Last Sunday, the Washington Post wrote an editorial with the title: Charter Success - Poor children learn. Teachers unions are not pleased.
The entire editorial can be found here. The study from the NBER can be found here. The editorial references a Stanford University study that used a lottery system to completely randomize the students going into either a Charter School or a regular district school. The results are that Charter Schools significantly outperform district schools. When I was in the Senate, the most frequent excuse I heard from many in the education community (usually union lobbyists) was that “There is nothing that we can do. It is the parents lack of involvement.” Evidently, that just isn’t true.
The editorial finishes with the following:
Now the facts are in. The desperation of poor parents whose children are stuck on waiting lists for charter schools is well-founded. And every time the union scores another lobbying success in Albany — or Annapolis, Richmond or Washington, D.C. — to hold charters back, more poor children will pay a price.
Can Delaware escape from the union lobbyists grasp? Will we give our children the education that they deserve?
Poor kids in charter schools can work IF the bureacrats leave them alone. You can’t run a school and run to Dover at the same time.
homegrownboy
“Poor kids in charter schools can work IF the bureacrats leave them alone. You can’t run a school and run to Dover at the same time.”
The problem is when the charter school is 70-80% poverty the needs are overwhelming. Blaming the unions in traditional school for the failures and not holding non-union teachers in charter school accountable exposes a political agenda. However we must blame a few managers in traditional public schools. Red Clay gives up to $300,000.000 over and above the salaries for 6 Teach for America teachers in Warner. $300,000.00 could go a long way in promoting parental involvement in the entire Warner school. $300,000.00 could buy a new computer for every poor child in Warner. $300,000.00 could buy two additional teachers for the three years. It’s not the teachers fault that Warner can’t meet the class size legislation in spite of Warner’s building being at 51% building capacity.
Obama and Duncan are requiring states to expand charter schools as condition to receiving a piece of the $4.3 BILLON DOLLAR Race to the Top plan. Why is it many ridicule the federal government for intruding in healthcare but not in local control of public schools? The federal government is over stepping its bounds and the USDOE is going far beyond its original intent.
If Delaware wants to really give parents a voice then the legislators must change the Charter school law under Title 14 Chapter 5 that only permits existing traditional public school to “convert” to a charter school when more than 50% of teachers and more than 50% of parents vote to convert. One would think the public in public school would be the controlling factor. Why do teachers in a failing public school get a vote?
Convert all the public schools to charter and I assure you unions will rise up just as they did in Chicago. Its bit ironic Chicago Duncanland has the first unionized charter schools.
I am for charters and just wish children weren’t in the crossfire of the real agenda to break the back of organized labor. But do fret because DSEA is in a self destruct mode by being all too willing of a team player. Markell is selling them out with his alliance with Rodel and now Duncan and DSEA won’t be running to the Delaware GOP. Also, I am all for organized labor but not ones with a weak backbones and unrealistic demands in time of recession. Rodney King gets an ass-whipping but comes up saying , “why can’t we all get along?”
Do keep in mind political parties are nothing more than unions and many within are self-serving to themselves and political bed fellows.
Public education is failing because of ineffective management at the highest level, legislation and elected officials.
Kilroy:
I do not blame teachers for the problems with District schools. I never have. I know too many good teachers who are stuck in bad situations not of their own creation.
The reason that Charter Schools succeed is that they are allowed to succeed by being free from union rules and a lot of bureaucratic meddling. Fixing the District schools is not complicated — get the Union bosses to quit meddling in Dover. Get Dover to stop meddling in schools on the Union’s behalf. Stop worrying about protecting the 1-2% of poor teachers who need a new career choice and start supporting the 98% of teachers who are competent, motivated, but trapped.
You say, “Blaming the unions in traditional school for the failures and not holding non-union teachers in charter school accountable exposes a political agenda.” But the research does NOT support your contention. The Charter Schools in New York are significantly OUTPERFORMING the District schools especially in the area of closing the achievement gap. Even the Washington Post has now seen the facts. This is not a “political agenda” when the Washington Post and I agree on an issue. You also point out that President Obama and his Education Secretary also seem to agree that Charter Schools are working.
Furthermore, I’m starting a Charter High School in Wilmington, and it is a union school — The Operating Engineers Union. The Operating Engineers are first responders. They recognize the need for highly qualified, educated professionals to operate heavy industrial equipment. So, once again, your statement of “political agenda” is incorrect.
Finally, I could take you up to 3 95% low-income Charter Schools in Philadelphia. They are all exceeding PA Standards — after just 4 years of operation (They took over existing District Schools). Same school buildings, some same teachers, same group of kids — wildly different results. Kids actually learning!
Could it be that if President Obama, the Washington Post, the research, and Charlie Copeland all agree, that maybe, just maybe… it is true? Charter Schools work.
charliecopeland
“Could it be that if President Obama, the Washington Post, the research, and Charlie Copeland all agree, that maybe, just maybe… it is true? Charter Schools work.”
re: Washington Post? are you suggest the Washington Post took a stance on charter schools or were you just referring to an article?
“Fixing the District schools is not complicated — get the Union bosses to quit meddling in Dover. Get Dover to stop meddling in schools on the Union’s behalf.”
Wouldn’t that be wonderful!
“You say, “Blaming the unions in traditional school for the failures and not holding non-union teachers in charter school accountable exposes a political agenda.” But the research does NOT support your contention.”
To be fair, even though Delaware’s data aka the state I am concern with reveals nearly all Delaware charter schools with high levels of poverty are under academic watch or reveiw are only being gaged by the flawed DSTP. I think the success go far beyond the data whereas parents stepped up and wanted more for their children.
“Furthermore, I’m starting a Charter High School in Wilmington, and it is a union school — The Operating Engineers Union. The Operating Engineers are first responders. They recognize the need for highly qualified, educated professionals to operate heavy industrial equipment. So, once again, your statement of “political agenda” is incorrect.”
I went back and read my comments and don’t see where I was taking pot shots at your school which I support. I have no doubt your experience with the first responders school will give you greater insght into public education.
“The Charter Schools in New York are significantly OUTPERFORMING the District schools especially in the area of closing the achievement gap.”
Perhaps we need to review New York’s charter school laws and model. From what I see of Delaware charter schools serving the most neediest they aren’t doing much better than their tradtional school peers. Also, there are expection to the rules such as Kuumba Academy whom I think is the most succesful charter school in Delaware and Red Clay’s Lewis school who is beating the odds.
The real question is do we need to build new charter schools whereas do we need to convert exsiting tradtional public schools. What happen when were are force to close a poor performing charter school? Where did the kids from Marion T end up? Big question of the day, what happens to those students who’s parents don’t care and just leaves them in failing public schools? Who will rescue them?
HB 119 seems to be addressing some of the concerns but one things parents want the foremost are safe schools and school where teacher can teach. Charter seem to provide better safe school giving teacher their classrooms back.
Perhaps I see the charter school movement a bit like the Titanic sinking where many will be left behind to drown. I know charter schools are a necessity but I think is a travesty that elected officials in Delaware worker harder in promoting charter schools then stepping up and take back our public schools.
I understand the facts of the issue but given all the stats both good and bad I simply think it is better for the states to enhance choices as a parent not make them more difficult.
My boys attended public and independent Catholic, I was very active at both. Youngest is in College (bio major) , oldest is an MD but both very different personalities.
Every option should be made available to parents and every option should be financially supported by tax dollars to the maximum extent possible.
Mike Protack
delawarerepublican
“I understand the facts of the issue but given all the stats both good and bad I simply think it is better”
Indeed Mike ! However, there is an illusion with choice. Though we have a school Choice Law in Delaware the fact remains parent cannot make a choice when there isn’t any seats open.
I bust on Charter School of Wilmington but it doesn’t mean I am saying it’s a bad school. It just happens to fall into major controversy of its establishment and Red Clay hand of insolvent. However Charter School of Wilmington needs to expand and grow offering more seats and if it can effectively grow to the size of William Penn High School God bless them.
If we expanded the popular schools to accommodate everyone’s wishes well have some school underutilized. Some folks say fine, just close those unpopular schools. Well that’s not fair because those students choose to be there. But, we now have schools where building operating cost aren’t cost effective.
“Every option should be made available to parents and every option should be financially supported by tax dollars to the maximum extent possible.”
As governor how would you pay for this plan? Increase taxes because students and parents want to be catered to?
No there shouldn’t be a war over traditional public schools and charter schools but we must remember charter schools are corporation and the public cannot and should not build school building directly or indirectly where the taxpayers aren’t legal owner.
Personally we should wait so long to convert failing traditional public schools to charter schools. But do note charter schools are at a disadvantage whereas if they fail they are forced closed because they can’t shift staff around to other building like traditional public schools.
I’ll agree I make the debate a bit of a pissing match and that because pro-charter folks have this analogy that ( my opinion) all charter schools are better than traditional public schools when in fact there are super traditional public schools even the high poverty ones.
I think Charlie’s charter school sends a message that if traditional public schools can’t address the needs of at-risk students then we’ll step up and do so. This is exactly what the intent of charter schools means. Education reform was meant to address the achievement gap not build prep schools. However, so where in the movement to address the achievement gap came in the need for all schools in Delaware and America to be more competitive in the global economy. My heart goes to those we left behind for generations but understand the overall need.
We have a tall order to fill in reforming public education and many hands are in the pot! I have a problem trusting those that took part in DSTP and feel they should have no say and that includes Tom Carper.
Education has be designated as the next major job expansion market and as you see money is starting to flow in. However, if we can’t effectively manage and use the current funding efficiently we’re just pumping more money into the pit. There is too much money going into managing education whereas the percentage needs to shift in favor of instructional needs.