Wait What?:
We’re a charter schools, what do you mean we have to follow the law?
Arne Duncan’s alternate universe
We’re a charter schools, what do you mean we have to follow the law?
As the LA Times reported yesterday, “The founders of a San Fernando Valley charter school were sentenced Friday for the misappropriation of more than $200,000 in public funds in a case that could affect charter schools statewide.” The husband and wife co-founded the Ivy Academia Charter School. The husband was sentenced to four years and […]The post We’re a charter schools, what do you mean we ha
Arne Duncan’s alternate universe
Fellow blogger and public education advocate, Wendy Lecker, has another “must read” commentary piece in this weekend’s Stamford Advocate. Wendy Lecker lays out the case against Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, observing, “Secretary Duncan is the one in an alternate universe, and our students, teachers and taxpayers are paying the price.” The commentary piece begins […]The post Arne Duncan’s al
A retired Bridgeport principal speaks: Leaving the “Education Reform” movement in tatters
Ann Evans de Bernard, Ph.D recently retired as principal of Waltersville School in Bridgeport. In a two part commentary piece, she asks When is school reform not reform? And then, with the power and authority that only comes from having served on the front lines of the effort to provide Bridgeport’s children with a quality education, […]The post A retired Bridgeport principal speaks: Leaving the
Child Abuse in the form of the “No Excuses” education model
The new Jumoke Academy at Dunbar (AKA The Paul Dunbar School, A FUSE Family Urban Schools of Excellence) recently posted job announcements that it was looking for four new teachers. Putting aside why Jumoke, the charter school management company that was hired to take over and run the Dunbar elementary school is looking for four […]The post Child Abuse in the form of the “No Excuses” education mod
OCT 03
Charter Schools and the systematic discrimination of special education students
Most charter schools are failing to take their fair share of students who require special education services You can always count on Connecticut resident, fellow blogger and public education advocate, Jonathan Kantrowitz, to explore the important issues with a sophisticated, fact-based approach. In a new blog post entitled, “Why the Gap? Special Education and New […]The post Charter Schools and th
Achievement First’s Teacher Certification Violations lead right into State Department of Education
Achievement First – Bridgeport Academy is among Connecticut’s worst offenders when it comes to charter schools that fail to provide students with properly certified teachers. According to the records filed with the State Department of Education, of the 59 teachers working at Achievement First – Bridgeport last year, 21 (36 percent) did not have Connecticut […]The post Achievement First’s Teacher C
OCT 02
Damn process gets in the way of the Bridgewater Associates corporate welfare give-a-way
Bridgewater Associates is the gigantic hedge fund company that Governor Malloy is giving over $115 million dollars in public funds, as part of an effort to assist them in their move from Westport, Connecticut to Stamford, Connecticut. For some, Bridgewater is better known as the company that paid its CEO a compensation package of $2.3 […]The post Damn process gets in the way of the Bridgewater Ass
Is Achievement First angling for a co-location site in Hartford?
Achievement First, Inc. is the charter school management company co-founded by Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor. Achievement First, Inc. won’t take its fair share of bilingual students or students who aren’t proficient in English. Achievement First, Inc. won’t take its fair share of students who need special education services. Achievement First Inc. is […]The post Is Achi
OCT 01
Will Achievement First Inc. continue to lead the way in the use of non-certified teachers?
The new State of Connecticut teacher certification reports are due October 1. We know Paul Vallas won’t be on the new certification list – he is “too big” to certify. “Special Master,” “Special Deal” Steven Adamowski won’t be on the state’s certification list either (for the same reason). But one question that will be answered […]The post Will Achievement First Inc. continue to lead the way in the
Senator Williams/Representative Johnson: Windham’s children, parents, teachers and taxpayers deserve better
[A long but important post] Tomorrow, (Oct 2nd) State Senator Don Williams and State Representative Susan Johnson are scheduled to meet with their constituents about the damage “Special Master”, “Special Deal” Steven Adamowski is doing to their community. The children, parents, teacher and taxpayers of New London deserve a similar meeting with their elected officials. No […]The post Senator Willi
SEP 30
A case study on arrogance: “Special Deal” Steven Adamowski
It started with a no-bid, $450,000 no-bid contract and ended with a state job that was never posted. It is the story of Governor Dan Malloy and Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor’s successful effort to ensure that “Special Deal” Steven Adamowski lives up his “Special Deal” reputation. Three blog posts from Wait, What? 9-27-13: Let’s […]The post A case study on arrogance: “Special Deal” Steve
SEP 29
“Special Deal” Adamowski state job was not part of Pryor’s “Sweeping Reorganization Plan”
A primary question facing Governor Malloy and Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor is how did they have the authority to create a special position for Steven Adamowski when the State Board of Education hadn’t even voted to continue Adamowski’s role as “Special Master” for the Windham and New London school systems. In fact, the position […]The post “Special Deal” Adamowski state job was not part
SEP 28
Malloy/Pryor; It is time to come clean on “Special Deal” Steven Adamowski
Why did the Malloy Administration rush through hiring Steven Adamowski? Why did Adamowski start in his new state position even before the State Board of Education voted to extend his appointment as Special Master for the Windham and New London school systems? It turns out the answer, at least in part, can be found in […]The post Malloy/Pryor; It is time to come clean on “Special Deal” Steven Adamo
SEP 27
Let’s just name him Steven “Special Deal” Adamowski and call it a wrap…
On September 4, 2013, the Connecticut State Board of Education met. One of their agenda items was the “Extension of Term: Special Master, New London Public Schools; Windham Public Schools.” Upon the recommendation of Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, the State Board of Education, led by Chairman Allan Taylor, voted to grant Steven […]The post Let’s just name him Steven “S
Surprise… Ravitch bashing Congressman Polis’ charter schools don’t measure up.
Last week, Colorado Congressman Jared Polis tweeted that public education advocate Diane Ravitch was “an evil woman” and that he couldn’t “think of anybody else who has caused more harm to public schools, except maybe Koch brothers.” Those bizarre and incredible statements generated a flurry of coverage across the country, including here on Wait, What? […]The post Surprise… Ravitch bashing Congres
When political photo-ops go bad…
In the world of politics, it was the type of media opportunity politicians dream about. The Governor of Connecticut raced to New York City yesterday to the give top officials at Con Edison and the MTA “the old what-for” for the “catastrophic power outage on the New Haven Line of Metro-North Railroad” that is causing […]The post When political photo-ops go bad… appeared first on Wait What?.
Connecticut: Poverty in the state with the highest per capita income
Connecticut Children living in Poverty CT 2001 10.2% live in poverty (82,000) CT 2012: 14.8% live in poverty (117,000) According to an study conducted by Connecticut Voices for Children, the independent research and advocacy organization, “At the start of the Great Recession, Connecticut experienced the largest increase in child poverty of any state in the […]The post Connecticut: