking, charter schools tend to pop up close to traditional public schools that aren’t doing well.
I think you’re misrepresenting the case when you say charter-school advocates want to “take taxpayer money and use it to set up a private school.” You might be aware of one case where that was the talk, but I don’t think the broader experience with charters bears it out.
In any case, if you’ve been paying attention, you will have noticed that I advocate just about every form of school choice, including vouchers. I don’t think charter schools and vouchers are mutually exclusive options. They often fulfill different needs.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
11:36 am
carlosgvv @ 11:33: “charter schools that teach fundamentalist beliefs and tell their students that all science is just theory”
I defy you to find a single charter school that fits that sweeping description.
d
December 22nd, 2011
11:40 am
@Kyle – I think it’s the stigma more than anything. I will concede to your argument, because your response made me think of a conversation I had with a colleague from a middle school in DeKalb – they made AYP every year until they became a “receiving school.” Suddenly, they don’t until they no longer have those students. Once the transfer students left, the school made AYP again. Maybe the problem isn’t with the schools or the teachers, maybe the problem is somewhere else. Her point was that parents were “dumping” their children in the “new” school but not actively participating in the education at the new location.
Another point has been brought up in DeKalb BOE meetings in the last couple of months – the desire to have a second Theme Middle School to ease the burden at Champion Middle. Champion is one of few DeKalb Middles that have made AYP frequently – but there is a strict contract for attendance, and if the parents are not involved, the children are sent back to their home school.
Frankly, I never said – and will never say – that I am anti-Charter or anti-Choice. Frankly, I believe that all schools should have the ability to run the way that best suits their population. There is too much bureaucracy coming from the state (and since we choose to accept federal dollars, too many strings coming with that money as well). I’d be perfectly happy to tell the feds to keep their money and let Georgia run its schools the way Georgia needs to – and I’d be willing (personally) to pay more to Georgia to develop a quality educational system that meets the vastly varied needs of Georgia. All I ever say is please don’t use my tax dollars in a way that I don’t have a vote on how they are used. Do we want a charter-authorizing board? Fine, let’s make the seats elected positions.
td
December 22nd, 2011
11:43 am
carlosgvv
December 22nd, 2011
11:33 am
The Christian right has there schools or home school and have been pulling their children out of the secular school system for years. This is a fight between Ultra liberal majority districts and the enclaves of conservatives that can not take over the districts, can not or will not move to other counties, do not have or will not spend the money to put their children in true priate schools and want their children to receive a quality education.
Dusty
December 22nd, 2011
11:47 am
JDW,
Small minds make small-minded lists.
Praying for a desired effect is done by most people of all faiths, not just Christians. Perhaps that does not include you. No need to ridicule people of faith because you have none. Or do you only ridicule Republicans?
I’m not familiar with electonic chips for humans. Must have been a big issue. Vetinarians don’t have a problem with it. Did you want a microchip?
Well, the governor has a sense of humor. You don’t. If he meant that seriously about being a governor to get real estate he would not be announcing it to anyone.
Smile, fellow, smile even though most Democrats have not one thing to smile about these days.
jd
December 22nd, 2011
12:02 pm
The science academy and two other charter schools evidently negotiated a loan (almost $20 million) without getting the approval of the board. That is a serious matter — which required the board to act. Why is no one discussing a serious issue where taxpayer credit was obligated without elected officials ok? The legislature would go beserk if an agency did this.
Dusty
December 22nd, 2011
12:02 pm
Carlos…..sigh
I attend a church of a large protestant denomination. Not once have I ever heard anyone mention getting children out of a school ’cause the schools are teaching evolution, etc.etc.
You are tacking a sign of ignorance on all Christians (assuming they are all Rapublicans) for what you have heard about a tiny minority of Christian groups.
Why don’t you grow up and find out that all Repubs are not ONE BAD THING and all Democrats are not ONE GOOD THING.
Give it a try!
John Trainor
December 22nd, 2011
12:09 pm
@jd 12:02pm
The 3 FSA schools (elementary, middle, and high) got the approval of Fulton County Schools before the City of Alpharetta issued the bond. In fact, Fulton County Schools was involved in the process to ensure that they had no liability (which they don’t… they have zero liability according to the Fulton County School attorney at the 12/13/2011 working meeting).
BTW, until the Fulton County School Board vote on Tuesday, FSA had a “BBB” rating from Fitch on the bond. Now they have “BB-”. They hurt the taxpayers with that vote.
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
12:22 pm
@Dusty, I will take that to mean you can’t really find any highlights in the last 10 years.
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm
@John Trainor…so what are we missing here John. If the bonds have already been issued why did FSA not accept the 3 year Charter?
John Trainor
December 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm
@JDW 12:26pm
Up until the end, the FSA Governing Board was working with the FCBoE to get a solution that gave at least a 5 year. The 3 year charter is typically only issued to charter schools that are having problems. It impacts your ability to recruit teachers, plan, etc.
All Fulton County schools currently operating have a 5 year charter… except 1, Hapeville, which was given 10 due to a construction project similar to FSA’s (North Springs will have a 3 year charter next year).
If FSA were to open as a brand-new charter school, state law would have mandated 5 years. That minimum is there because it is hard to build something and maintain something with such a short horizon. As one of the parents said at the Board meeting, “No company sets up a business plan based on a 3 year life.”
Because Fulton County insisted that this was to sync up the schedules of the schools, FSA then asked for an 8 year charter. FSA sent an official note to change to 8 years on Friday of last week. There was some e-mail communication that FSA got from Fulton Schools *after the vote* on Tuesday that said they may go along with that, but FSA didn’t get it (they would have jumped on the compromise).
I, personally, don’t think the “3 year charter because of the bond” argument by Avossa holds water. The reason I say that is that North Springs originally submitted a 5 year charter to Fulton and then had to revise it down to 3, as well. They have no bond issue. I also have no proof that Fulton forced them to change it.
BTW, I’m not the Governing Board, so all of this is stuff I’ve dug into myself or gotten from public statements from the FSA Governing Board.
Where it stands right now, FSA is exercising its right under the State Board of Education rules regarding the charter petition process to amend its charter to fix the deficiencies noted by the Board. This means they go to 3 years with limited flexibility and clear all obstacles. They have indicated they wish have the matter reconsidered as the state of Georgia specifies is their right.
FCBoE has not yet indicated that they will follow the legal process. If they don’t, it points to retribution and probably opens them up to a lawsuit. A number of Fulton leaders have just chimed in to ask them to follow the legal procedure and end this sad story in a positive manner:
http://savefsa.com/news/2011/12/22/fulton-leaders-call-for-charter-renewal-by-fulton-county-sch.html
John
Dusty
December 22nd, 2011
12:54 pm
JDW
I was replying to your “small” list of “downers” on Georgia government, not listing anything else.
We have a stable government in Georgia, even with Democrats hollering about every single move. We have a governor who is ernestly trying to promote and improve our state. Perhaps if you were not so negative you could see it. But you are not even trying. Politics must run your life.
td
December 22nd, 2011
1:04 pm
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
11:34 am
I agree with you that choice is important but disagree that the charter school movement has a not taken a great deal of momentum away from the voucher movement. I truly believe that a great deal of energy is taken away from true school reform movement. I guess we shall agree to disagree on this issue my conservative brother in arms but that is what the free flow of information and debate is all about.
Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas.
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
1:06 pm
@John, thanks for the info. The bit about Sandy Springs is interesting. I understand your point about the planning horizon but in reality aren’t the odds of being extended after three years very large?
It does seem that some form of mediator would be helpful. It is obvious communication is poor between the parties.
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
1:11 pm
@Dusty…”We have a governor who is earnestly trying to promote and improve our state.”
Maybe, but I see no evidence of that. What I do see is a state that once was above the national average in key economic indicators having declined and continuing to do so.
We have real issues here that are barriers to growth such as:
-Water
-Transportation
-Education
-Sprawl
-Banking
Just to name a few that go unaddressed every year.
catlady
December 22nd, 2011
2:35 pm
JDW, don’t forget official corruption. Our Governor and his party know a lot about that.
Michael H. Smith
December 22nd, 2011
2:47 pm
the voucher movement?
As in letting the public education taxpayer money follow the student?
If that is the case then I may not agree because of what Kyle and I have already made clear several times previously. Even though funding agreeably would be better when directly put into the hands of the parent/student, the main theme of “choice” would not be so restricted as to defeat the purpose of choice so long as all qualifying schools were treated equally under the Superintend’s oversight.
The public system Superintendent&BoE will always have control via oversight of all schools e.g. public, charter or private within their respective jurisdictions unless that aspect is constitutionally amended, but I would be very afraid to try to remove the county Superintendent&BoE from control via oversight without very strong reasons. In any case, government control via oversight will be a given mandate because of the public’s money being involved and there is no way to get around that aspect without ending public funding of education. Which is where I’d draw the line in hardened concrete. Public funding of education(which is different from the sole funding of Public Schools education) can be called a great number of things but if the public funding is done correctly it will never be called a bad investment or upon the return thereof.
Michael H. Smith
December 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm
Yeah these Republicans in Georgia had over 100 years of the very best tutoring around from the CORRUPT DEMOCRATS!
catlady
December 22nd, 2011
2:56 pm
Ya gotta admit, Michael, that they were quick learners and have taken it to new “heights” of glory and self-enrichment!
atlmom
December 22nd, 2011
9:59 pm
but michael, where has it been shown that we are anywhere near doing an even decent job in educating our kids? no cities seem to be stellar in anything. there are a few good schools here and there, but it’s not due to a bd of ed doing a bang up job. the system is the problem. we’ve been tweaking it for 50 years, and well, we keep getting worse and worse in everything, it seems. our kids need more and more remedial work if they go to college, our high schools and colleges are not preparing our children fro the real world, and we are slipping further and further behind other countries.
so, tell me, how is the public ed. system actually WORKING?
Charterstarter, Too
December 23rd, 2011
1:06 am
@ JWD – on its face the financial claim FCSS makes is logical, but if you think about the numbers… 3 schools…1200ish kids, $10m per year revenue to cover an $18M bond…that’s a pittance to pay for a facility in the charter world. If they were able to secure a bond in this market, you can be darn sure it was because of a sound business plan. Besides, if the district was that concerned, they could have shared some SPLOST dollars…
@ Larry Major – Citizens don’t get a choice of whether or not their tax dollars get taken and funneled to a crappy, wasteful, bloated school district. Tell you what, let’s ponder turning the tables and asking the public to vote on whether or not they care to fund the local district based on fiscal stewardship and academic performance. If the public votes no, the let the district live solely on state funds.
John Trainor
December 23rd, 2011
6:57 am
@JDW 1:06pm
You are dead-on about the mediator. In fact, I recommended the exact, same thing to Avossa and Schultz. I didn’t get a peep from either one of them (still haven’t). In fact, Schultz is my elected Board member.
Back when I worked for Senator Paul Coverdell, we had a rule that all constituents would be answered, even if they didn’t like the answer.
From Schultz, I’ve gotten dead-air on this.
Here is the link to what I recommended. This would have saved this whole mess, but I think they just wanted to shut down the school:
http://savefsa.com/news/2011/12/20/dr-avossa-never-wanted-to-save-fsa.html
Morning Reads for Friday, December 23rd — Peach Pundit
December 23rd, 2011
7:10 am
[...] that the failure of the Fulton County school board to renew the charter of a successful school highlights the need to legislative action. – Speaking of Fulton Science, the aforementioned charter school, a plea from some legislators on [...]
lawrencevillelions.org » Morning Reads for Friday, December 23rd
December 23rd, 2011
8:18 am
[...] that the failure of the Fulton County school board to renew the charter of a successful school highlights the need to legislative action. – Speaking of Fulton Science, the aforementioned charter school, a plea from some legislators on [...]
FSA ms FSA Es parent
December 23rd, 2011
10:06 am
The FSA MS totally screwed this up.. Linda Scultz 1 year ago told an open session at the school that their renewal would be a problem. At that time she was the Charter Liason and she positively hated FSA.
While I blame the FSA Board for not kowtowing and accepting the only option available, I am furious that Linda Schulz and her employee Dr. Robert Avossa refuse to accept the option they prescribed.
Dr. Robert Avossa publicly stated he does not negotiate with parents. The FSA Board and the Fulton County Board have trashed the most effective school in Fulton. They all deserve to be shut out of the The Fulton County Educational system.
Support FSA
December 23rd, 2011
10:39 am
This is an example of “local control” (LBOE) being out of control. The list of local boards across this state which are incompetent, self serving, self righteous, and more concerned with the protction of the system as opposed to what is truly in the best interest of students is a disturbingly long list. I am sick and I hope the General Assembly, the Governor, and the public do what is necessary to fix this huge problem. Not much is at risk, only the proper education of our nation’s children.
Kelly
December 23rd, 2011
11:53 am
Mr. Wingfield, Thank you for covering this extremely important and hot issue! Please keep up the outstanding work. If we are to EVER change the failing education system in this state/country, we have to do it one school at a time. I fail to understand why there is ANY opposition to this. Charter schools are a way to introduce alternative ways of educating our children. Why so much fear?
You hit this one way out of the park!
Fulton School Board Rejects Compromise With Fulton Science Academy — Peach Pundit
December 23rd, 2011
2:16 pm
[...] Kyle Wingfield is right. This episode demonstrates Legislative action is needed. It’s this: While adults argue about the length of the contract for one particular school, the worst schools throughout Georgia have perpetual contracts with scant chance of ever losing them due to poor performance, fiscal mismanagement, cheating scandals — you name it. [...]
FSADad
December 24th, 2011
10:59 am
Kyle – As an FSA parent, I’ve been at a complete loss in understanding the FCBOE’s decision. Across all categories, FSA has consistently outperformed other Fulton County middle schools – for a fraction of the budget of other schools. For those of you that don’t know much about this school, it was built in an old warehouse! So, I’ve concluded that the FCBOE clowns have been shamed by FSA’s results, and instead of trying to figure out how to duplicate FSA’s success model, it’s easier to close it. And for those of you on this message board that have implied that FSA focuses on testing, not teaching – well you too are misinformed. Or maybe your are ashamed over your kids’ poor school performance. Break this situation down to its simplest form: This school was closed by shamed, inept board members that care more about power and control than they do schooling. The FCBOE’s tagline is: “Where Students Come First”. Really?… REALLY? Let’s improve all Fulton kids’ educations by electing school board members that truly care about our kids. First step to fixing this problem is to vote all the current FCBOE clowns out of office.
Ravi Prakash
December 27th, 2011
8:37 am
Education and Merit are universal values and irrespective of one’s background, one should be able to appreciate its value to the society at large.
As a nation, state, and county, we do not necessarily lack the means to make the required change, we “lack of integrity”. It is amazing to see that Fulton Country School Board (FCSB) members first and foremost task is to uphold the pledge they so proudly paste all over their own property-”where students come first”.
Well, the students at FSA know now, they do not come first. In today’s America, you cannot come first if you work hard and smart. FCSB decision of denying FSA’s charter confirms the fact that Georgia, in general, does not care for “education with merit”.
Adults are failing our kids all across the nation with Health, Fitness, Nutrition, and Education…all of this speaks directly to ongoing ability to provide national security, ability to compete, ability to withstand tough time, ability to provide opportunities for generations to come, and eventually “our values”.
At the end of the day, we are defending the values. These hard working FSA community members value education, merit, diversity, etc. They proved it time and again in the 10 years that they won their place fair and square, and now those values need to be defended. If the FCSB does share these values, then let us replace them so we can serve not just the FSA school community but all students across Georgia by demanding more of them and their teachers and parents. We cannot let this kind of board decide our nations future.
For many who may not know, several parents who send their kids to FSA had to give up or planning to give up their jobs, to support their kids future. Most of their kids went to other public school in the area that do a miserable to ok job of preparing kids for the future. Hence, before judging these FSA community, come see how much they invest in their kids and school activities.
Irrespective of schools, we need not have to become a society where one has to fight to defend merit. Our goal has to be to provide top-notch education for all kids, at all levels.
If FSA charter decision is not reversed, many will be forced to take their kids to underperforming school or move out of Georgia. Georgia is at the bottom out of 50 states in education. Our state and local leaders have shown very little to demonstrate that they care or have the backbone to make tough decision.
Let me see, if tomorrow we want another football or basketball team, it is funny we always find money for it or when was the last time, one saw any school across the nation celebrate “educational achievements” of their students vs the football or basketball or other sports team? Do not get me wrong, I love sports but for majority of us, sports does not pay our bills. It is sound education and common sense. We as a state and nation have a choice, otherwise our best and brightest will also migrate to places that values these traits.