Harper Academy highlights charter challenges in OKC
Harper Academy is seen Thursday in northeast Oklahoma City. (William W. Savage III)
Ben Felder of The Oklahoman reports, “Two Oklahoma City charter schools are likely to be bottom 5 percent performers when the ratings are released this month — Justice Alma Wilson SeeWorth Academy and Harper Academy.”
Felder explains that “because SeeWorth is an alternative school, it is exempt from the standard.” But, Harper’s sponsor could “be required to close the school at the end of its contract or defend its decision to keep the school open to the state Board of Education.”
Even though SeeWorth still receives the lowest rankings, it is a good school (as I learned by teaching there for a semester after retiring from the OKCPS). So, the first lesson is that accountability ratings are flawed, but they can be fairly useful in the hands of reliable state officials (as is the case with the Hofmeister administration).
The second lesson is that Oklahoma City’s charter discussion needs to be more reality-based. We were spoiled by first-generation charters; OKCPS charters have been like magnet schools, and they have done good work even if they haven’t accepted their share of high-challenge students. Charter Harper Academy highlights charter challenges in OKC - NonDoc: