I'm Going to Launch a Charter School; A Public Charter School.

[NYC_SKP]

I'm Going to Launch a Charter School.

It will be a public charter school, open to all but necessarily limited to a fixed number of students each year.

Admission will be by lottery but certain demographics will need to be met to ensure that under-served students are not prevented from attending.

It will use ADA for funding, just like the traditional local schools that would otherwise have to take the students my school will gladly serve.

It will be staffed by members of the teachers union.

The student population served will be 50% or greater at risk of failure.

We will encourage enrollment of students with IEPs (students with identified learning challenges) and make sure that we have at least the same proportion of these as the local traditional public schools, and possibly a higher proportion.

We will NOT accept federal Title I funds.

Students will have to meet state expectations before graduation.

It will be a small learning community with just one or two teachers in its first year, self-contained classrooms, thematic instruction.

Students will stay with the same teacher or teachers from ninth grade through graduation.

The school will focus on environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

The school will probably open in Fall, 2013, because these things take time.

[aikoaiko]

1. I can't tell is this is sarcasm or not.

:shrug:

[NYC_SKP]

49. Why would it be sarcasm? A public charter school with union teachers helping students be successful

That the idea seems like it could be sarcasm to anyone is kind of disturbing.

:shrug:

[rucky]

2. Why not Title I?

[NYC_SKP]

5. NCLB...

The Federal Government uses the threat of withholding of funds to coerce schools to follow stupid pointless counterproductive mandates.

Federal funding constitutes less than 10% of revenue for most schools, so screw it.

:patriot:

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. And you think that refusing Title I funding releases you from abiding by NCLB?

I hate to break it to you, but it's not that easy. I wish it was. Many of us thought of this years ago. But you can't refuse the funding. The school is not the only party involved in the process.

[NYC_SKP]

12. Yes, we can and we already do.

ETA, this isn't Kansas, this isn't a school district, there are ways to do it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Yes thankfully it isn't Kansas

Sam Brownback does enough damage to our kids and our schools without your help.

[NYC_SKP]

26. You're very kind. I'll be meeting our state superintendent tomorrow, a very nice man.

Sorry I can't help you there in Kansas.

:hug:

[sabrina 1]

43. It does, it's the reason why many private schools (like mine)

do not take public funds. The only way you have to cater to NCLB is to include in your curriculum instruction on how to take their silly tests. We used it as a sort of fun game. But no need to waste real learning time on 'testing'. Testing is not teaching. But it does provide huge profits for the Educational Publishing Corps. They have received millions in profits from public funds, all wasted money that should have been spent on education. Funny how many of those 'businessmen' were friends of Bush.

[rucky]

23. Interesting. Sounds like you're serious.

Congrats and best of luck to you!

[NYC_SKP]

29. Thanks, Rucky!

I am quite serious, and I appreciate the support.

I look forward to posting more about it in a year or two...

Cheers!

[wtmusic]

3. You're exactly 20 years too late

The nation's first charter school was a product of American Federation of Teachers President Albert Shanker. That one, too, was about making money - and the idea turned around and bit teachers' unions in the ass.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/03/26/29kahlenberg_ep.h27.html

[NYC_SKP]

8. I didn't say this would be the very first school of this description. And it's not about making $$$

I don't even get that part of your response.

And the teachers will be union members in this case.

:shrug:

[wtmusic]

21. The AFT runs two all-union charters in NYC

and has for a long time. They don't get paid based on ADA, though - they get grants, with a negotiated period of financial independence. That's the whole charter premise. So when you say yours will be funded based on ADA you're not really describing a charter. And when you're applying for grants and paying yourself, it becomes very quickly about making $$$.

Some other points:

1) Meeting 'state expectations before graduation' - does that imply standardized testing? Not that I disagree, but you've already got a big bone to pick with unions.
2) 'Students will stay with the same teacher or teachers from ninth grade through graduation'. Is that really the best way to encourage diversity of thought? And what if that teacher you hired turns out to be a lemon - will you really spend $250,000 to fire him/her, or is my kid just stuck for four years?
3) 'The school will focus on environmental stewardship and social responsibility.' Absolutely - but what is it about your school which will permit us to enact what we haven't been able to in the past?

[NYC_SKP]

28. This isn't in New York; this is in California...

1) Students still have to take and pass the California High School Exit Exam.

2) Not many teachers want to or can teach in a self-contained environment; we already have fantastic candidates lined up and they've proven their abilities; the school will be on an existing campus with plenty of other students and teachers and interaction so I'm not concerned about a lack of diversity.

3) I'm not sure what you mean by "permit us to enact", but I'll say that we'll be teaching to the importance of holding these principles in the highest regard, we will allow students to discover their own abilities rather than force them to follow some identical curriculum and work lock-step through a pacing guide. We will reverse the traditional model of lecture in class, homework at night; student will review lecture material for homework and come to school to work on problems collaboratively. There will be a significant service-learning component, so that will help change community behaviors and possibly lead to enactment of environmentally sound local policies. Some students may go on to be policy directors in government or through NGOs or at university.

FWIW, most of what I describe we already do, the difference is that I'll get to be director of this one (if I get my way).

It's with the rich experience that I have with public schools and private schools throughout the state that I can make these statements.

I'm a critic of critics of charter schools when I think the criticism is too broad, which it often is.

At the same time, I'll be the first to criticize the ones that totally suck, same as the sucky public schools.

:patriot:

[wtmusic]

40. Then you know that the CA exit exam is a joke.

It probably would have been the 8th grade exit exam at the school I went to, but even current high school kids regard it as laughably easy. If that's the guarantee you are offering CA parents, to me it's grossly insufficient.

You raise more questions than you answer:

1) Being on the same campus with different teachers but only being taught by one, (or two, or three, I don't quite understand your plan) for four years aren't comparable. And what will your policy be if if one of your fantastic candidates doesn't work out? It happens in the best of situations - and in Los Angeles, for example, the termination rate is only slightly better than NY (11 per year with 35,000 teachers).

2) If you've worked in a Title 1 school you know that the neediest students don't do ANY homework and still get passed so they won't drop out (even in some public schools, it's about the money). Do you have any studies you can cite to show students will actually review anything when they get home? Why would they, if they can come to school the next day and get Tommy Smartypants to "collaborate" with them? What's going to prepare them for the homework they'll be expected to do if they go to college?

3) As a parent, does 'allowing students to discover their own abilities' mean my kid is going to understand fractions when he graduates? Will he understand enough civics to know how 'environmentally sound local policies' are enacted? Again, is the CA exit exam the benchmark?

4) Have you worked up a budget? It sounds like it's going to cost about twice as much as what's typically available based on ADA minus Title 1.

I'm really not trying to be antagonistic, but there are already many reasons why the animal you describe doesn't exist.

[NYC_SKP]

41. Yes, of course I do. Students need to know 55% of 7th grade standards to graduate HS.

The CA HSEE a joke.

I'm not sure what guarantee to parents you're referring to. We can't guarantee anything.

1) The plan for one versus two teachers depends upon a number of factors, but it won't begin with more than two teachers with 50-60 students. The two teachers might decide to team teach, they might decide to change it up mid-year, but we would all develop a four-year (flexible) plan before we begin. The interaction with other teachers is based upon student access to other programs, in a sense, "electives" (but not compulsory). The campus already has other academies and programs, so it doesn't have to be invented, it's all right there with shops and studios, as well. If a candidate doesn't work out they'll we'll have to interview again. This happened last year and it was ugly but I can't take credit or blame for the first hire who didn't work out because I wasn't on the interview committee at the time.

2) Your entire concern here seems to be based on a lot of assumptions that I don't think are fair to make. You seem to assume that students will cheat and/or be slackers as the default attitude. It's OUR mission to engage them on day one so that they want to learn, they want to do assignments, they believe in what they are doing. That's how to do education. Regarding "collaborating", in a small learning community/self-contained setting, "Tommy Smartypants" doesn't get away with squat. He might try it once or twice but will get caught. Again with the assumptions-- this isn't public school with periods and teachers who only develop relationships with a handful of students. I don't have studies, I don't need them, the only proof I need will be when they come in the next day after a homework assignment.

3) The HSEE isn't the benchmark. It might be if this was an 8th grade class. Students will understand fractions after their first year, they'll understand applications for calculus by graduation, most graduates today cannot answer the question, "How many sixteenths are in an inch?", so I think we'll be doing pretty well. Our students will be involved not only in civics studies but will make presentations before the city council and county board at a minimum.

4) There's no reason that it should cost more than a traditional school and every reason that it will cost less. The program I describe will be added to a place where similar programs with different themes already exist- charter-based academies. They all have varying levels of success, but our organization is fairly responsive to needs to change. My program will just be a new academy in existing facilities, facilities that run very efficiently and with low overhead. We write a LOT of grants and develop a lot of relationships with both national and local organizations and businesses. We owe nothing to any of them but are happy for the support. The ADA minus federal funds is enough to cover union scale salary and benefits with funds to spare for materials and resources and the overhead of the facility and administration.

I don't think you're being antagonistic and I welcome the devils' advocacy (if you don't mind my calling it that) because it allows other members to read my responses.

I only wish that an Internet discussion board was a safe place to share specific examples that would prove my point, but unfortunately in doing so I would probably reveal personal information that some might use to create grief.

:hi:

[wtmusic]

42. Keep us updated.

The devil is in the details, and you've obviously given it a lot of thought. But it does seem that you haven't had a lot of experience with the "neediest" (what are usually considered Title 1) students.

There are a higher percentage of cheaters, and though "slackers" is a pejorative term which I don't think is fair, the fact is that many are from broken homes and/or parents who don't give a shit about their kids or their kids' educations; some are abusive. Many (at least in L.A.) are unemployed and/or into hard drugs with all the complications that involves. It's not uncommon on Open House nights for not one parent to show up - these kids are mostly on their own. So be prepared to have your students tell you to shut the fuck up and laugh at you when you tell them you're going to engage them - those are the rules they grew up with. You'll have to put up with it to a certain extent or they drop out and you lose your money. That's the game.

Team teaching does seem to be like the best approach - in a sense what you'd be doing is providing the parents that a lot of these kids don't have.

With the teacher who didn't work out it sounds like you got off easy. I've heard with appeals, etc the cost to fire in CA is even higher than NY.

Good luck, if you can pull it off I will personally nominate you for CA Secretary of Education.

[NYC_SKP]

44. Thank you.

As regards to needy students (not to try to get in the last word) the last four years of my classroom tour of duty was in a juvenile hall with long term incarcerants aged 14-18.

I still have some of their work, and I am friends with two of them, now +/- eight years later.

What I learned while working with them, they all want badly to learn, they all want badly to do some good sometime in their life.

They all want a chance, but they sure do have a rough exterior!

Thanks very much!

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Your school won't survive without Title I finding.

[NYC_SKP]

6. Oh, yes it will. Many schools already do survive without Title I.

Screw federal funds.

Screw NCLB.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. List them.

Also provide your plan for replacing Title I funding.

[NYC_SKP]

9. I don't need to list them. And I don't need to replace Title I funding, I just need to run leaner.

Only 8.3 percent of school funding is federal (on average).

We will run on 91.7% of what a school taking federal funds would, and we'll be happier for it!

:P

ETA: I need to chose not to list the schools because I prefer to maintain my anonymity. Sorry to have to be this way about it.

[wtmusic]

22. What's 8.3% of zero?

You must not be very familiar with the current state of education.

Parents donate paper so kids can take tests. Teachers teach two classes in one classroom - on different subjects. Both of these are happening in my relatively-affluent public school.

A good illustrative lesson would be to come to my school's PTA meeting and tell parents they're not already donating enough supplies. :scared:

[NYC_SKP]

27. "Not familiar with education"? Um, no, I've been employed in a public school system for years...

I'm sorry that so many people look to their own schools as representative of how all schools must be.

It just isn't so.

We have no shortage of funds in our existing public charter schools.

This new school should similarly be quite able to run without parent donations.

Was I able to clone myself, I'd gladly come to other cities to replicate the program.

However, more likely than not, the existing bureaucracy would prevent changes for the better.

:shrug:

[dems_rightnow]

13. He's survive on rainbows and unicorns...

... and love.

[NYC_SKP]

16. Love is HUGE in this program. If anyone on staff doesn't feel the love...

...then they're in the wrong line of work.

:hug:

[Zorra]

11. Cool! Good luck to you and the students you serve.

I like your idea and totally hope it is a fabulous success.

[NYC_SKP]

14. Thank you, Zorra!

I appreciate your reply and I think we'll have a terrific school!

:thumbsup:

[etherealtruth]

15. Good Luck!

One can only wish the best to those trying new (sometimes old) creative approaches to educating children.

Hoping for great success to you and the children.

[NYC_SKP]

24. Many thanks!

In many ways we are taking educational models from the past, plenty of hands on activities, place based learning, more.

[Nederland]

18. Not sure what things are like where you live...

...but here in Colorado the Teacher's Unions are strongly anti-charter schools. You sure that union members will work at your school?

[NYC_SKP]

20. This will not be a problem in my Public Charter School.

We already operate several, no union resistance because union membership is required.

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[elleng]

25. If my daughters or I were in NY, we'd SO be with you!

Trying to send links, but 'puter acting up today.
:thumbsup:
:hi:

[msanthrope]

30. This sounds great. Please keep up updated--I think that having your viewpoint in our education

threads is important.

I worked a charter and was union. It was the union that gave me crap--not the school, FYI. When all the teachers at my school agreed that it was a good idea for us to eat with our students, we were told by the union that we could not do that--it would give "people ideas."

We ate with the kids. We liked our students.

[NYC_SKP]

33. Thanks for the support and that story...

Our union is strong and supportive, they seem to stay out of our business and we all pay our dues and are grateful to be members.

That idea of eating with the kids: it's just the kind of thinking we love to hear about and talk about.

One of our latest innovations we're calling "a fifth year of high school"-- some kids don't go immediately on to college full-time or find a job; some want to hang around.

We provide that opportunity to them, we ask that they come an act as tutors and facilitators after school, we maintain a continuum of education.

I can't imagine that happening in my old giant high school where a graduate coming on campus would not be encouraged at all.

:thumbsup:

[msanthrope]

37. I think that 'fifth year' sounds great. Community businesses might be interested in talking to

kids who can demonstrate that responsibility.

[NYC_SKP]

38. Thank you! And yes, community businesses have a big stake in schools...

...and a sincere interest.

It's been my observation that, over time, schools have built higher and higher walls around themselves (literally and figuratively).

We are breaking these down, bringing kids to work and work to kids, kids presenting at chamber of commerce events, job shadowing, just trying to be a community again, everyone wins!

:bounce:

[msanthrope]

45. I got union apprenticeships for some of my kids. Hard work, but they

got off to a good start.

There's a need for high schools that create people who can do fulfilling work. I wish you the best.

[NYC_SKP]

46. Thank you. Among other things, all kids get OSHA-10 certifications...

...thanks to union sponsorship.

Other certifications will be available.

Everyone in industry tells me kids are leaving high school grossly unprepared for the workplace.

My associates in colleges tell me the same, all have remediation programs for incoming freshmen to bring them up to speed.

Amazing.

We can do this!

[seaker]

39. Excellent!

You are certain to accomplish this. I fervently hope it's intent will be embraced and supported by all the necessary stakeholders with minimal fuss and we can celebrate with you in 2013!
You are to be lauded for selecting this formidable and significant effort on behalf of all us.
:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[NYC_SKP]

47. Thanks!

:hi:

[ChazII]

55. That happened to me as well. I was told that it

made the teachers that did not eat w/their students look bad. I was also told it would give the administration 'ideas'.

[theaocp]

31. Let us know how you're doing.

I'd prefer to improve our local public schools, but I have a jaded view of charter schools; especially since I've taught in them. Good luck.

[Zanzoobar]

32. Would you do it if NCLB were not around?

What's your impetus? Do you give public schools a failing grade?

[NYC_SKP]

35. We would still support the small learning community Public Charter School model without NCLB.

We also support the large Columbine-size high schools. These just don't fit for all kids, though.

And by the time meaningful reform can take place in the big institutions, we'll have lost a generation.

It ain't worth it.

[blkmusclmachine]

34. By 2020, you're gonna have to have compulsory Bible Study Classes in every school:

You betcha! *wink*

[NYC_SKP]

36. How so?

Presently, it's not our public charter schools but the traditional public schools that are closer to that with their Pledge of Allegiance, "Under God", compulsory daily chant.

We don't play that pledge game, never will.

------

[Ohio Joe]

48. Sweet

Best of luck to you! Good to know a true liberal is educating our children, excellent news.

[Tatiana]

50. Good luck, though I really don't support the charter school concept.

However, there are a few that are successful (and the majority use a unionized labor force).

What is going to be your theme? What will make this charter stand out from the other public schools? Is it going to be having a lower student to teacher ratio? Professional learning communities? Specialized curriculum?

I sincerely wish you good luck. More charters should enroll (and keep) students with IEPs and at-risk students.

[NYC_SKP]

51. Hi, thank you, and it will have the theme of environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

There will be a career technical education component, as well.

Renewable energy and the environment are the fastest growing job sectors (per a recent Wired magazine article), and we might apply to become a California Partnership Academy around that same career pathway.

Either way, our local districts even support us and send kids they don't want to us.

We are more successful with a certain population and they know it.

:hi:

[mopinko]

52. THIS-

imho, could change so many outcomes.-
Students will stay with the same teacher or teachers from ninth grade through graduation.

would you mind opening an elementary school, also.

good luck my friend.

[NYC_SKP]

53. Thank you!

We have been talking about expanding the sustainability academy to include elementary and middle.

The campus has the capacity to expand in that way, but for now we will catch the late-middle of the K12 pack because they're closer to joining the workforce, which needs well-educated graduates ASAP.

:hi:

[seaker]

54. Hmmmm

Elementary too??? Perfect

[lonestarnot]

56. Meh. Sounds like biosphere II

Charters suck ass if you ask me. I will not wish you luck. But other than that, what are you up to or about?

[NNN0LHI]

57. I have a question about this from your post: It will be staffed by members of the teachers union

I have noticed that you have recommended to people here to purchase cars mad by non-union workers over union made here in the past.

Do you think doing that helps your own cause with lifelong union autoworkers like myself?

Or do you think we are all just stupid and don't notice the hypocrisy of your stance?

What do you think?

Don