Comments on: State policy an obstacle to charter school serving English learners http://gothamschools.org/2009/12/21/state-policy-an-obstacle-to-charter-school-serving-english-learners/ Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:21:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Featured in Gotham Schools « Inwoodacademy’s Blog http://gothamschools.org/2009/12/21/state-policy-an-obstacle-to-charter-school-serving-english-learners/comment-page-1/#comment-250936 Featured in Gotham Schools « Inwoodacademy’s Blog Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:14:26 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=29713#comment-250936 [...] Check out the article here: Gotham Schools Article. [...] [...] Check out the article here: Gotham Schools Article. [...]

]]> By: Ken Hirsh http://gothamschools.org/2009/12/21/state-policy-an-obstacle-to-charter-school-serving-english-learners/comment-page-1/#comment-250832 Ken Hirsh Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:22:05 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=29713#comment-250832 Great post and great comments from KS and Peter Murphy.  I would love to hear more from SED on this matter. Great post and great comments from KS and Peter Murphy.  I would love to hear more from SED on this matter.

]]> By: Peter Murphy http://gothamschools.org/2009/12/21/state-policy-an-obstacle-to-charter-school-serving-english-learners/comment-page-1/#comment-250806 Peter Murphy Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:01:44 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=29713#comment-250806 State Education department officials are incorrect by asserting that "ELL students do not fall into the 'at-risk' category"; and by attempting to make some semantical difference between "high needs" students, which include English Language Learners, and students "at-risk of academic failure," which are mentioned in the Charter Schools Act in state Education law. These terms are subjective and flexible, and bureaucratic distinctions by State Ed are meaningless. An "at-risk" student is nowhere defined in statute or regulation, including the Charter Schools Act itself which may be the only place it's mentioned. The description of such a student, as traditionally permitted by State Ed, has been connected to a category of needy student that can be measured objectively or has some legal definition. Most commonly, charter schools have given an enrollment preference to students from low-income households as defined by eligibility for the federal free- or reduced-priced meal program. Rather than sticking to this inchoate reasoning for refusing to allow ELL students to be given enrollment preference in a charter school, State Ed should get out of the way and enable, yea, encourage charter schools to define "at-risk" to include ELL students. So far, State Ed's reasons are vapid and unacceptable and they get away with it because they can. They shouldn't absent a bona fide legal concern which has thus far been omitted in any discussion I've seen or heard. State Education department officials are incorrect by asserting that “ELL students do not fall into the ‘at-risk’ category”; and by attempting to make some semantical difference between “high needs” students, which include English Language Learners, and students “at-risk of academic failure,” which are mentioned in the Charter Schools Act in state Education law. These terms are subjective and flexible, and bureaucratic distinctions by State Ed are meaningless. An “at-risk” student is nowhere defined in statute or regulation, including the Charter Schools Act itself which may be the only place it’s mentioned. The description of such a student, as traditionally permitted by State Ed, has been connected to a category of needy student that can be measured objectively or has some legal definition. Most commonly, charter schools have given an enrollment preference to students from low-income households as defined by eligibility for the federal free- or reduced-priced meal program. Rather than sticking to this inchoate reasoning for refusing to allow ELL students to be given enrollment preference in a charter school, State Ed should get out of the way and enable, yea, encourage charter schools to define “at-risk” to include ELL students. So far, State Ed’s reasons are vapid and unacceptable and they get away with it because they can. They shouldn’t absent a bona fide legal concern which has thus far been omitted in any discussion I’ve seen or heard.

]]> By: College Campus » New York State Says English-Learners Aren’t ‘At-Risk’ http://gothamschools.org/2009/12/21/state-policy-an-obstacle-to-charter-school-serving-english-learners/comment-page-1/#comment-250804 College Campus » New York State Says English-Learners Aren’t ‘At-Risk’ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:46:36 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=29713#comment-250804 [...] in admissions because such students aren’t technically “at risk,” according to a story published yesterday by GothamSchools. State law urges charter schools to focus on students [...] [...] in admissions because such students aren’t technically “at risk,” according to a story published yesterday by GothamSchools. State law urges charter schools to focus on students [...]

]]> By: Learning Solution – Online Education » Blog Archive » New York State Says English-Learners Aren’t ‘At-Risk’ http://gothamschools.org/2009/12/21/state-policy-an-obstacle-to-charter-school-serving-english-learners/comment-page-1/#comment-250801 Learning Solution – Online Education » Blog Archive » New York State Says English-Learners Aren’t ‘At-Risk’ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:39:19 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=29713#comment-250801 [...] in admissions because such students aren’t technically “at risk,” according to a story published yesterday by GothamSchools. State law urges charter schools to focus on students [...] [...] in admissions because such students aren’t technically “at risk,” according to a story published yesterday by GothamSchools. State law urges charter schools to focus on students [...]

]]> By: KitchenSink http://gothamschools.org/2009/12/21/state-policy-an-obstacle-to-charter-school-serving-english-learners/comment-page-1/#comment-250780 KitchenSink Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:45:42 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=29713#comment-250780 This is more evidence that, when anti-charter legislators introduce baloney bills to eliminate SUNY as an authorizer, they are trying to cripple the charter movement. The SED authorizer has no apparent interest in charter school quality or these issues. It seems to me that this decision is all about playing politics, and preserving power, for adults who hold the important signatures in Albany. ELL students are not at risk??? That's an outrageous piece of nonsense. This is more evidence that, when anti-charter legislators introduce baloney bills to eliminate SUNY as an authorizer, they are trying to cripple the charter movement.

The SED authorizer has no apparent interest in charter school quality or these issues. It seems to me that this decision is all about playing politics, and preserving power, for adults who hold the important signatures in Albany.

ELL students are not at risk??? That’s an outrageous piece of nonsense.

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