Schools Matter: Riding the 'turnaround' merry-go-round in the continuing assault on Philadelphia public schools: Part VI - Who is Afton Partners?

Schools Matter: Riding the 'turnaround' merry-go-round in the continuing assault on Philadelphia public schools: Part VI - Who is Afton Partners?:

 Riding the 'turnaround' merry-go-round in the continuing assault on Philadelphia public schools: Part VI - Who is Afton Partners?

 by Ken Derstine
@ Defend Public Education
March 14, 2016

The previous article in this series was posted June 2, 2016. This series has detailed the assault on Philadelphia public schools by corporate education reform business and financial interests. At the last posting, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission had not acted on the non-renewal recommendation of its charter office for Aspira, Universal, and Mastery charters. 

Pennsylvania law mandates that a charter term is five years and must undergo a renewal process after that.  There is a stipulation in the law that the renewal process can be extended for one year, if there are mitigating circumstances.  That one-year extension can only be used one time. They have been postponing the renewals month after month since April 2016. Aspira’s was postponed without the SRC even taking a vote in 2015.

Now, as can be seen in Part VI in this series, the privatization merry-go-round is spinning ever faster in the assault on Philadelphia public schools.

*****

In a recently released report by Afton Partners, the cost of students leaving Philadelphia public schools to transfer to charters was examined. The study had been commissioned in February, 2015 by the School Reform Commission, which functions as a school board and makes all final decisions for Philadelphia schools.

Click here to read the entire Afton report.

In “is the glass half full or half empty” coverage, the Philadelphia Inquirer published Schools Matter: Riding the 'turnaround' merry-go-round in the continuing assault on Philadelphia public schools: Part VI - Who is Afton Partners?:

DeVos reacts to her portrayal on SNL rather differently than Trump did to his - The Washington Post

DeVos reacts to her portrayal on SNL rather differently than Trump did to his - The Washington Post:

DeVos reacts to her portrayal on SNL rather differently than Trump did to his

Kate McKinnon as Besty DeVos during a mock White House press conference by Sean Spicer as played by Melissa McCarthy on Saturday Night Live on Feb. 4, 2017. (Photo by Will Heath/NBC)

President Trump took none too kindly to Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of him on a number of episodes of “Saturday Night Live” this season. For example:

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Donald J. Trump 

✔@realDonaldTrump

Just tried watching Saturday Night Live - unwatchable! Totally biased, not funny and the Baldwin impersonation just can't get any worse. Sad

9:13 PM - 3 Dec 2016

 
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While Trump has repeatedly trashed Baldwin’s impersonation of him, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos just took a different tack. She displayed some humor.

DeVos was portrayed on SNL’s March 4 episode by Kate McKinnon as a know-nothing education secretary during a mock news conference by White House press secretary Sean Spicer, played by Melissa McCarthy.

The portrayal refers to DeVos’s performance at her Jan. 17 Senate confirmation hearing, in which she could not answer basic questions about education policy and displayed confusion about whether the major federal law protecting the rights of students with disabilities was actually a federal law with which states had to comply. Her nomination was so controversial that she was approved by the Senate only after Mike Pence broke a 50-50 tie, the only vice president who ever did that DeVos reacts to her portrayal on SNL rather differently than Trump did to his - The Washington Post:

Facing ICE, Hate Incidents, & Contract Negotiations in DCPS – Education Town Hall Forum

Facing ICE, Hate Incidents, & Contract Negotiations in DCPS – Education Town Hall Forum:

Facing ICE, Hate Incidents, & Contract Negotiations in DCPS

Elizabeth Davis, president of the Washington Teacher’s Union, and Max Ewart, DCPS alumnus, join the Education Town Hall on March 16 to discuss challenges faced by public schools in the current national and local climate. Listen live via TuneIn, 11 a.m. to noon Eastern or check back here after the broadcast.

Max Ewart, a graduate of DCPS’ School Without Walls Senior High School, shares efforts to see justice in recent anti-Semitic and racist incidents at his old school. Liz Davis will discuss school responses and responsibilities in the current national climate, the impact of ICE threats on DC public schools, and the latest on contract negotiations. Join the conversation by calling 202-889-9797.

The Education Town Hall broadcasts from Historic Anacostia
in Washington, DC, on We Act Radio,
Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern
Listen live via TuneIn.
Shows are archived for convenient listening shortly after broadcast.

After years of weekly broadcasts, the program now focuses one show each month on local issues and one on “the BUS,” organized by BadAss Teachers, United Opt Out, and SOS March.

Facing ICE, Hate Incidents, & Contract Negotiations in DCPS – Education Town Hall Forum:

Three Problems With CPRE's Twitter Bot Claims | Truth in American Education

Three Problems With CPRE's Twitter Bot Claims | Truth in American Education:

Three Problems With CPRE’s Twitter Bot Claims

Even by the bottom-dwelling standards of Common Core propagandists, this is a bit rich. Huffington Post and a new Gates Foundation-funded outfit called The 74 both report gleefully (see here and here) on a study by the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE), purporting to show that much opposition to Common Core was built by “fake news” generated by manipulation of Twitter feeds. Financed partly by – guess who? – the Gates Foundation, this study is a remarkably shoddy piece of work in a field, education research, known for shoddy work.

First, the CPRE study. The researchers’ first odd decision was to analyze the Common Core debate through the lens of Twitter traffic at all. Although the numbers are unquantifiable, it’s safe to say the vast majority of parents and other citizens who have worked against Common Core for years don’t use Twitter and are serenely unaware of what today’s tweets are saying. So the idea that Common Core opposition depended to any significant extent on Twitter traffic is bogus from the get-go.

The second questionable decision was to begin the examination of Twitter traffic with September 2013. This was long after academic and other serious critiques of Common Core were published by experts such as Dr. James Milgram and Dr. Sandra Stotsky. Dr. Stotsky spoke to Alabama legislators against it in 2011.  By skipping the several years before September 2013, the researchers were able to avoid chronicling Twitter traffic that publicized weighty reports the researchers couldn’t dismiss as “fake news.”  Dr. Milgram correctly warned Alabamians in 2015 of the disaster awaiting them.  Alabama math scores on NAEP dropped from 25th pre common core to dead last that same year.

And speaking of fake news, the researchers seem strangely oblivious to the legitimate and serious debate that has been swirling around Common Core since 2010. Instead, as Truth in American Education co-founder James Wilson noted, they accept pro-Common Core marketing at face value and dismiss any contrary information as myth. But there is massive evidence that the Three Problems With CPRE's Twitter Bot Claims | Truth in American Education:

Peg with Pen: Jewell Elementary & Aurora Public Schools Skirt Law

Peg with Pen: Jewell Elementary & Aurora Public Schools Skirt Law:

Jewell Elementary & Aurora Public Schools Skirt Law

Letter sent to Colorado State Board of Education, as well as media, senators who sponsored bill, Aurora Education Association, Aurora superintendent office and Aurora school board.

Dear Board Members,

I wrote to you last week concerning PARCC incentives that are occurring at Jewell Elementary in the Aurora Public School District. See here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/03/08/school-offers-incentives-to -get-kids-to-take-common-core-standardized-test/?utm_term=.ac09ab89615a 

The incentives are still moving forward. There is a lot to be concerned about here; it's clear that HB 15-1323 (often referred to as the opt out law) is not being followed. Jewell plans to exclude "opt out" students from PARCC rewards. 

However, in addition to that, Jewell plans to have negative consequences for students who do not show great effort. How is effort determined? Trying to determine effort will be very subjective, and sadly, will impact children who need the most support. Children who have behavior issues, or simply can't sit still, may be punished simply because they cannot endure these long testing sessions. As a teacher, I can assure you that these testing sessions are brutally exhausting.

I am told that the word "extracurricular" is how Aurora is getting around the law. They believe prizes and celebrations for test participation do not count as "extracurricular."  Therefore, they believe there are no negative consequences for children. I am a bit floored by this attempt to twist the law. Raffles and parties which exclude children are clearly negative consequences for opt out children, regardless what one might think "extracurricular" refers to.

I looked up the definition of extracurricular and I'm pretty sure that raffles and parties do not fall within the normal routine of the school day at Jewell. For a district to attempt to skirt the law in such a manner is disgraceful.

I would really appreciate your help with this. If Aurora is allowed to do this, it sets a clear precedence for other districts. There should be no enticements for testing and children should not be punished for so-called low effort or opting out.  The "opt out" portion of the law is worthless if opt out children can be punished simply because someone has decided that prizes and parties are not considered extracurricular. Finally, punishing children who have "low effort" is cruel and targets our children with the most needs. This particular section of HB 15-1323 (see page 16) must be honored, otherwise more districts will move forward with such bribery and punishment.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Peggy Robertson
www.pegwithpen.com

Peg with Pen: Jewell Elementary & Aurora Public Schools Skirt Law:

 

Billionaires Push School Privatization | tultican

Billionaires Push School Privatization | tultican:

Billionaires Push School Privatization

Photo by Alex Brandon of the AP taken from report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

President Donald Trump visited a private religious school in Florida on March 2, 2017, signaling once again that his education agenda will focus on school choice.

 The argument for privatization schemes like charter schools and vouchers is that public schools in many low-income neighborhoods are abhorrent failures. Worse yet, the poor families living there have no affordable education options and are trapped. The question is asked, “why don’t poor people have some of the same choices as wealthier people?”

A possible solution is proposed, “Instead of sending public dollars to ‘failing schools,’ vouchers could be given to parents so their children can attend private schools.” Another popular option is to use tax policy and monetary incentives to encourage privately operated charter schools. The claim is made that – because of market forces and reduction in both operating rules and oversight – charter schools will innovate and provide improved pedagogy. The traditional public schools which are encumbered by state regulations and teachers’ unions will learn from these charter school innovations and market forces will cause them to also improve.

Unfortunately, there are three base assumptions here that are wrong. While it is true that some schools have been so poorly resourced and politically damaged by both racism and corruption that they are an abomination, in general America’s public school system is amazingly great – not failing, great!

Secondly, voucher-fed private schools are not that good. Private schools that compare favorably with public schools are much more expensive than any proposed vouchers.

As for the charter school claims; they have not innovated, they have increase education costs and the lack of oversight has resulted in an endless stream of Billionaires Push School Privatization | tultican:

CURMUDGUCATION: Alternative Pathways

CURMUDGUCATION: Alternative Pathways:
Alternative Pathways

You will not find me among the staunch defenders of traditional teacher education programs.

I'm not the product of one myself (you can read more about that here), but I have sent many students into such programs, as well as hosting a bevy of student teachers from such places. There can be no doubt-- some teacher preparation programs should be completely overhauled. Slavish attention to unimportant details, theory too divorced from actual practice, lack of support for fledgling teachers and, nowadays, far too much emphasis on standards-tilted and test-centered education.

And yet, the only alternatives tossed out there in recent years are worse. Teach for America's theory that an ivy league degree and five weeks of "training" are all you need to stand in a classroom? Nope. Shortage-suffering states that lower the bar to "You must have a pulse to ride this teacher desk"? Double nope. And where do we turn for help on the subject-- to the ridiculous National Council on Teacher Quality and their bogus "research"? Nopity nope nope.

I can think of better ways (just waiting for the phone to ring so I can start my lucrative consulting biz), though I think the most basic problem is that unlike doctors, nurses or physical therapists, teachers are not allowed to be in charge of our own profession. If college programs needed the certification of a board of actual working teachers in order to run their programs, we'd see a new world within just a couple of years.

But of all the things about teacher training that need to be fixed, the biggest gap may be the matter of alternative pathways for late bloomers.

Read this story from a guest poster at Dad Gone Wild. This is the tale of Mary Jo Cramb, a teacher who entered the profession later in life, entering through the back door of TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project). TNTP is a quieter sibling of TFA, built on the idea of giving somewhat riper CURMUDGUCATION: Alternative Pathways:

NEWARK’S ST. BENEDICT’S: Acts as aggressive charters imperil Catholic schools |

NEWARK’S ST. BENEDICT’S: Acts as aggressive charters imperil Catholic schools |:

NEWARK’S ST. BENEDICT’S: Acts as aggressive charters imperil Catholic schools

Changes at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark

Newark’s St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, for nearly 150 years an all-boys’ secondary school, is about to become what its headmaster calls a “pioneering” hybrid, expanding to include both elementary schooling and co-education–with girls admitted to its middle school division for the first time in its history.

 The upper division of the prep school–a 9th through 12th grade high school that has attracted national attention for success in educating inner-city young men–will remain all-boys. Its Middle Division–7th and 8th grades–will enroll both boys and girls. Previously, the middle school–which dates back to the 1970s–had enrolled only boys.

“We will be developing separate leadership and extracurricular activities for girls in the middle division,” explained Rev. Edwin Leahy, OSB, a St. Benedict’s alumnus who has been the school’s headmaster since 1973. “We are now shaping how that will happen.”

Rev. Edwin Leahy, OSB

St. Benedict’s also will now operate a co-educational K-6 elementary school.

 In some ways, the changes are more form than substance. For years, St. Mary School, an archdiocesan elementary school–and one of the largest Nigerian-American parishes in the nation–operated out of facilities owned by the Benedictine Abbey, the NEWARK’S ST. BENEDICT’S: Acts as aggressive charters imperil Catholic schools |:

Jersey Jazzman: NJ Charter Schools - A Fool's Gold Rush: Princeton

Jersey Jazzman: NJ Charter Schools - A Fool's Gold Rush: Princeton:

NJ Charter Schools - A Fool's Gold Rush: Princeton

Here are all the parts of this series so far:

- Prelude

- Franklin, NJ

- Princeton, NJ


As in Franklin, NJ, it appears that charter schools are splitting the community of Princeton apart. Go to planetprinceton.com, the town's hyperlocal, and you'll find lengthy and heated back-and-forths in the comments section about Princeton Charter School and the consequences of its expansion on the Princeton Public Schools.

This was brought about by the NJDOE's rush to expand charter school enrollment before Chris Christie's term ends. PCS will grow from 348 to 424 students in grades K-8; as I explained before, this will undoubtedly put additional fiscal strain on the public district schools. And, as always, the local school board and the local voters have no say in whether the expansion should take place.

Before I get to the data, a few things: first, while a particular charter school may work well for a particular student, personal stories are a poor way to make public policy. I have no doubt many PCS parents are happy with their children's school: good for them. But, as I have explained previously in this series, their ability to enroll their children in a charter school comes at a cost to the other families in Princeton and the town's taxpayers.

The real question in school "choice" policy is whether the alleged gains for charter school families outweigh the costs to all of the stakeholders. Those costs, by the way, include having parents within a town battling each other over charter school expansion.

Second: you can go to GuideStar.org and look up the tax records of Princeton Charter School and its affiliated 501c3 organizations, of which there are at least two: PCS Endowment & Capital Fund, and Friends of PCS. In 2015, these two nonprofits held over $1.2 million in assets, and granted over $300K to the school. I assume most of this was Jersey Jazzman: NJ Charter Schools - A Fool's Gold Rush: Princeton:

The Hawaii Independent: Former Sacramento mayor reenters politics in Hawaii after dual scandals

The Hawaii Independent: Former Sacramento mayor reenters politics in Hawaii after dual scandals:

Former Sacramento mayor reenters politics in Hawaii after dual scandals
Allegations of sexual assault and shady handling of public education follow former mayor Kevin Johnson and his wife, former D.C. school system chancellor Michelle Rhee as they try to remake themselves in Hawai'i politics.

On January 18, 2017, the Hawai‘i State Legislature convened the 29th Biennium Legislative Session. Senate President Kouchi introduced Kevin Johnson, the former Mayor of Sacramento and a former professional basketball player, and announced that “he has been meeting with Johnson and hopes to work with him to address many of the concerns in Hawai‘i that mirror those of the Mayor’s hometown” (as per Damon Tucker).

In addition to this appearance on opening day, Johnson has been making the rounds with legislators, and was most recently spotted last week at the Hawaii Business 20 for the next 20 event.

Johnson is an alleged serial perpetrator of sexual assault, something that has been covered extensively in media, including on HBO’s “Real Sports” news program. Among other allegations, Johnson was said to have used his standing in the community to keep his teenaged victims, many of whom he mentored, from coming forward.

See also: slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/10/12/kevin_johnson_sexual_assault_allegations_sacramento_mayor_faces_questions.html

In his speech, it was clear that Senator Kouchi had invited Johnson because of his work with charter schools, but it seems he must not know the full details of either Johnsons’ involvement with charter schools, or that of Johnson’s wife, Michelle Rhee. As a former chancellor of the Washington, D.C. school system, Rhee has also been the subject of The Hawaii Independent: Former Sacramento mayor reenters politics in Hawaii after dual scandals:

Isn’t desegregation a measure of educational quality? - The Hechinger Report

Isn’t desegregation a measure of educational quality? - The Hechinger Report:

Isn’t desegregation a measure of educational quality?
Real reform begins early and accounts for racial and economic diversity

Admit it. Many middle-class families are scared to send their children to schools with low-income children of color.

More than 60 years after the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, that mandated desegregation in schools, and after 25 years of education reform, white families aren’t flocking to neighborhood schools or charters with black children. In my view, faith-based schools are filled with people who are afraid of poor folk as much as they are God-fearing.

If we’re honest, the racial bias associated with high concentrations of low-income black and brown students is the main reason why people whisper, “I’m not going to experiment with my kid.”

There are some people who aren’t afraid. Teachers and school personnel who work with low-income students are more likely to trust their own work and don’t see students as liabilities or risks. If teachers commit to sending their own children to public schools maybe people who pay tuition to alleviate their fears will follow.

Join the conversation later on Andre Perry’s radio show, “Free College,” hosted Tuesdays on WBOK1230 in New Orleans at 3pm Central/4pm Eastern 504.260.9265.

A coalition of seven charter school management organizations (CMOs) in New Orleans and the Kingsley House, a non-profit that serves low-income and vulnerable populations, have partnered to offer a “diverse by design” early childhood center. Diverse by design is the latest jargon that describes a concerted effort to create racial and Isn’t desegregation a measure of educational quality? - The Hechinger Report:

Ed Notes Online: Jersey Jazzman: Republicans Must Own Trump; "Reformers" Must Own DeVos

Ed Notes Online: Jersey Jazzman: Republicans Must Own Trump; "Reformers" Must Own DeVos:

Jersey Jazzman: Republicans Must Own Trump; "Reformers" Must Own DeVos

Some of the center-right is disavowing Trump, even though they were instrumental in creating him -- just like some of the neoliberal school "reformers" are disavowing Betsy DeVos, even though they were instrumental in creating her... Jersey Jazzman

On this snowy day I'm clearing out some archives I've been saving. I continue the exploration of the Democrats and their support for ed deform with this Jersey Jazzman Feb. 12 piece I've had on my desktop over the past month because he makes so many important points. And once again let me point out that our teacher unions have been fairly lockstep with elements of ed deform from its earliest days even though you may hear some sqwauking now and them. The proof in the pudding is their consistent support for Dem candidates who are avid ed deformers.

JJ's thesis is summed up in the title: Republicans Must Own Trump; "Reformers" Must Own DeVos 

Donald Trump was inevitable. That he is a product of a political and media system in which Sullivan and Frum have held positions of influence for years. That the conservative/neo-liberal framing of the issues (what Atrios calls the "Free Republic to New Republic" range of acceptable discourse) set up the rise of a nationalist like Trump.

He goes on to quote neo-liberal Dems (New Republic and DFER's Shavar Jeffries) who try to distinguish between their brand of school choice and DeVos'. But JJ is not having any of that.

what's remarkable here is the attempt to separate DeVos from the entire "reform" project -- just like the center-right is trying to separate itself from Trump. Sorry, my reformy friends, but you don't get away that easily. In the same way "moderate conservatives" have set up Trump, you've set up DeVos. 

He then lists the essentials of how the deform movement has prepped us for a DeVos type:
1) The "reform" movement has repeatedly -- and with very little evidence -- sold America on the idea that its schools are "failures."

2) The "reform" movement has refused to acknowledge that the primary causes of the "opportunity gap" are the inequitable lives of children outside of school.
   
 3) The "reform" movement has repeatedly blamed teachers and their unions for the "failure" of America's schools, ignoring the lack of adequate educational resources, especially for schools serving at-risk children.

4) The "reform" movement has worked to de-professionalize education by repeatedly suggesting experience is an impediment, and not a virtue.  

Read the full piece to get an effective explanation of each of the above and use these arguments the next time you are at a family dinner or end up in a debate with people about "choice."

http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2017/02/republicans-must-own-trump-reformers.html

Ed Notes Online: Jersey Jazzman: Republicans Must Own Trump; "Reformers" Must Own DeVos:

Did Betsy DeVos just ask states to ignore part of federal education law? - The Washington Post

Did Betsy DeVos just ask states to ignore part of federal education law? - The Washington Post:

Did Betsy DeVos just ask states to ignore part of federal education law?

Did Education Secretary Betsy DeVos just ask states to ignore a part of the K-12 federal education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act?

Let’s look at what she said — and what the law says — about whom state officials should consult as they draw up ESSA accountability plans to be submitted to the Education Department for approval. These plans are supposed to show how states will establish student performance goals and create a system to hold schools “accountable” for student progress.

The ESSA says that state education agencies (SEAs), when developing their accountability plans, must consult with outside stakeholders, including teachers, principals, parents, administrators and others. Language in the law says:

That language makes clear that outside stakeholders are to be included in the process, a requirement outlined in regulations released by former president Barack Obama’s Education Department in November. Congress recently voted to throw out all of the Obama administration’s ESSA regulations.

[House overturns two Obama-era education regulations]

On Monday, the Education Department issued different language in a new “template” that states can use to create their ESSA accountability plans. It has far fewer requirements than the Obama administration’s template by design; DeVos has said power should be with the states to decide how to run their schools. The new template says states must consult only with one party: the governor.

The new template says:

In its consolidated State plan, each SEA may, but is not required to, include supplemental information such as its overall vision for improving outcomes for all students and its efforts to consult with and engage stakeholders when developing its consolidated State plan.

The department also released a list of frequently asked questions and answers about the new Did Betsy DeVos just ask states to ignore part of federal education law? - The Washington Post:

Marshall Tuck running again for state superintendent | EdSource

Marshall Tuck running again for state superintendent | EdSource:

Marshall *uck running again for state superintendent

Marshall Tuck, who narrowly lost to incumbent State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson in 2014, became the first candidate Monday to announce he’s running to succeed Torlakson, whose final term is up next year.

A former charter school executive and administrator of independently run schools in Los Angeles Unified, Tuck said in an interview that he’s pursuing the job for the same reason he ran the first time: to challenge the nation’s wealthiest state to commit its innovation and attention to improving education for the state’s highest-poverty students.

In 2014, Tuck, Torlakson and independent campaign committees spent $30 million – three times the spending in the governor’s race – in the most expensive statewide campaign that year. The California Teachers Association and other unions backed Torlakson, and wealthy donors, many of whom were heavy contributors to charter schools, supported Tuck in what became a referendum on workplace protections for teachers. Torlakson won with 52 percent of the vote. (For some of EdSource’s articles on the campaign, go here, here and here.)

Tuck, 43, said he continues to favor revising the state’s tenure law, granting due process rights in less than two years, and revising the state’s teacher evaluation system. But the issues of overriding importance, he said, are the need to establish “phenomenal” training and mentoring programs for principals and new teachers and “for more support for students with the greatest needs.”

There was an overemphasis in the last campaign on the 10 percent of the issues that were divisive and less on the other 90 percent, he said. The critical shortage of special education teachers “has a greater level of importance than a better tenure policy,” he said.

The nonpartisan office of state superintendent runs the California Department of Education, but the State Board of Education, appointed by the governor, sets education policy. Still, Tuck said, the state superintendent has influence, and the department’s primary challenge, in an era of local control, should be to identify and spread best instructional practices.

Tuck praised changes in school financing and governance under Gov. Jerry Brown: the Local Control Funding Formula, which channels significant money to low-income children and English learners, and the state’s new school accountability system, which incorporates multiple ways of measuring school performance. But, he said, there needs to be a closer examination to see that the neediest students areMarshall Tuck running again for state superintendent | EdSource: