Thursday AM News: Charter Cap, College Preps, Untimely Death

Bush school rule changes affect Chicago Tribune
Such a move would greatly benefit the Chicago Public Schools system, which has been thwarted from opening more than the state-allowed 30 charter schools.

College prep Catholic school for Austin in the works Austin Weekly
Gartland interviewed parents through school gatherings at Farragut High School and meetings sponsored by the Chicago Public Schools.

Boy, 13, stabbed to death in home Brantley was an 8th-grader at Doolittle Elementary School, 535 E. 35th St., said Malon Edwards, a Chicago Public Schools spokesman.

Comments

Exactly who in CPS will "benefit" from allowing more charter schools? Not the children or staff who are sent packing when their schools are closed. Not the students on the charters, especially, since charters don't do a better job. So, who besides the political mouthpieces of business are benefitting?

My gripe with Setphanie Banchero’s Trib article is that it crossed the line from being a news report on Secretary Spellings presentation for reauthorization of NCLB into being an endorsement of unlimited chartering within the school district.

Spellings report is titled Building on Results: A Blueprint for Strengthening the No Child Left Behind Act. The report states: “Charters will also have a greater degree of flexibility to use their grants in executing planning and startup activities. Similarly, we will support local decisions to reopen schools identified for restructuring as charter schools, even if state law limits the number of possible charter schools within that state. The development of new charter schools would help states and school districts address the primary challenge many districts face in implementing public school choice: insufficient seats at schools where students could transfer.”

Banchero in her article makes reference to the Department of Education attempting to supersede state laws which limit the number of charters within states writing: “Such a move would greatly benefit the Chicago Public Schools system, which has been thwarted from opening more than the state-allowed 30 charter schools.” The word “benefit,” is extremely interesting, because we are left wondering what would be the benefit to CPS be? Would the benefit be cost savings, breaking the CTU, or some type of presumed improved achievement for students?

The DOE could of course solve the problem of school choice within the public sector by allowing CPS students to transfer to suburban schools that are higher performing that are not operating at design capacity. It could require these school districts to take these students along with the money the CPS receives for them and educate them. But that would mean black children going in mass to Hinsdale, Highland Park, etc., good God!

Instead what low income students get from the Bush administration are Promise Scholarships that would pay up to $4,000 for a CPS student attending a failing school to pay tuition at “a private school or an out-of-district public school.” I would ask what high performing out-of-district public school would have a non-resident tuition of only $4,000? Moreover what high performing white suburban school is going to accept low income black students with open arms for only $4,000?

The $4,000 for private school tuition is also of limited use since the Catholic School system in Chicago is shrinking rapidly, and there are few private schools in Chicago that could survive charging only $4,000. But have no fear the Educational entrepreneurs are here and will create low cost private schools that will just fit the bill. No doubt the teachers in these low cost private schools will be highly qualified as NCLB requires.

This is just another of Bush’s games of smoke and mirrors, much like his victory in Iraq which is now no longer a victory. Probably what is the sorriest aspect of this is that Nobel Street Charter School volunteered with both hands to have Spellings do her sales pitch for the charter school expansion provisions at their school. Michael Milkie who some of us knew as a teacher at Wells High School and who now calls himself Superintendent Milkie must be proud of what he the Gates foundation, and the warmongering Bush administration are doing for charter schools here in Chicago.

[Alexander]

it's interesting you guys pick out the "benefit" line and see banchero as a charter supporter. i picked out the use of the word "subvert" and pegged her as a critic.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/thisweekineducation/2007/01/subversion_war_kit_and_kaboodl.html

2:15,

Can't you at least take solace in the fact the CTU will give you free pizza on Valentine's Day? Isn't it great to know during these trying times that our union is working hard for us?

I can't see any other valuable way to spend their time and our money.

If public school students use public funds to go to private schools, these school should have to publish their scores ON THE SAME test that CPS students have to take.

The charter schools do that. No way you would get the privates to agree to that.

[cermak_rd]

I guess the people who would benefit from the greater number of Charter schools would be the families on the waiting lists. Whether anyone here likes it or not, parents really seem to like the schools. And it's not all about performance on tests, a lot of parents cite safety and the feeling of empowerment they receive from having a choice.

If Charter schools take the same tests as other CPS schools, has anyone compared across the board scores between similarly composed schools (by social class etc.)? Or tracked individual students who have made the switch? The studies everyone (on both sides) cites all seem to be too general. What I'd like to know is do Charter schools perform the same as public schools in Chicago given similar student bodies. Or do they perform worse or better? I know there's probably a selection effect (those already advantaged may be more likely to choose charter schools and the charter school may more easily disenroll students who don't fit than general schools) but even that might be considered a benefit by the parents.

[Marty McGreal]

The story about the 13 year-old boy is heartbreaking. How and why we have come to accept these tragedies is astounding.

[1.04]

Hardcore

The cop is washing the kid’s blood off his hands at one sink
I am washing the same kids blood off my hand in the next sink.
Making eye contact we both say as if on cue.” O well just
Another day in the hood”.

1.04

Yep, just another day, so principals get attendance up and teachers get those scores up or you will get poor evaluations and no bonuses. But your AIO and the higherups will do just finr.

[rory]

Why would you want to send students to Hinsdale or Highland Park? They do a poor job of educating their few middle class black students.

It's not the money its the curriculum and teaching.