Comments on: New York could be boxed out of Duncan’s Race to the Top funds http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/28/new-york-could-be-boxed-out-of-duncans-race-to-the-top-funds/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: KDI http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/28/new-york-could-be-boxed-out-of-duncans-race-to-the-top-funds/comment-page-1/#comment-125320 KDI Sat, 30 May 2009 18:10:43 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15145#comment-125320 If its about the success of our children a cap should never come into play here. Whatever is working for a state or city the funds should made available. There should never be a catch 22 when concerning our children. He's only trying to stimulate more corporations to figure a way to get the money for more charter schools. If they want charter schools they should also set aside money for them to build their own schools as well and stop striking deals with the DOE for space. If its about the success of our children a cap should never come into play here. Whatever is working for a state or city the funds should made available. There should never be a catch 22 when concerning our children. He’s only trying to stimulate more corporations to figure a way to get the money for more charter schools. If they want charter schools they should also set aside money for them to build their own schools as well and stop striking deals with the DOE for space.

]]> By: Michael M. http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/28/new-york-could-be-boxed-out-of-duncans-race-to-the-top-funds/comment-page-1/#comment-124904 Michael M. Fri, 29 May 2009 19:05:32 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15145#comment-124904 Ceolaf: Indeed NYC NON-charters are improving too. Or so the Kleinberg PR machine would have us believe as part of justifying their permanent coronation. To whit (District 2 results only at hand, non-charters): ELA Grades 3-8, Levels 3+4: 2006 = 73.8% 2007 = 75.6% 2008 = 79.2% 2009 = 85.8% Just as a logic example and pending city-wide figures, I would suggest that charters need to beat that 2008 to 2009 6.6% bump (4% per year pace) by a statistically significant margin... or throw in the towel and concede a draw, despite their kid-glove treatment and infusion of billionaire eduphilanthropreneur (tax-deductible) support. Got politically motivated grade inflation? Ceolaf:
Indeed NYC NON-charters are improving too.

Or so the Kleinberg PR machine would have us believe as part of justifying their permanent coronation.

To whit (District 2 results only at hand, non-charters):
ELA Grades 3-8, Levels 3+4:
2006 = 73.8%
2007 = 75.6%
2008 = 79.2%
2009 = 85.8%

Just as a logic example and pending city-wide figures, I would suggest that charters need to beat that 2008 to 2009 6.6% bump (4% per year pace) by a statistically significant margin… or throw in the towel and concede a draw, despite their kid-glove treatment and infusion of billionaire eduphilanthropreneur (tax-deductible) support.

Got politically motivated grade inflation?

]]> By: mathteacher http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/28/new-york-could-be-boxed-out-of-duncans-race-to-the-top-funds/comment-page-1/#comment-124872 mathteacher Fri, 29 May 2009 17:32:51 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15145#comment-124872 Lift the cap with the following caveats: 1) Charter schools that are underperforming in relationship to their home district should be closed at the end of their charter. Not enough weak charter schools are closed down. Weak charter schools are a financial drain on the system and they hurt kids. 2) Charter schools that are significantly outperforming their home districts should be allowed to replicate. If your school has 70% low income kids and is outperforming the wealthiest districts in the state, you're doing something right and should give more kids the opportunity. 3) Charter schools with new ideas or models should be allowed; new schools that mooch off older models (especially unsuccessful ones) should not be authorized. This promotes innovation. 4) Districts that don't want more charter schools can minimize expansion of new charters (though not the replicas), by adopting the practices of charter schools that work. That forces failing schools to try to learn from their neighborhood charter schools that are currently kicking their rears. I still can't figure out why district schools aren't visiting my school to learn from what we do here...and why they won't let us visit their schools that are successful. 5) The cap should be lifted with priority in districts with the greatest need. Just some random thoughts... Lift the cap with the following caveats:

1) Charter schools that are underperforming in relationship to their home district should be closed at the end of their charter. Not enough weak charter schools are closed down. Weak charter schools are a financial drain on the system and they hurt kids.

2) Charter schools that are significantly outperforming their home districts should be allowed to replicate. If your school has 70% low income kids and is outperforming the wealthiest districts in the state, you’re doing something right and should give more kids the opportunity.

3) Charter schools with new ideas or models should be allowed; new schools that mooch off older models (especially unsuccessful ones) should not be authorized. This promotes innovation.

4) Districts that don’t want more charter schools can minimize expansion of new charters (though not the replicas), by adopting the practices of charter schools that work. That forces failing schools to try to learn from their neighborhood charter schools that are currently kicking their rears. I still can’t figure out why district schools aren’t visiting my school to learn from what we do here…and why they won’t let us visit their schools that are successful.

5) The cap should be lifted with priority in districts with the greatest need.

Just some random thoughts…

]]> By: ceolaf http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/28/new-york-could-be-boxed-out-of-duncans-race-to-the-top-funds/comment-page-1/#comment-124850 ceolaf Fri, 29 May 2009 14:34:46 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15145#comment-124850 I am still looking for a fully thought out explantion for why charter caps should be lifted, one that accounts for the original reasoning for the caps and addresses -- rather than steamrolls over -- major objections to lifting the caps. * If the caps were put in place to allow us to evaluate whether or not charters were actually suprerior to traditional public schools or what kinds of charters were more successful than others, what are the lessons that that we should incorporate into the new charter legislation that lifts the cap? * If charters are about innovation and experimentation, what success rate do we expect on these experiments? What will be do minimize the impact of those failures on students? * If the non-charter public schols have improved under mayoral control, as I think most charter proponents believe, why we need more charter schools? Shouldn't we just continue on the path we are on? Just wonderin'. I am still looking for a fully thought out explantion for why charter caps should be lifted, one that accounts for the original reasoning for the caps and addresses — rather than steamrolls over — major objections to lifting the caps.

* If the caps were put in place to allow us to evaluate whether or not charters were actually suprerior to traditional public schools or what kinds of charters were more successful than others, what are the lessons that that we should incorporate into the new charter legislation that lifts the cap?

* If charters are about innovation and experimentation, what success rate do we expect on these experiments? What will be do minimize the impact of those failures on students?

* If the non-charter public schols have improved under mayoral control, as I think most charter proponents believe, why we need more charter schools? Shouldn’t we just continue on the path we are on?

Just wonderin’.

]]> By: Pogue http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/28/new-york-could-be-boxed-out-of-duncans-race-to-the-top-funds/comment-page-1/#comment-124817 Pogue Fri, 29 May 2009 09:31:37 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15145#comment-124817 Duncan and Obama can keep their bogus stimulus money. This is worse than NCLB. These funds are union busting at their best, and help no one but the rich philanthropists who look to benefit from charters. In essence, it's...the charter schools get millions, while the public schools get "change". Duncan and Obama can keep their bogus stimulus money. This is worse than NCLB. These funds are union busting at their best, and help no one but the rich philanthropists who look to benefit from charters. In essence, it’s…the charter schools get millions, while the public schools get “change”.

]]> By: mathteacher http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/28/new-york-could-be-boxed-out-of-duncans-race-to-the-top-funds/comment-page-1/#comment-124713 mathteacher Fri, 29 May 2009 02:26:29 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15145#comment-124713 massachusetts is slated to miss out because of our cap as well. massachusetts is slated to miss out because of our cap as well.

]]> By: Michael M. http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/28/new-york-could-be-boxed-out-of-duncans-race-to-the-top-funds/comment-page-1/#comment-124693 Michael M. Fri, 29 May 2009 01:39:38 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15145#comment-124693 Peter, Curious to follow your name link, but not working. Ya mean the final game of any given season? 39% odds, though they did win this year's. (wink) Peter,
Curious to follow your name link, but not working.

Ya mean the final game of any given season? 39% odds, though they did win this year’s. (wink)

]]> By: peter http://gothamschools.org/2009/05/28/new-york-could-be-boxed-out-of-duncans-race-to-the-top-funds/comment-page-1/#comment-124669 peter Fri, 29 May 2009 00:58:56 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=15145#comment-124669 Take a look at a meeting at IS 278K opposing the placement of a charter school http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/05/27/community-to-hebrew-language-charter-academy-hla-go-away/ If Duncan/Obama decided to deprive NYS of funds due to a charter school cap he would face a huge backlash ... probably lead by Schumer and Weiner ...in many communities, including Albany and Buffalo, the opposition to charter schools is enormous ... ironically it is the arrogance of the charter school supporters that has galvinized opposition ... the chances of the cap being lifted are about the same as the odds of the Knicks winning an NBA final game! Take a look at a meeting at IS 278K opposing the placement of a charter school

http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/05/27/community-to-hebrew-language-charter-academy-hla-go-away/

If Duncan/Obama decided to deprive NYS of funds due to a charter school cap he would face a huge backlash … probably lead by Schumer and Weiner …in many communities, including Albany and Buffalo, the opposition to charter schools is enormous … ironically it is the arrogance of the charter school supporters that has galvinized opposition … the chances of the cap being lifted are about the same as the odds of the Knicks winning an NBA final game!

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