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
ragnar danneskjold
December 22nd, 2011
5:52 am
Fulton Science Academy is the best local evidence of the general incompetence of political entities (ObamaCare, and its ripple effects on unemployment, is the best national example of course.) FSA is a star, a quality organization, and in the more rational private sector would draw more funding and would be expanding its mission. In the political world, driven by nothing more rational than elected and – even worse – appointed overlords and their need to prove their power, it is merely another tool of control.
Bob
December 22nd, 2011
6:19 am
no surprise out of gov. Pour money into the losers and the hell with the rest
d
December 22nd, 2011
6:25 am
@Kyle, any time people throw out the failure to make AYP argument, they continue to show their ignorance. Without the state waiver, 100% of schools will fail to make AYP in 2014. NCLB requires that 100% of students be on grade level by 2014. It just can’t happen. One group of children can cause an entire school to “fail” AYP, so instead of focusing on the needs of that one group, students who don’t need it receive support in the form of transfers and supplemental services. The answer isn’t taking the power away from voting taxpayers as the state did with the charter board. Is there a problem with education in Georgia? Absolutely, but I would argue it is in the fact that the General Assembly does not trust the professionals (who do have to have actual training in their jobs) in the classrooms to actually make the decisions about what is best for the children of Georgia. Just because you can get yourself elected to the General Assembly does not mean you have a clue on how to fix Georgia’s schools – or worse yet, just because the Governor owes you a favor and puts you on the state Board of Education. I don’t know the particulars behind the decision in Fulton, but if I lived in Fulton and what the proponents of FSA are saying is true, I’d launch a massive overhaul of the Board of Education – and leave that decision to the voters in Fulton County. If they don’t make the necessary changes through the ballot box, then they obviously support the action of the FCBOE.
Jason
December 22nd, 2011
6:29 am
Isn’t the problem with this charter school that they demanded to be given a decade long charter while the county wants to give them a three year charter and then renewable five year charters after that? Quite a bit can change in just three years so I can’t say I’d be comfortable with giving the school at ten year charter. As far as I can tell, FSA has pretty much decided to put themselves out of business. Take the three year charter that is being offered and FSA can remain open.
Alex
December 22nd, 2011
6:35 am
I got a grand idea for the 2012 Legislature, pass school choice. Those that perform well will have more students attending and will get more money, those that are under performing, parents will pull their kids from.
MiltonMan
December 22nd, 2011
6:38 am
The best schools in Fulton = North Fulton where very, very few liberals are found. The worse schools in fulton = south fulton where you cannot walk without tripping over a lib. Good luck trying to close schools there. The libs will come after you.
Whenever Milton County breaks away, Fulton schools will really be labeled crappy.
MiltonMan
December 22nd, 2011
6:42 am
Let’s keep dumbing down residents in Fulton County by closing down well performing schools like FSA.
The libs need a reliable voting bloc like APS educated minions.
d
December 22nd, 2011
6:47 am
@Alex – we already have school choice. If you want a different option for your child, you work hard, you sacrifice, and you pay for it. You do not ask the government for a handout to pay for your choice.
Will
December 22nd, 2011
6:59 am
The only problem I have with Charter Schools (other than the miuse of the rules in order to create some “segregation schools”) is the insistence of advocates to compare results with regular public schools.
One of the major selling points of a Charter School is getting the waiver from public school requirements by the state (by the way, if state rules relating to public schools are so bad, why not eliminate these terrible requirements rather than create another category of government schools?).
If Charter Schools have these state rules waived, how can you honestly compare results to schools who must abide by these rules?
Let’s use this example: Let’ say before the Braves play the Mets next year, the Braves receive “Charter” status from MLB and the rules of major league baseball are waived.. The Mets go out in order in the top of the first and the Braves play as long as they want in the bottom of the first (no limit on strikes, outs, etc). “Charter” proponents then proclaim the Braves the better of the two teams based on the results of the first inning!!!!!
Liberal Mike
December 22nd, 2011
7:01 am
Let me se here Kyle, you want local control until you don’t like local control then you want state control. I would guess if you don’t like state control you want federal control, but only if it is republican control like no child left behind (worst school program ever conceived e.g. all law, no way to pay for it. Teach the test instead of educate). Liberals actually believe in educating not test teaching. The great thing about being a liberal is you can think for yourself. Poor conservative is told what to think and if he disagrees, he is cast out.
JohnnyReb
December 22nd, 2011
7:02 am
This may be the fault of the school, or it may be the fault of the government. The larger point is, why always Fulton? Years of one stupid thing after another has produced new towns within the county so as to shed themselves of Fulton (as much as possible). Now Milton. Fulton government needs an enema that completely washes out all but the novices. If the citizens there are tired of this kind of thing, try voting Repbulican. Until they do, they can wallow in the mess as it won’t change. And, until they do, there will continue to be two Georgias. The rest of the state wants no or as little to do with them as possible.
Aquagirl
December 22nd, 2011
7:04 am
If you want a different option for your child, you work hard, you sacrifice, and you pay for it. You do not ask the government for a handout to pay for your choice.
Why do cons whine about WIC and Peachcare for kids, then turn around and demand a handout for their own pet peeve? What is the difference between WIC and school vouchers? You are responsible for feeding, housing, and educating your child. If you have children you can’t afford, taxpayers will help you out. We’re a generous nation.
Remember: it’s only welfare if it’s for somebody else.
Larry Major
December 22nd, 2011
7:08 am
Any charter petitioner who is denied by the local BOE can still be approved by the state as a Special Charter School. This gives them the same state funding as any other public school.
As soon as their petition is approved by the state, the petitioner can request a local referendum and local taxpayers make the decision concerning local funding. If local voters approve, the charter school will open with the same local funding as all public schools in that system.
The only reason to change the current setup would be for the purpose of taking money away from local taxpayers to fund something the majority of taxpayers do not support.
d
December 22nd, 2011
7:10 am
Just to put numbers to my previous argument – The typical number people offer for vouchers is $5,000 per child. Three children and you’re looking at a handout of $15,000 per year. Not bad when you only pay (in my case) approximately $1,600 in school taxes a year.
Jefferson
December 22nd, 2011
7:23 am
Fulton county will just continue to raise taxes on those in N. Fulton for S Fulton needs, Milton Co is not going to happen. You can always move to Gwinette if you don’t like it. The state if failing in their obligations and you folks just reelect them.
#Occupy my desk...
December 22nd, 2011
7:32 am
Yes, time for Republicans to come in and clean this up. If Detroit, Chicago, Oakland, Philadelphia and now Atlanta have taught us anything, it is that Democrats left to their own devices will ultimately wind up drowning in debt, fraud, crime and poverty. Sorry, the farther left we go, the closer we circle the drain. My parents didn’t have these problems.
#Occupy my desk...
December 22nd, 2011
7:34 am
Liberal Mike – see my comments – have you no shame that your party can’t run something as simple as a school system? Cheating, fraud and it is still the worst school system in the country! Even when you cheat you fail! Keep voting Democrat!
John Trainor
December 22nd, 2011
8:13 am
The school continually tried to work with the staff of Fulton County Schools get a resolution. Fulton staff would simply restate their position (if they met at all). I think the county sensed that they have all of the power and really didn’t care about what the impact would be on the kids (I have two boys at the school and one that graduated from there last year).
As of yesterday, School Board President Linda Schultz said in an e-mail to the FSA Governing Board as they try to reach a compromise “The Board now considers this matter to be closed.”
Of course, she is ignoring the State Board of Education rule that FSA has a right to a direct appeal via the section governing this situation: “If a local board denies a petition, the petitioner shall not be precluded from submitting a revised petition to the local board that addresses the deficiencies cited in the denial”.
Why is Fulton County ignoring the rules of how this process should work? They truly want to shut down the school, regardless of what Avossa says. Unfortunately, FSA naively played right into their hands. It’s pure politics, power, and money and has nothing to do with education.
This gives the School Board and FSA an ability to solve this impasse (I’m sure FSA would take 3 years at this point now that they know that the Board cares nothing about the kids, but they do).
I have more details on my site to save the school at http://SaveFSA.com
GT
December 22nd, 2011
8:14 am
The school system is a glorified baby sitting exercise. We need schools that not only are academic but are building character. How do you do this when you are cheating as a administration? I think in a lot of these schools and organization in this part of the country character is what they learn on a superficial television show. Their definition of character has been watered down so far relates to street cred more than the real definition. It is not just the students that are sub par, it is the faculty that teach them. The ultimate end results is no corporation wants to turn their future over to weak character. Unemployment and poverty results from this factory of fools. Also a strong Republican Party.
td
December 22nd, 2011
9:07 am
I am a hard core conservative and I think this whole charter school system is against the conservative movement. The tax payers should not pay for quasi private schools. If a parent wants to send their children to private school then pay for it and send them. Charter schools is the lazy way out of doing the hard work and making the local school systems work for all students. Parents that want there school systems to be better then they need to go out and elect the right people for the legislature and the local school boards that will show enforce real accountability on the schools and demand real accountability of parents.
Junior Samples
December 22nd, 2011
9:15 am
FSA denied the Board’s three year extension, demanding a 10 year deal. If that’s not good enough, FSA can go private.
Isn’t that what this is all about? You want to send your kids to private school, but want the government to pay for part of it.
Admit it.
clyde
December 22nd, 2011
9:16 am
It’s a simple formula;throw out the best and the rest don’t look so bad.
Michael H. Smith
December 22nd, 2011
9:19 am
Kyle, I guess it is necessary to endure this process, if only to use more diplomatic words for the sake of appearing non-combative, although, you and those of us in agreement with you on this issue all know exactly what is going on and what the real issue of anti-charter school public education is about: It is not out of concern for the children’s welfare or educating the child for those who oppose equal public funding of charter and or private schools. Which, as you have CORRECTLY pointed out, these charter or private schools do remain under the oversight of the public school system’s Superintendent.
The government school education monopoly is strictly about MONEY, POWER AND POLITICS, which the Democrats want to continue to control in collusion with the teacher’s unions that contribute heavily to the election campaigns of Democrats.
I wish anyone that hasn’t followed this corrupt government public school education monopoly issue/scheme fervently could have listened to Eric Erickson yesterday morning on WSB-FM to have heard this same statement made in greater detail, along with a few real good caller comments.
Jay
December 22nd, 2011
9:33 am
Blaming liberals or making a pitch to become Republican is as effective as worrying about a math test.
I’m what my friends and family refer to as a very conservative, Christian Republican and the FCBOE got this completely wrong. FSA delivers high quality education with less funds than other public schools in the area. If they become a state charter they will receive even fewer dollars. The waivers that they take advantage of are of the same type of changes i’d like to see in our public schools. Math teachers that were engineers. Music teachers that are musicians teaching a real appreciation for music. Two very different and challenging foreign languages being taught to advanced students which help develop not only better language skills but better analytic skills. Many of the teachers are certified, a few with masters degrees–some are not certified. All of this at a lower cost to the tax payer. Sounds like real fiscal responsibility to me.
John T’s comments above are correct. The FSA administration naively believed that they were dealing with a BOE that was genuinely interested in the welfare of our children. The BOE end game was to shutdown the FSA school. I’ve read the FSA charter petition and it appears they were asking for the 10 year then 8 year charter so that they could secure a line of credit to build a facility which would accommodate every family that wanted to attend–apparently 500 students are left on a waiting list every year. FCSS has approved 10 year charters, in fact they approved the Hapeville school for 10 years so that they could obtain construction funding — very much like FSA. It’s odd that Hapeville gets a 10 year charter but FSA doesn’t, especially when FSA scores are so much better. By denying the 10 year term it undermines the ability to secure the loan and stall FSA’s growth trajectory. Well played strategy by the BOE.
The FCSS assertion that the 10 year renewal is needed for oversight just doesn’t hold water for another reason. All start up charters are subject to annual review and the charter can be revoked at any time if warranted. Many of us that have run business understand the context of this type of audit. Based on the facts, FSA seems to be willing and in compliance. Again the BOE got this wrong but it makes for a nice sound bite on the evening news.
Regarding Kyle’s comments, you are correct as well. The FCSS isn’t doing anything about poor performers. It’s easy to rally against a small group of immigrant educators organised and to committed to teaching math and science. The hard work won’t get done–well b/c it’s hard. 2, 3 5 years from now we’ll look back and I’m sure we’ll see that much is the same with poor performers while FCSS sells small incremental successes as big wins. What FCSS needs to understand is that they will never be responsible for innovation–I think they read too much of their own press. This school system is too large to implement real innovation which only takes place when teachers, parents and students work together. The overhead that FCSS brings will only burden the process. Successful businesses learned this years ago. Apparently central government authorities still haven’t.
If we are going to affect any change we need the legislature to look a range of options; tax credits to private schools, vouchers, charters that are funded with state and local dollars that follow the student.
I believe that the FCBOE is hoping the average person on the street will be disinterested b/c it isn’t their child. We all have children in this system–or in my case grandchildren. The FCSS is starting the largest charter in the state and certainly don’t want a start up chart to continue to outperform this new charter system. If FCBOE runs over a high performer like FSA, what will they do to your school next? If you are interested and concerned about education for our children, now is not the time to be complacent. I’m surprised the BOE doesn’t understand that this new grand plan is more than likely due to fail due to over management and lack of open collaborative leadership. This translates into more tax dollars wasted and children without a quality education.
Liberal Teacher
December 22nd, 2011
9:42 am
I think being in the classroom dramatically changes your opinions of schools. As a teacher, I spend a majority of my time making sure that your children have the best education possible. I have done my student teaching at a traditional North Fulton School and it was a great opportunity but it was extremely confiding. I now work at Fulton Science Academy. I understand that many of you have read reports and seen news documentaries but you have never seen my classroom? The “rules” that you speak of that we “break” here is choosing the BEST curriculum for our students. We spend our time after school tutoring our students that have huge educational gaps. When not tutoring, we have enriching clubs and academic teams.There is not run to the door that you see at most schools. Teachers are here until 5pm or until 6pm. Come to our school on a Saturday, it is packed. I chose to get my MAT in Middle Grades Math and Science because this is when students start hating school. Did you see all of the picture and all of the signs on the plethora of news channels? Our students love FSA. Kids love Middle School…how amazing is that! Yet unfortunately other middle school students are joining gangs, skipping school and dare I say it trying illegal drugs. At FSA we are prescribing an amazing education that should be a model for South and North Fulton. Let’s not focus on the negative past, let’s make our GA schools great! I am not a politician and I am just a student who fell in love with education who is trying to make a difference in my students lives. Working at FSA is not just a job, it is a passion come to life. Whether you are liberal or conservative, great schools should exist in GA. How are you doing your part making schools great?
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
10:06 am
@Kyle, I have not been following this particularly closely but several questions come to mind.
1. It seems to me that the Board did not vote to shut the school only to bring their review cycle into sync with other Charter Schools.
2. The vote was 7-0, while I don’t know the party affiliation of The Board, looking at the districts it is inconceivable that they are all Democrats. In fact its pretty damn likely that there is a Republican majority.
3. As always, lots of blaming Democrats but as I remember No Child Left Behind is a Republican fiasco.
Tom da bomb
December 22nd, 2011
10:12 am
Kyle, my friend, you are misstating the facts here for the sake of advancing your argument. The Fulton County school system offered the charter school a three-year extension on the contract. All the charter school had to do was say yes and they would be able to continue operating as they do now.
For reasons I don’t pretend to understand, the charter school people are insisting on a long-term contract and won’t accept the three-year offer. Why are they playing hardball? If educating kids is really their objective, as they claim, then why not simply accept the three-year extension, which seems quite reasonable to me, and continue to operate as they are now doing?
The Fulton school system has taken no action to shut down the charter school. The charter school officials are refusing to accept a very reasonable offer to extend their contract. That’s the question you should be asking here.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:14 am
@Jason and JDW: My understanding is that the Fulton board has granted a 10-year contract to another charter school in the past, and that three years is an abnormal length for a charter contract — particularly for one involving a school that’s been so successful.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:18 am
Will @ 6:59: I don’t believe charter schools are exempted from the performance requirements, only from requirements involving the way the school is run (e.g., teacher work rules). See here.
Hillbilly D
December 22nd, 2011
10:21 am
Seems like it’d be better to focus on what’s best for the kids, rather than use it as a political football, which many do, on both sides.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:21 am
Liberal Mike @ 7:01 and others who raised this point about local control: First, you’re the one bringing partisanship and ideology into this…there are plenty of Democrats and liberals nationwide, and a growing number in Georgia, who support charter schools and other choice measures. And there are Republicans and conservatives who don’t, or who oppose certain choice measures.
Second, a charter school represents even more local control than traditional public schools — i.e., more control by parents. The question of which level of government authorizes the charter is more of an administrative question.
Angus
December 22nd, 2011
10:23 am
Fulton County, nor its BOE, is anti-charter.
FCSS has more charter schools than any system in the state.
Most problems/squabbles with charter schools and BOEs are about finances – same here.
If you want public funds to run a school, be prepared to play strictly by the book. If you’re not, start a private school.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:23 am
Aquagirl @ 7:04, and others who have raised the money point: This is money that we are spending anyway. Is it welfare if the child moves to another school district and the money follows him there? Why is it suddenly welfare, or a different kind of subsidy (all public education represents a subsidy), or a handout if the child moves to a charter school?
GT
December 22nd, 2011
10:24 am
What a furious circle we have. In order to understand education you have to be educated. The Republican Party has made an effort to undereducate, because the conclusions of an enlighten population goes against generally all their positions. They are a “don’t believe what you read” crowd unless we wrote it. The Catholic Church kind of ran this way for a few centuries.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:25 am
Larry Major @ 7:08: Actually, we have no idea what the majority of taxpayers supports when it comes to this question. All the more reason to put it to a referendum as a constitutional amendment.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:25 am
d @ 7:10: See my 10:23.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:31 am
td @ 9:07: “Charter schools is the lazy way out of doing the hard work and making the local school systems work for all students.”
I strongly disagree. Charter schools are a way of proving that public schools, conceived and run differently, can produce better results with the same children and resources. They are a working template for improving local school systems. Many of those parents you criticize for taking “the lazy way out” have simply concluded that improving one school at a time is a lot more practical than trying to take over an entire school system, especially one as large as the ones we have in metro Atlanta.
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
10:34 am
@Kyle, I think you are right about the 10 being granted one time but this statement makes a lot of sense when you consider that the 3 schools want to issue joint bonds.
“The school system, however, only wanted a three-year extension so the school could be on the same renewal cycle as its affiliate schools, Fulton Sunshine Academy and Fulton Science Academy High School. The school system also wanted more control of the school’s operations.”
“It would be financially irresponsible for our board to approve a 10-year term that would divide the renewal process for three schools with shared financial obligations,” Schultz said.
http://www.11alive.com/news/article/218078/3/Fulton-Science-Academy-Middle-Schools-charter-extension-denied
Don’t know what they wanted operationally but the fincial part makes sense. My guess is they need to resubmit for 3 years.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:34 am
Actually, I’ve already addressed most of these objections before. See here.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:37 am
JDW @ 10:34: Except that only having a three-year charter may make it impossible to issue bonds…
If they’re worried about keeping the schools on the same cycle, and on sound financial footing re: the bonds, why not extend all three schools’ contracts to the eight-year mark requested by FSA?
In any case, we’re getting away from my main point — which is that, while the school board suddenly gets interested in accountability and good management when it comes to charter schools, traditional public schools that are failing kids every single day never receive that kind of scrutiny.
Dusty
December 22nd, 2011
10:45 am
Kyle is quite cognizant of failure when he finds a “good” school on the verge of being shut down for little or no reason.
The “bad” schools are even sadder. Usually it is a case of a school trying to fulfuill the need of a decent and stable home. Homes without legal fathers are over 50%. Single mothers usually do their best but it is an unbalanced household.
This morning’s news reported a teenager been kidnapped by invaders at a home. They were looking for the mother’s boyfriend. When they did not find him they kidnapped the teenage girl and carried her off. Will this girls make good grades in school? Doubtful.
Will teachers try to fill the gap with extra help? Probably but they are fighting the unsettlement of a bad home. That’s a hard barrier to jump..
This type of news is heard and read almost every day. Children in an unstable home or in the midst of criminal action.
Keep the good schools open. The children need all the help they can get. .
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
10:47 am
@Kyle, “Charter schools are a way of proving that public schools, conceived and run differently, can produce better results with the same children and resources.”
In some yes in some no. If we start increasing the numbers dramatically with no real strategy we end up with hodgepodge. I completely agree we need to act and act decisively to improve schools. The best approach, by far, I have seen is the way the Gates Foundation is going about it. Almost everything they say on the subject makes perfect sense.
Here is some info from them on Charters:
“Consequently, the most important measure of success for our work with charter schools will be the number of students—especially low-income and minority students—served by high-performing charters and the degree to which successful charter schools influence the broader public educational system.”
Goal #1: Increase the number of students served by high-performing charters by:
• Growing the capacity of charter networks aligned to our core strategy elements;
• Exploring Program Related Investments (PRIs) and other creative financing opportunities with high-performing charter networks; and
• Advocating for growth and results at the state and national levels.
Goal #2: Enhance the degree to which successful charter schools influence the broader system by:
• Building relationships between school districts and charter networks, especially those operating schools in-district;
• Piloting and expanding the core strategy elements in charters in coordination with district partners; and
• Incubating innovative new school models and approaches, with charters as early adopters.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/college-ready-education/Pages/charter-schools-networks.aspx
Just having an Constitution Amendment to allow the State to approve Charters falls far short of what we should do. As I look at those goals and assess the likelihood of the Ga Legislature and School Boards being able to execute it is clear to me that we need to address those folks first…
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
10:51 am
@Kyle…”Except that only having a three-year charter may make it impossible to issue bonds…”
Don’t know and there is no doubt this is a cluster…well you know. I still go back to the vote being 7-0. I could be wrong but, I don’t really believe the Board is “out to get them”. I am thinking there is something we don’t understand. Maybe the school tried to play hardball and got smacked.
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:57 am
JDW @ 10:47: I don’t disagree with most of that. And note that I included in the article the stat about charter schools that are closed — no one claims every charter is a success, but they A) allow us to try to find better ways to educate children, and B) are not a permanent part of the educational landscape if they fail in A.
The point about who approves charters is that we now are at far greater risk of regressing when it comes to charters than we are to having charters expand too rapidly. Too many local systems have been intransigent on this issue. As I said earlier, charter schools represent more local control; the question of who grants that local control is imo more administrative than substantive.
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
10:59 am
@Kyle…” traditional public schools that are failing kids every single day never receive that kind of scrutiny.”
Sad but true, however those schools don’t have to go through the Charter process so it could be a lack of opportunity.
I can say having now spent two years with a child in Fulton County Schools that those test numbers, particularly the AYP numbers can be very misleading. Last year our school was on that list for the sole reason that there was an issue with the special needs program in one of the grades…it didn’t mean the school was failing.
The other thing I have come to learn is that if you check the scores by demographic you will find that performance tends to be very similar across the county. By that I mean a middle class white kid in a poorly ranked school tends to have the same basic scores as their counterparts in a more highly ranked one…the highly ranked school just has more of “those kids”
d
December 22nd, 2011
11:01 am
@Kyle, I’m going to have to disagree with your assessment that the money follows the child so it doesn’t matter if we do vouchers or charters or whatever. If I move from Gwinnett to Rockdale, I stop paying taxes in Gwinnett and start paying them in Rockdale, but the rest of the local funding does not follow the children between the districts. The other problem with the money follows the child argument is there is an overhead cost that does not change whether a school is operating with 2,000 students or 1,999 students. Those costs still have to be covered. The problem I see with this whole situation is that if a school is not serving a population the way it should, it is rarely those students that leave. It is often the students who are thriving in their current environment that leave – in the end the students who most need the help are hurt even more. There is so much more to this equation than people are able to (or frankly want to) see.
Dusty
December 22nd, 2011
11:01 am
GT @ 10:24
You are rediculous. No other way to put it.
Anybody who thinks Republicans are against education have obviously had none of their own.
There is not even a simple shred of truth in your post. Get some education in reality. You need it.
JDW
December 22nd, 2011
11:03 am
@Kyle 10:57, I understand your concern and share most of it. What we need in this state is some leadership on the issue and I just don’t see any.
Gee does that mean we need to add it to our list?
Dusty
December 22nd, 2011
11:15 am
JDW, @ 11:03
I see you are trying to “run down” the leadership of Georgia, obviously because you prefer a state run by Democrats.
I guess that means you think the Democrats in Washington are doing a great job and Georgia should do likewise. DEMOCATS DOING A GREAT JOB IN WASHINGTON?????
Send your list to Santa Claus. Democrats always want more gifts.
td
December 22nd, 2011
11:16 am
Kyle Wingfield
December 22nd, 2011
10:31 am
“Many of those parents you criticize for taking “the lazy way out” have simply concluded that improving one school at a time is a lot more practical than trying to take over an entire school system, especially one as large as the ones we have in metro Atlanta”
Then why do those parents not take the worst school in the county and improve it? Why must they either take one of the best schools and turn it quasi private or build a school near the district lines that house the “best and brightest” students? I have worked on team that has wanted to start a charter school and just about all of them wanted private school rules without private school prices. Show me conservative parents that have their children in a charter school that are still fighting to change the rest of that districts schools for the better?
The bigger issue here is that the charter school philosophy is not conservative. How does a small government conservative come to the conclusion that it is ok to take tax payer money and use it to set up a private school? A true small government conservative would be fighting for vouchers for all students instead of vouchers just for the best and brightest. This whole movement takes away any momentum for the voucher movement and moving away from the public school concept. This is my biggest arguement against charter schools.
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.