Milwaukee: Poster District for the Failure of Corporate Reform
Bob Peterson here writes about the fate of Milwaukee which is a model city for almost every bad idea of the corporate reform movement. Milwaukee has had vouchers and charters since 1990. The voucher schools and charter schools do not outperform the public schools. The public schools have disproportionate numbers of students with special needs, who Re not wanted by the voucher and charter schools.
Jack Schneider: Why School Integration Matters
In this post, Jack Schneider explains why he and his wife chose to send their daughter to the public school across the street. Schneider, a historian of education (like me), knows that many of his friends and acquaintances don’t agree or approve. They are not bigots, but they nonetheless are uncomfortable when confronted with the opportunity to react with people of a different race or class from t
Julia Sass Rubin: School Performance Measures Are Poor Measures of School Performance
Julia Sass Rubin here analyzes “school report cards” in New Jersey. This analysis was published last year but is as valid now as it was last May. Rubin writes: “Comparing schools to those with similar demographics is a good idea that highlights that students’ personal characteristics play a bigger role in determining their academic outcomes than anything that happens to them in-school. And what
The Rise and Rise of UP Academy, UP, UP, and Away
A reader sends the following sad story of a phony “turnaround”: “In Boston, the Gavin Middle School was “transformed” into the in-district charter school Unlocking Potential (UP Academy) beginning SY 2011-2012. It was part of a package deal in which several schools were closed and morphed into something else. The school department’s first presentation on the takeover included these statements: •.
Why Are Hoboken’s Schools Segregated?
Theresa Minitullo, a passionate advocate for Hoboken public schools, is dismayed that the city has separate and unequal school systems, all publicly funded. The overwhelming majority of poor kids go to the public schools. The white kids and non-poor kids go to the charter schools. There is a reason: the charters help gentrify Hoboken, assuring young professional tat their kids can get a free pu
EduShyster: Newly Released Documents Show Links Between Charters and TFA
EduShyster and co-author Chad Sommer reveal the contents of newly released documents that show the close relationship between Teach for America and charters (90% of which are non-union). Sommer is an alum of TFA, class of 2011 TFA are inexperienced and inexpensive. They are an essential part of the charter business model. They write: Emails sent by the Broad Foundation, a leading advocate of marke
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-2-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Secrets of Test Success at Success AcademyEva Moskowitz, an attorney who served on the New York City Council and was chair of the education committee, opened her own chain of charter schools in Harlem in 2006. Moskowitz is an interesting, brilliant woman with a Ph.D. in history. Her chain initially was called Harlem Success Academy