Group asks Detroit superintendent to 'clarify thoughts' on charter schools
DETROIT - A Michigan charter school association is asking Nikolai Vitti, the new superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District, to "clarify his thoughts" on having Detroit Schools continue to authorize charter schools.
Detroit Public Schools has authorized charter schools since 1994, and the district currently oversees 13 charter schools.
In an interview with the Detroit Free Press earlier this month, Vitti said he would like to see DPSCD focus on improving its traditional public schools, rather than continue expending resources on authorizing charter schools. He recommended DPSCD fulfill its current contracts with charter schools and shift toward traditional schools, the Free Press reports.
Dan Quisenberry, president of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, a charter school association, was troubled by Vitti's comments.
"I hope we can all agree that we want every child to have a seat in a high-performing school, which is why we find Dr. Vitti's comments to be a bit confusing and troubling," Quisenberry said in a statement issued Thursday, July 13. "Some of the highest-performing schools in the city are charter schools authorized by the Detroit Public Schools Community District. How is it benefitting students if you want to close those schools?
"We hope Dr. Vitti is able to clarify his thoughts, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that every child in Detroit has a seat in a high-quality school," Quisenberry continued.
At the end of a charter school's contract, the school can apply for re-authorization. DPSCD commits to another five-year agreement if it fully re-authorizes a charter school, although the district's Office of Charter Schools outlines some options for shorter agreements.
The schools could seek a new authorizer if Detroit Schools decides to end its oversight of charter schools.Group asks Detroit superintendent to 'clarify thoughts' on charter schools | MLive.com: