There’s one burning question that has hung around NYC’s charter schools debate for years: what amount of public resources do charters have to work with, compared to district schools? Are they doing more with less, or taking more than their share? The question is enormously important for questions about fairness…
Monday we blogged about the UFT’s selective outrage over enrollment differences: somehow they never get around to protesting in TriBeCa. This morning’s Daily News reports that the union also ignores differences at its own charter school:The teachers union's campaign to force charter schools to enroll as many high-needs students as…
Last week, the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation reported on the astonishing inequality between public schools across the United States. There are 2,817 schools in the United States in which fewer than 5 percent of students live in poverty; in some areas one in four white children attend such schools.The Fordham…
In a Daily News Op-Ed this morning, charter school parent (and Lobby Day emcee) Valerie Babb* has strong words for state lawmakers: ”We're tired of seeing our kids treated like second-class students when it comes to funding.”More accounts of yesterday's events:Gotham Schools: “Hundred of parents of charter school students from…
Yesterday’s rally in Albany sent a big, loud, proud message about the importance of public charter schools. Among the highlights:-Thousands of charter school parents, students, teachers, and younger siblings pouring into Convention Hall with caps, shirts, banners, and pre-planned chants. -An overriding tone of pride and respectful concern ñ some…
Today's the day! Over 3,000 charter school parents, students, teachers, and supporters are on their way to Albany to send lawmakers a loud and clear message: charter schools are public schools and deserve nothing less than fair treatment! Watch this space for updates.
In politics, your friends can make you look bad. If they stake out an absurd position that you aren’t in a position to contradict, there’s nothing to do but grin and forge ahead.That’s exactly what just happened to NY Ed Commissioner David Steiner, one of the most forward-thinking education leaders…
Via GothamSchools, news of two new documentaries about American education reform, both featuring NYC charter schools. Coming in May, Madeleine Sackler’s"The Lottery" follows four families from Harlem and the Bronx in the months leading up to the random admissions lottery at Harlem Success Academy. Here’s the preview: Davis Guggenheim's "Waiting…
For charter schools across New York State, today’s news out of Albany was disappointing. It could have been much, much worse. In a fitting finale to months of procrastination and confusion, state lawmakers†failed to pass any charter school legislation to†raise the charter cap†and help win the Race to the Top.…
It’s interesting to me that you have folks out there that don’t quite believe that we’re going to keep a high barÖ. It’s going to be a very, very high bar. People won’t believe it until we do it.--Secretary Arne Duncan discussing the Race to the Top”Don’t quite believe” is…
