Comments on: Tisch calls on charters to take on city’s worst high schools

By: “V,” Ayn Rand and the Direction of Education Policy: Does the Chancellor Matter? Is It a Question of Style Over Substance? « Ed In The Apple

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:11:13 +0000

[...] Department powerpoint showing public schools outperforming charter schools, in spite of the “darling” status of charter schools, as described by Chancellor Meryl Tisch, Speaking at Hunter [...]

By: Chancellor Tisch outlines charter school positions - EdVANTAGE Blog - The Official Blog of the New York State Council of School Superintendents

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:09:49 +0000

[...] Gotham Schools, an independent internet-based news source, reported that “Tisch said that charter schools need to branch out to serve more struggling high school students, English language learners and special education students.” [...]

By: Peter Murphy

Peter Murphy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:30:25 +0000

Well done by Maura Walz on this very interesting and (mostly) encouraging event. I add some perspective (www.nycsa.org/blog/) having also attended the event, in particular to Chancellor Tisch’s remarks about charter schools, which were encouraging. Well, except for the “political darlings” part, which we are hardly considered as such in the Albany statehouse. Great strides have been made by charter schools in the state legislature, thanks mostly to the accomplishments of charter schools themselves which continue to improve student learning and acheivement and which is increasingly recognized. But, as long as we are a competitive challenge to the exsiting district school system and have a stake in the education funding pie, we will never be considered “darlings” and instead must fight “tooth and nail,” as Eva Moskowitz described.

By: Gideon

Gideon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:53:36 +0000

I think Steiner and King are great choices to run the State Department of Education, but one is an academic and the other has run only a handful of schools (albeit incredibly successful schools). It just doesn’t matter how much I like the people they hire, the real question is whether they can execute anything truly innovative within a sprawling bureaucracy like the Department of Education. Education reform is moving to accountability for outcomes, not inputs, so I see no reason to think the feds will be excited by who the Regents hire to run their bureaucracy without any clear idea of what they plan to do, let alone evidence they can succeed. The feds are, however, going to look at states that have taken concrete actions, like eliminating charter caps, allowing student performance to factor into teacher evaluation, enacting pay for performance, etc. Tisch is playing a dangerous game by assuming the charter cap will automatically lift when we get close it and that a law will just sunset. The fact is, we are nearly at the cap, and waiting much longer, given the intertia of politics, may mean a gap of one or more years before new charters start to come on line again. I don’t care how exciting her Race to the Top application is on paper, if I don’t see action backing it up why should I think the feds will approve it.

Also, converting existing schools to charters is very different than creating new charter schools from scratch. If a charter school operator takes over an existing school without the flexibility to hire and fire staff, change the schedule and school year to best meet the needs of students, adopt new programs, and control the school’s budget, there’s little reason to think conversion is going to be much of an improvement. Successful charter operators are rightfully cautious. If Tisch is serious about them taking over failing high schools, she needs to give them all of the autonomy their independent schools have, and then hold them accountable for results. She needs to stop accusing them of failing to step up, when they have been doing admirable work in some of the neediest communities.

By: SBC Charter Roundup 44 – Schools Building Communities

SBC Charter Roundup 44 – Schools Building Communities — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:55:54 +0000

[...] roadblock (Peoria Journal Star) Ind. — For Mind Trust, star power (Indianapolis Star) N.Y. — Tisch calls on charters to take on city’s worst high schools (Gotham Schools) Wis. — Charter schools are one strategy, not a cure-all (Wisconsin State [...]

By: Dee Alpert

Dee Alpert — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:30:47 +0000

What is this Tisch/State Ed. secrecy about the RttT application? State Ed. is a governmental agency which wishes to do governmental-type things with governmental funds. So far, everything involved in State Ed.’s work to get a RttT grant has been done secretly – and illegally. Like the consultant work they’ve paid for to get a piece of this (and Gates Foundation) grant money.

With all due respect … no respect is due here. If Tisch, the remainder of the Reegies, and State Ed.’s heavies are so brilliant, why are their plans being kept under wraps? State Ed. hasn’t done anything in the last two decades that wouldn’t have been done better if there had been serious, meaningful public input.

Seems to me this is a great reason for the citizens of NYS to consider opposing NYSED’s RttT application. Seems to me it’s time for us all to demand that Tisch, the remaining Reegies, and State Ed. be forced to come out from under the rock they typically operate under and get into the sunlight. Which is the best disinfectant. What they’ve done, and what they’re doing, could sure use some.

By: Michael M.

Michael M. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:47:12 +0000

Interesting.

13% of charters serve high school students. Is that a form of creaming?

High school years comprise 30% of the years from K thru 12.

Kudos to Tisch and Steiner re “thoughtful, measured pace.”