Michigan Plans to Expand Power of Emergency Manager Covington
Last week, voters in Michigan repealed the state’s draconian emergency manager law, which allowed a hand-picked appointee of the governor to abolish public education in financially stressed districts. In two of those districts, the emergency manager turned the children over to for-profit charter chains.
To compensate for the repeal, the Legislature in Michigan plans to expand the powers of the Achievement Authority Chancellor. The Achievement Authority is a non-contiguous district into which the state will cluster all low-performing schools. It is currently headed by John Covington, who was trained by the unaccredited Broad Superintendents Academy. Covington previously served as superintendent of Kansas City, where he proposed to
To compensate for the repeal, the Legislature in Michigan plans to expand the powers of the Achievement Authority Chancellor. The Achievement Authority is a non-contiguous district into which the state will cluster all low-performing schools. It is currently headed by John Covington, who was trained by the unaccredited Broad Superintendents Academy. Covington previously served as superintendent of Kansas City, where he proposed to
Charters Expand Despite Lack of Evidence for Their Success
Joy Resmovits has a good article at Huffington Post describing the growth of charter school enrollments and the absence of adequate oversight.
Currently, about 5 percent of all American students are enrolled in these privately managed schools. In some urban districts, the proportion is much larger. The districts with the greatest number of students in charters are New Orleans, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, and Flint, Michigan. In 25 districts, at least 20 percent of students attend charters.
With the support of a bipartisan combination of President Obama, Congress, conservative governors, and rightwing groups like ALEC, these numbers are sure to grow. And the privatization of one of the nation’s most essential public services will continue.
The article mentions that local school boards “argue” that charters reduce their funding. That’s not an argument,
Currently, about 5 percent of all American students are enrolled in these privately managed schools. In some urban districts, the proportion is much larger. The districts with the greatest number of students in charters are New Orleans, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, and Flint, Michigan. In 25 districts, at least 20 percent of students attend charters.
With the support of a bipartisan combination of President Obama, Congress, conservative governors, and rightwing groups like ALEC, these numbers are sure to grow. And the privatization of one of the nation’s most essential public services will continue.
The article mentions that local school boards “argue” that charters reduce their funding. That’s not an argument,
Pedro Noguera’s Good Agenda Going Forward
Pedro Noguera, my colleague AT&T New York University, took my place as blogging partner with Deborah Meier at “Bridging Differences.”
In his latest column, Pedro says that it is not enough to recognize that No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top have failed. It is necessary to shape a new agenda.
Pedro offers these three elements to a new agenda.
1. “The federal government should call for the creation of a comprehensive support systems around schools in low-income communities to address issues such as safety, health, nutrition, and counseling. This should include
In his latest column, Pedro says that it is not enough to recognize that No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top have failed. It is necessary to shape a new agenda.
Pedro offers these three elements to a new agenda.
1. “The federal government should call for the creation of a comprehensive support systems around schools in low-income communities to address issues such as safety, health, nutrition, and counseling. This should include
Researcher: Is New Orleans a District in “Academic Crisis”?
Research on Reforms, a research group in New Orleans, reviewed the latest state test scores and school grades.
The author of the report and one of the founders of the organization, Charles Hatfield, can’t understand why New Orleans has been treated by its champions as a national model.
Here is his overview of the state data:
The author of the report and one of the founders of the organization, Charles Hatfield, can’t understand why New Orleans has been treated by its champions as a national model.
Here is his overview of the state data:
| Recovery School District in New Orleans: National Model for Reform or District in Academic Crisis? The 2012 achievement results for the RSD-NO show that after 7 years of operation, it still ranks among |
Good News from Florida
I should have reported this sooner, but other election returns distracted me.
Jeb Bush’s latest privatization scheme suffered a major setback at the hands of Florida voters.
He and his allies pushed Amendment 8 to allow public funds to flow to religious schools. As usual with “reform” measures, this one had a misleading name. It was about “religious freedom,” but voters recognized it was a
Jeb Bush’s latest privatization scheme suffered a major setback at the hands of Florida voters.
He and his allies pushed Amendment 8 to allow public funds to flow to religious schools. As usual with “reform” measures, this one had a misleading name. It was about “religious freedom,” but voters recognized it was a
Diane in the Evening 11-13-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
Diane Ravitch's blog: Sirota Exposes the Big Lie Technique by dianerav David Sirota, an author and talk-show host, here analyzes the election results and says they exposed the Big Lie of the corporate reform movement. The public is not hankering to privatize their public schools. The corporate leaders and rightwing establishment dropped millions of dollars to push their agenda of LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-13-12 Diane Ravitch's blog coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Testing Toddlers in Lou... more »