Big Education Ape

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Breaking News: I’ve Been Approved to Open 5 Charters for 2017-18 – Cloaking Inequity

Breaking News: I’ve Been Approved to Open 5 Charters for 2017-18 – Cloaking Inequity:

Breaking News: I’ve Been Approved to Open 5 Charters for 2017-18

Inspired by many, many deep and important conversations during the past year, I am proud to announce that I will open five new charter schools in my hometown of Lansing, Michigan. Well, kind of in Lansing, because they will be mostly online.

In Michigan, “any parent, teacher, group or entity may apply for a charter.” So why not me!? Urban High School Academies (UHSAs) are chartered under MCL 380.521 – 380.529, commonly referenced as Part 6C of the Michigan Revised School Code. These schools can only be authorized by state public universities.

So I have GOOD news for teachers from neighborhood public schools that are now looking for a job — South Eastern Michigan University (Go SEMU Pirates!) has approved petitions for my five new for-profit charter schools to open in the 2017-18 school year.

The charter applications for the 2017-18 petition cycle were submitted to SEMU in February of 2017. It only took four weeks to approve the sites. Cooking with gas. SEMU, is an independent charter school authorizing entity. Here are my schools that they approved:

SELL Academy: SELL Academy will be primarily online and have a statewide attendance zone and serve grades 9-12. The school plans to implement an online real estate and sales curriculum through partnership with Trump University. The school aims to integrate sales into project-based learning experiences to allow students to develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of sales— including real estate deals. Tremendous! There will be a brick-and-mortar location at a Trump property to be determined later.
Perfect Graduation Academy for Boys: Exodus Academy for Boys will be primarily online have a statewide with a brick-and-mortar location on land to be purchased by school and then leased back to me by my Charter Management Organization at a “great” price. Exodus will serve grades 9-10. The school will be a single-gender charter school that provides a rigorous, college preparatory program for grades 9-12. We will have a 100% graduation rate for everyone that is still at our school after four years. I promise. Exodus Academy for Boys will offer an extended day, week and year ~~religious-based~~ educational program. The focus is on boys, because, well, you know boys.
Exodus Academy for Girls: Exodus Academy for Girls will be primarily online have a statewide with a brick-and-mortar location on land to be purchased by school and then leased back to me by my Charter Management Organization at a “great” price (see above). I am actually thinking I might sell this school before it opens or mid-year. I’m taking offers— I’m ready to exodus.
Computer Hall: Computer Hall will have an Ingham County brick-and-mortar location and attendance zone serving grades 9-12. The school will offer an educational program with an emphasis on computer science, design-thinking and literacy. Specifically, the school will offer 400+ minutes a day in front of computer screens. Other innovations include big kids rewarding littler kids with coupons for sitting absolutely still in class, 5-minute recess, and limited pee breaks.
SUP: School for UnderPerforming Kids that Want to Read Good Too will have (insert text here before submitting application) “I am glad to lead efforts to bring a charter school to this area… and now we are ready to get to work.”

Betsy with her homeboy

I am opening these for-profit (online mostly really) schools with the full blessing of Betsy DeVos, US Secretary of Education, who really, really impressed me with her sage wisdom about school choice by recently using a Lyft/Uber ride sharing metaphor for school choice.

How many of you got here today in an Uber, or Lyft, or another ridesharing service? Did you choose that because it was more convenient than hoping a taxi would drive by? Even if you didn’t use a ridesharing service, I’m sure most of you at least have the app on your phone…
Nobody mandates that you take an Uber over a taxi, nor should they. But if you think ridesharing is the best option for you, the government shouldn’t get in your way.

Exactly. What a visionary concept! We are so fortunate to have Betsy DeVos at the US Department of Education. She is incredibly experienced and insightful. School choice should be exactly that, schools do the choosing. I truly believe that once you say you want a school on your phone app, my charter schools will choose if we want to take you for a ride!

If Derek Zoolander can have his own school why can’t I?

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4/1/2017

I riffed off this real charter announcement piece.

Breaking News: I’ve Been Approved to Open 5 Charters for 2017-18 – Cloaking Inequity:

Past efforts:

Julian Vasquez Heilig is leaving The University of Texas at Austin

Julian Vasquez Heilig hired as Teach For America Vice President

Center for the Study Support of Education Profitization

Betsy DeVos’ Mother Taught at a Public School That Is Now Closed | deutsch29

Betsy DeVos’ Mother Taught at a Public School That Is Now Closed | deutsch29:

Betsy DeVos’ Mother Taught at a Public School That Is Now Closed

In her US Department of Education (USDOE) bio, US ed sec Betsy DeVos advertises that her mother was “a public school teacher”:

Secretary DeVos has been involved in education policy for nearly three decades as an advocate for children and a voice for parents. She is especially passionate about reforms that help underserved children gain access to a quality education.

DeVos’ interest in education was sparked at an early age by her mother, a public school teacher.

DeVos tries to use this sketchy history about her mother as “a public school teacher” to establish credibility as a supporter of traditional public education.

Of course, the fact that DeVos offers no additional details is at once suspicious. She does not offer info on the subject that her mother, Elsa Zwiep, taught. She does not include the number of years that Zwiep taught.

She does not even name the public school.

On March 31, 2017, I published a post in which I sought answers to the above issues.

The short of it is that Zwiep taught for a few years at Longfellow Elementary School in Holland, Michigan, after receiving her bachelors degree in sociology in late 1953 from Calvin College. Zwiep began teaching mid-year in 1953-54 and apparently concluded her public teaching stint within a few years, likely by the time DeVos was born in 1958.

It is difficult for DeVos to gain any credibility as a supporter of traditional public education by disclosing the details above. The public teaching experience belongs to her mother, not her. Zwiep’s experience in the public school classroom was relatively brief; DeVos did not grow up with a mother who was actively teaching public school. DeVos did not attend public school. Her mother did not earn a degree in teaching, and Betsy DeVos’ Mother Taught at a Public School That Is Now Closed | deutsch29:

Education Matters: Detroit, you been talking to my boyfriend?

Education Matters: Detroit, you been talking to my boyfriend?:

Detroit, you been talking to my boyfriend?

Hey Detroit, how you doing?

I see you asked our super to interview for the job. That's cool. We haven't been together for that long. Sure he said we would always be together but you know supers say "you're special" to everybody so we don't take it personally him stepping out.

After all you guys would be a great match, he loves charter schools, half your kids are in charter schools, that's probably where we were heading with him in charge, so he has lots of experience working with them.

I read you have problems with teacher morale too, well teacher morale here would skyrocket if you hired him, so if he left he could say, teachers haven't been this happy in years and it would be completely true. Think about it this way, you're doing us a favor, that's how we are thinking about it anyways.

Oh have you heard our graduation rates are up? I mean they are up everywhere but they are still up right. Oh they are the same as yours, well that's cool too.

I know why you like him, he has a gift for gab and everything is always great, nothing is ever his fault either. He'll sweep you off your feet just be careful because the landing may be difficult.

The thing is he's a Michigan boy, you're in Michigan, it seems like a great fit. Florida with its mild temperatures and great attractions and larger salary never really seemed like a good fit for him.

Just wanted to say no hard feelings. We here in J-ville wish him and you nothing but the best.Education Matters: Detroit, you been talking to my boyfriend?:

Read Below Education Matters Wish Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti A Fond Adieu

The story of Philadelphia’s John Wister Elementary, a neighborhood school replaced by a charter, and how that replacement tore a community apart. - Network For Public Education

The story of Philadelphia’s John Wister Elementary, a neighborhood school replaced by a charter, and how that replacement tore a community apart. - Network For Public Education:

The story of Philadelphia’s John Wister Elementary, a neighborhood school replaced by a charter, and how that replacement tore a community apart

Charter Schools - Dividing Communities since 1991

The popular rationale for charter schools is that they provide families with “choice.” Competition is good, claim proponents, and neighborhood schools will get better as they compete for students and resources.

Increasing numbers of parents, however, argue that the opposite is happening. They complain that charters take away the choice they want—a public school in their neighborhood in easy walking distance from their home. The playing field is not even, they argue. Charters have more money to spend, and are favored by political forces.

And when a charter chain aggressively lobbies to take over a public school, parents are pitted against each other. Surely that is no one’s choice.

What follows is just such a story– the story of Philadelphia’s John Wister Elementary, a neighborhood school replaced by a charter, and how that replacement tore a community apart.

John Wister Elementary School

John Wister Elementary School had 400 students, nearly all were Black and from low-income families. The school was a part of the Germantown, Philadelphia community since the 1950s. It was named for a prominent citizen from Revolutionary times whose historic home’s garden gate led to the school’s playground.

In October of 2015, Wister parents learned that their school was to become a charter school. Dr. William Hite, the Superintendent of Philadelphia Schools, announced that Wister would be one of three schools placed in the district’s Renaissance charter program. That program, which began under former Superintendent, Arlene Ackerman, relinquishes control of struggling public schools to charter operators who apply to take them over and serve neighborhood students.

An understanding of Wister’s story requires background on school governance in Philadelphia. Philadelphia’s schools are governed by the School Reform Commission (SRC), a five-member board. Three members are appointed by the governor, and two are appointed by the mayor. The Governor, therefore, has oversized influence over school governance in the city. And the previous Governor, Tom Corbett, used that power to financially decimate the public schools.

The year after the majority of SRC members became Governor Corbett’s appointees, the SRC voted to close 23 public schools. In 2014, it voted to cancel the teachers’ contract, a vote that was subsequently deemed to be illegal by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Superintendent William Hite, a graduate of the controversial Broad Academy, was hired by the SRC in 2012.

Wister suffered greatly as its resources were depleted in those years. The announcement that Wister would now be given to a charter operator immediately became controversial. In prior years, parents in struggling schools were allowed to vote on whether their neighborhood school would be turned over to a charter. In 2014, the parents of two schools voted “no.” Ó For example, Steel Elementary School parents voted 121–55 to oppose the Mastery Charter chain’s takeover of their school.

Then the rules changed. The parent vote was taken The story of Philadelphia’s John Wister Elementary, a neighborhood school replaced by a charter, and how that replacement tore a community apart. - Network For Public Education:

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Not An April Fool's Joke: Trump Declares April Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month - Slog - The Stranger

Not An April Fool's Joke: Trump Declares April Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month - Slog - The Stranger:

Trump Declares April Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

Donald "Grab Them By the Pussy" Trump, everyone. MARIO TAMA

In an announcement released today, President Donald Trump declared April 2017 to be National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. This is a standard thing that presidents do, and there's a long history connected with this particular awareness-raising effort, but it's a unique moment when the Predator-in-Chief signs such a proclamation.

Read Donald Trump's whole statement below for another reminder of how ill-suited this guy is to hold his office.

At the heart of our country is the emphatic belief that every person has unique and infinite value. We dedicate each April to raising awareness about sexual abuse and recommitting ourselves to fighting it. Women, children, and men have inherent dignity that should never be violated.

According to the Department of Justice, on average there are more than 300,000 instances of rape or other sexual assault that afflict our neighbors and loved ones every year. Behind these painful statistics are real people whose lives are profoundly affected, at times shattered, and who are invariably in need of our help, commitment, and protection.

As we recognize National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, we are reminded that we all share the responsibility to reduce and ultimately end sexual violence. As a Nation, we must develop meaningful strategies to eliminate these crimes, including increasing awareness of the problem in our communities, creating systems that protect vulnerable groups, and sharing successful prevention strategies.

My Administration, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, will do everything in its power to protect women, children, and men from sexual violence. This includes supporting victims, preventing future abuse, and prosecuting offenders to the full extent of the law. I have already directed the Attorney General to create a task force on crime reduction and public safety. This task force will develop strategies to reduce crime and propose new legislation to fill gaps in existing laws.

Prevention means reducing the prevalence of sexual violence on our streets, in our homes, and in our schools and institutions. Recent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of changing social norms that accept or allow indifference to sexual violence. This can be done by engaging young people to step in and provide peer leadership against condoning violence, and by mobilizing men and boys as allies in preventing sexual and relationship violence. Our families, schools, and communities must encourage respect for women and children, who are the vast majority of victims, and promote healthy personal relationships. We must never give up the fight against the scourge of child pornography and its pernicious effects on both direct victims and the broader culture. We recommit ourselves this month to establishing a culture of respect and appreciation for the dignity of every human being.

There is tremendous work to be done. Together, we can and must protect our loved ones, families, campuses, and communities from the devastating and pervasive effects of sexual assault. In the face of sexual violence, we must commit to providing meaningful support and services for victims and survivors in the United States and around the world.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2017 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. I urge all Americans, families, law enforcement, health care providers, community and faith-based organizations, and private organizations to support survivors of sexual assault and work together to prevent these crimes in their communities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.

DONALD J. TRUMP