New Ypsilanti-area charter school turns away 670 enrollees for first year
South Pointe Scholars Academy, a new 47,000-square-foot charter school, will open in Superior Township this fall at the corner of Geddes and Ridge roads.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
A new charter academy fielded applications from more than twice the number of students it could accept, as it prepares for its first school year.
South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy announced its plans to construct a school at the corner of Geddes and Ridge roads in Superior Township in December. It opened enrollment in March.
Before the building was even complete, South Pointe Scholars had received 1,275 applications for students to attend the school, which is managed by National Heritage Academies (NHA).
Northern Michigan University authorized the new public school academy, after the Republican-led State Legislature lifted the cap on charters last fall.
Nancy Kouba
From National Heritage Academies
“Not everyone accepts a seat,” Kouba said. “Some choose to go to a different school or move or a variety of factors. But as long as we have an open seat, we will continue to take the next available student on the waiting list.”
The charter school is an example of the mantra “if you build it, they will come.”
Kouba described the school as having “sprouted up from a cornfield.” But she said the high number of applications is not abnormal for an NHA school in this region of the state. And not a lot of advertising is needed to attract students in this area, she said.
This is Kouba’s 11th year with National Heritage Academies and she said she loves it. She became the principal at Metro Charter Academy in Romulus in 2010, where she saw similar numbers of students trying to attend the charter school.
When the state released its annual report cards earlier this month, NHA was scrutinized for its achievement gaps at 12 of its 46 Michigan schools. Metro Charter Academy, headed by Kouba, made Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) and was not listed as one of the state’s Focus schools.
For its first year, about 60 percent of the students enrolled at South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy are coming from the Plymouth-Canton area. About 30 percent have addresses in the Ypsilanti and Willow-Run school districts and the remaining 10 percent are from outlying areas, such as Van Buren and Westland, Kouba said.
A common misconception about charter schools is that they “pick and choose” children and exclude or have fewer special needs students, Kouba said, explaining this is simply not the case. She said at Metro Academy, about 9 percent to 10 percent of its student body had Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Charter schools also employ teachers with the same certifications as traditional public schools, including resource teachers equipped to assist with special needs, Kouba said.
South Pointe Scholars principal Nancy Kouba, left, and groups of teachers participate in a team-building exercise where their goal is to build the highest tower out of pipe cleaners inside the school's music room on Friday morning. South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy opens this fall.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
“The teachers I’ve hired are a really diverse group,” Kouba said. “There are a number of teachers with many, many years of experience — some in public, private and charter schools — and a handful of new, dynamic teachers with ready-to-go attitudes. And I think that variety makes for a really great team.”
The building that was constructed is two-stories tall and 47,382-square feet. Kouba said there are two computer labs and smart boards and document cameras in every classroom.
With a charter school, the board of directors, which plays a role is similar to that of a traditional district's school board, forms first and expresses a desire in forming a new school with better opportunities for children, Kouba said. The board then reaches out to an authorizer or management company, depending on whether the board wishes for the school to be managed or self-managed.
South Point Scholars board of directors consists of: President Rodney Grover, Vice President Judith Smith, Treasurer Gary Smolinski, Secretary Joel Kirkpatrick and Director Juanita Bell.
The school has an operating budget of $6.167 million for the 2012-13 school year.
The building was finished and teachers moved into their classrooms Aug. 10. Some of the painting is still taking place, Kouba said. Teachers received training last week and parent/student orientations began Monday.
South Pointe Scholars is one of two new charter academies coming to the Ypsilanti area for the 2012-13 school year. The second, WSC Academy, will open in the former Victory Academy charter school building, at 855 Jefferson St., and will serve high school students.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
ProudTeacher08
Mon, Aug 27, 2012 : 3:32 a.m.
I would just Like to say that Being a former charter school teacher and then a public school teacher, there are some major differences! First of all the teachers are no different from one place to another. The biggest difference is charters are FOR PROFIT! There are people out there making money because you child is going to their school! At a charter-they pay their teacher CRAP for the most part. I worked for the Leona group and I had the WORST school leader ever! We went through 15 teachers in one year alone! When I left it took her to hire 8 teachers in my old room before someone would "just stick it out." Now I also had NO math books, reading books, science books, social studies books...NOTHING! I had to make it up all the way! Which let me tell is not easy. Before anyone in this world wants to knock a public school teacher and say that WE have failed your child, please take a look into the mirror and remind yourself that education starts at home and continues to become even more important as they get older. I will invite anyone to walk in my shoes for one week and do everything that I do to teach just for a week. Don't get me wrong I love what I do, that's why I became a teacher, to teach YOUR PRECIOUS GIFT YOU SEND TO ME EVERYDAY, remind you that I see them more then you do now,yet you want to knock me....really makes sense!
Life in Ypsi
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 4:16 p.m.
I was once anti-charter school and schools of choice. I changed my mind when my kids attended Willow Run Middle School. The teachers were great. it was the ongoing behavior problems of other students and my children not being safe that led me to leave the district. The adminstrative staff were never proactive enough in my opinion to put an end to the unruly behaviors. I was lucky if I got a call back from anyone at the school despite repeated phone calls. I would have to take time off work to show up at the school and get my concerns addressed.When I tried to bring my concerns to the parents of the children who were trying to harm mine, I was met with swearing and yelling on school grounds. No surprise why there are so many behavioral issues. I could not attend an event without parents reeking of marijuana, whistling, yelling or talking on cell phones. I should mention the only event that ever brought a large parent presence was 8th grade graduation. I once attended a mandatory parent meeting and I was the only one who showed up. I also paid a lot of money to purchase an instrument for band, only to have band cut from my child's cirriculum because only one elective could be taken. Why will I be sending my next child to a charter school? I'm fed up with violent and out of conrol students. Charter schools also focus on morals and building a good character. Obviously, parents should be teaching this at home, but it seems to be lacking these days.
E Claire
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
Best post on this story, wish I could give you more than one thumbs up. This isn't about R v. D., union v. non-union; it's about what is best for a child. You care enough to be involved and to make sure your children are being educated in a safe and positive environment. Why should you be denied this choice.
StopCrying
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.
Quick question: Was the person responsible for designing the exterior color blind?
StopCrying
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.
Ouch
MIKE
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
No
CT
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
The parents of 1275 student just voted and they want charter schools. Choice is a great thing.
snoopdog
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:53 a.m.
As Bill Engvall says :" Here's your sign" Willow Run--Ypsilanti and Lincoln. If ever there were a "mandate" toward public education that does not produce results , this would be it ! That and the fact that parents living in these school districts that give a hoot about their childrens futures now have choices, thank goodness ! Good Day
mpope
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:48 a.m.
My family's experience with an NHA charter school is inconsistent with the negative connotations of the ' for profit' assertions. My daughter walked into a local NHA school with an IEP consistent with the syndrome typical of her extra chromosome. She walked right in. Not only is she receiving services more frequently and apparently more superior to what she was receiving in a public school ( in state, but out of county) they also tailor her school week schedule according to the special needs that arise from her sleep disorder. If NHA is driven by profits, it doesn't show with my daughter.
MIKE
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 5:16 p.m.
The people voting it down are obviously public school employees threatened by charter schools.
maallen
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 4:04 p.m.
Why people vote this post "down" is beyond me. Here a person is sharing his/her experience and people vote it down?
skfina2
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:43 p.m.
They hired THREE deans for one elementary school, in addition to the principal? DEANS in an elementary school? With rare exceptions, public elementaries employ ONE principal. ONE. And people complain about administrative costs in the public schools! That sounds like an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars to me.
raberwhitetail
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:34 a.m.
As I suspected....a lot of hot air and nothing to back it up.
raberwhitetail
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
I am sure you will not mind naming this school......will you?
Basic Bob
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:47 p.m.
I bet they teach, too. That would be strictly not allowed by the MEA.
Linda Peck
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:17 p.m.
Charter schools can be great. This is my idea of free market for education. I am not a fan of public school administration policies and so would not choose to send my children there, or grandchildren. I would do my best to find an excellent charter school, which my family has done with Honey Creek Community School. That failing, I would either home school or if I could afford it, private school. If I could afford Rudolf Steiner, I think that is a great school. Public schools will fail if they need to fail. People make choices and that is what a free world is supposed to be like. Public schools should not be prisons, right?
raberwhitetail
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:13 p.m.
Thank God for charter schools.....get your children away from all the political socialism in public schools and give them a chance to really learn. We the tax payers will see to it that the teachers union will not continue to have us, their employer, pay for all these retirements and we will demand that teachers have a 401 plan instead. Charter schools are far ahead of public schools in this and are leading the way to education reform.
ProudTeacher08
Mon, Aug 27, 2012 : 3:38 a.m.
Really! Since when does my pension have anything to do with your child?
Aquarius
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
The problem is "For Profit". It is high time people contacted their legislators and get the profit motive out of public educaton. If you want to send your child to a private school, fine, spend the extra money and they can go to school at Greenhills with Snyder's. But I guarantee you that when the EMO company gets together they are MUCH more concerned about whether the school is making money than whether it is achieving at a higher level than the local schools. And this all takes place at the taxpayer's expense. I resent sending my tax dollars to be gambled with by some greedy CEO worried about whether he will have enough money to kick back to the Mackinac Center.
DonBee
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 5:10 p.m.
Aquarius - Riddle me this? Who makes more money each year the CEO of National Heritage Academies - the charter manager of the new school in this article or the Superintendent of Ann Arbor Schools? Who has more students in their system? Based on your post you would pick the wrong answers. NHA has more students. AAPS pays their Super more than NHA pays their CEO. All of this information is public as it has to be by law. As to profit, at the level of profit that NHA makes - they have ZERO chance of going public or being on MadMoney. They have two choices under the law, work with the IRS to become non-profit and pay zero taxes - tough these days - or be a for profit and pay taxes. They took the simple corporate road. In the local schools - there are lots of for profit companies that take tax dollars to perform services. The Academy board picked a for profit to run the school. No different than a school picking a for profit bus company or janitor or lunch service or...
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:15 p.m.
Of course the for-profit management companies want to make a profit. That's the whole point. They make money when parents sign up for their school--and parents sign up for their school when it does a good job of teaching their kids.
raberwhitetail
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:43 p.m.
Are you jealous of the Center? What solutions can you offer that will help our children? We will be glad to listen.
Michelle
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:08 p.m.
Considering my daughter's counselor at Pioneer told her she wasn't 'capable of graduating', I can totally understand the parents wanting a charter school. We searched for months for a different school and had to choose a private school because every charter was full. As a side note: that counselor has since been fired.
sad day
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
I am so glad that my children are raised and are no longer in this debate. When my children graduated there were no charter schools, all my kids went to Ypsilanti High all of them went to college, all of them have degrees and all of them contribute to the school districts that they live in. I currently pay school taxes in Ann Arbor. If you do not think charter schools are not showing a profit you are sadly mistaken. Education is a business and when that business loses money, like any business they close their doors. The problem is not with the unions. The problem is that everyone wants their hands in that cash flow, and that's why districts are failing. Families now have too many choices for their children's education. When their child does not perform they just move them somewhere else. I believe in public education, it worked for 300 years. As a taxpayer I do not want my tax dollars going into the private sector, and as a taxpayer I should have the right to choose. If you want your child going to school in a private or charter school, you should pay for it yourself.
ProudTeacher08
Mon, Aug 27, 2012 : 3:41 a.m.
Amen sad day!
E Claire
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 3:04 p.m.
Ok, sad day. If you feel this way, do you also believe that those of us with no children ever in the public school system should be able to opt out of paying that portion of our property taxes? i also don't like the art tax, can I opt out of that? If you want art, pay for it yourself. My neighborhood has virtually no crime, should we pay less for police services than those with a higher crime rate? Bottom line is that the public school system as is does not work for everyone. You want a choice but don't think a parent should have the same.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:13 p.m.
"As a taxpayer I do not want my tax dollars going into the private sector, and as a taxpayer I should have the right to choose. If you want your child going to school in a private or charter school, you should pay for it yourself." Oh, the hypocrisy. How come everyone else doesn't get to choose whether THEIR tax dollars go to the school of their choice, instead of to union reps who have never taught a day in their life?
YpsiGreen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 8:15 p.m.
Charter schools = public education. Nowhere is there a charter school that is funded by private tuition. This while "private education" banter is a misnomer and a red herring.
E Claire
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
Again Somargie, you complain about paying for charter schools. What about us property owners who pay for your children's education while never having our own children in public schools? That's ok but putting that money into a charter school is not? Why do you have such a problem with a parent deciding what is best for his or her child?
Somargie
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 8:39 p.m.
Charter schools = private education paid with public monies No misnomer..just the facts
YpsiGreen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 8:32 p.m.
*whole
Somargie
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
Sorry to cut my comments short but here is what was inadvertently left off. Hopefully it was posted by AA.com which tend to showcase their love of eliminating comments they don't like or goes against repub talking points.... ....If politicians truly cared about academics & public education they would have eliminated ISD's and go to a county or bi-county school system similar to successful States & charter schools would be as obsolete as that failed charter school ballot & governorship by DeVos.
Somargie
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
Thanks to the charter school groups & the DeVos family's money, power & influence the repubs is pushing forth the "failed charter school ballot initiative" and ushering in the "destruction" of public school education via expansion of "charter schools" and their anti-constitutional dictatorial "emergency law." These schools serve the following purpose to make taxpayers pay for the private education of someone's child with public money & to destroy public schools who serve everyone. Why don't these articles research the political connections & affiliations of charter school executives & how much money they spent to influence the charter school expansions & what percentage of that was public monies? At a more salient level explore how much public monies the executives at these companies are making as well as the principals and teachers? Teachers are given unreasonable work-related obligations & the outrageous administration salaries & compensation. Despite the shiny building & claims about enrollment, consistent data show that charters continue to teach & segregate just some children. They quickly & very eagerly say we accept all, but the few students with low grades, special education & language issues are either forced, pushed or drop out by unreasonable rules the subsequent year or so. Proven research data also show no real academic gains, staff turn-overs burn-outs and huge influence of businesses/politics. As another school year start, ask yourself & AA. com: Why isn't MI a county or bi-county wide school system instead of multiple schools & ISD's in every county? Why do I the taxpayer have to pay the private education of someone's child? If politicians truly cared about academics & public education they would have eliminated ISD's and go to a county or bi-county school system similar to successful States & charter schools would be as obsolete as that fai
E Claire
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
"Why do I the taxpayer have to pay the private education of someone's child?" Why do I, a taxpayer, have to pay for the education of your children period?* I've never had a child in the public schools but have been paying for public education for 30 years. *I actually have no problem paying for public schools, just making a point.
Aquarius
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
Somargie, The people who have turned our schools into a disgusting for profit enterprise are the same ones that fund Americans for Prosperity, the Koch brothers, the Cato Institue, the Hudson Center , the Mackinac Center for Public Policy along with the Tea Party legislators that have destroyed our state government. When you have bought off legislators cutting side deals with their crony capitalist buddies you have a system that is no longer about kids and communities. Check out the web site "Charter School Scandals" and you will receive plenty of info regarding what these businesses are really all about. On top of that the public faces voter suppression tactics to prevent the people from deciding about these issues democratically. These people are nothing more than domestic terrorists that are using their influence to bust unions and privitize everything.
DonBee
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
Somargie - Who is one of the largest spenders on lobbying in Michigan? Who is has one of the largest lobbying funds in the US? Why it is the Teachers Union (The NEA at the national level - projected 2012 spending on lobby and "issue ads" is $200 million dollars) and the MEA - it's state affiliate with spending in the tens of millions of dollars on ads and lobbying efforts. If you want to talk about lobbying and putting money up to influence the situation, both sides have big bags of money and are not afraid to use them. Look at the recall effort for Governor Snyder, the billboards around the state, the tv and radio ads, and the other MEA funded efforts. AND charter schools are NOT private schools - they have to accept everyone and they have to not charge additional tuition. The right answer is not to do away with the ISD's but to do away with the local school districts and make the ISD's the administrative center for a county or multi-county area. Right now 1 in 8 dollars goes for overhead - much too high a number in my mind.
Top Cat
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.
Given a choice, parents are just saying "No" to schools that put the needs of unions and government bureaucrats first.
Aquarius
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 6:59 p.m.
Moderate, You miss the point with regard to education dollars. The funding has been reduced to traditional public schools tp enable privitization to occur and give your free market heroes the opportunity to get their slimy hands on the money. Since charter schools are taxpayer funded public schools it has spread the money around and starves the established community schools. And the amazing thing is they don't have to disclose their finances and demonstrate accountability. They are nothing more than Wall Street schools that are mostly focused on their bottom line. If they get kids that mess up the school culture they simply use their republican sponsored loopholes to get rid of the bad kids. And Limbaugh, Beck and Hannity give you all the knowledge you need to continue your uninformed rants.
maallen
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.
Aquarius, You need to stop listening to the unions and stop repeating everything they tell you. "And the amazing thing is they don't have to disclose their finances and demonstrate accountability." By law, the public charter schools have to disclose their finances.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.
You seem very confused with your silly attacks on "Republicans." Your Dear Leader, President Obama, is a huge supporter of charter schools--just like many other people who have seen the horrors of public schools in poor areas run by union thugs.
DonBee
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:35 p.m.
Aquarius - In every district in the county over the last decade, school spending PER STUDENT was up. Last year, because of the cut in state aid, most of the districts saw their first dip in Per student aid. On average the spending per student has increased faster than inflation in the county. Much of this due to local and county taxes (e.g. bonds, sinking funds, special education millage, etc). Funny thing is that Charters DO NOT get a share of this local and county money. So the more the funding shifts from the state to local, the bigger the disadvantage is for charters in the way of per student funding.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:34 p.m.
Aquarius what do you feel the reason parents are sending their children to charter schools in great numbers? Kickbacks? Better education? Free market heroes? Their friend teaches at a charter school? well I'll tell you why I do, I send my kid to a private school because I love him, and want the best education I get get my hands on, and before he even gets to college I'll have paid close to $100k, and thats on top of what they the public schools have taken from me. Maybe I should get a refund, I know if I were dealing with any other business I would demand a refund.
katmando
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 5:28 p.m.
Well if they would quit cutting the education buget., cutting teachers pay, and increasing class size public ed would be better. The conservatives have Bern cutting educations budges for over 30 years!
StopCrying
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 1:59 p.m.
If your kindle fire is spelling words incorrectly for you, I suggest you turn that feature off.
katmando
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.
I have a kindle fire that automaticly corrects spelling errors or so it thinks so that is why there so many errors. And it does it as soon as you hit send. And the typical conservative response is ""oh you must have goon to public school " well guess wharlt? I was sent to privare religious school dah!
cinnabar7071
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:36 p.m.
katmando let me guess, you went to public schools.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.
Really? I would love to see a graph of education spending going down over the past 30 years--but you won't be able to find one.
katmando
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 5:22 p.m.
Willow run had around 50% ieps'
katmando
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:56 p.m.
I well not say how I know but I put it closer to the 50 than 19. Nope just that charters weeds those with ieps out by the looks of it. But charter are no better at educating than public they waste more money on administrators.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:39 p.m.
And who's fault is that? Are you saying charter schools caused this?
DonBee
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
According to what Willow Run reported to the State - the IEP level is 19%. Considering the state gives them extra funds for IEP students, I suspect that number is closer than your 50%.
Rib Queen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:25 p.m.
This event of charter schools moving in is going to be more nails in the coffins of Willow Run and Ypsilanti Schools=O course, similar discipline issues will occur over time but I'm hopeful that these new schools will be proactive in their handling of customer service for their students==that it will not be all about taking care of ineffective teachers who stay too long and cost too much! Kudos and have a great school year!
tom swift jr.
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:55 p.m.
Seems you've forgotten who really makes the difference in a school, eh?
Aquarius
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
What amazes me more than anything is the hired shills who come onto a site like this and regurgitate the republican talking points that they've been programed to spew to deny facts. I understand that the Koch brothers and the Mackinac Center pay you people lots of money to come on these sites and propagandize the public. This huge money grab for taxpayer dollars needs ministers of misinformation to spew their hatred towards public sector workers, especially teachers that work within a collective bargaining agreement. How pathetic but I suspect you must be desperate and will do anything for a dollar. I am not aware of any educators who are clamoring for a charter school job. That pretty much says it all. When that 4th Wednesday count day rolls around and they get to kick out all the Willow Run kids for behavior issues we will see just how they really operate. But NHA will be happy because they still get to keep taxpayer money and enrich the EMO. Willow Run gets the problems, they get the money! Republican politics in Michigan at its finest. Anything for a dollar!
maallen
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
Aquarius, What amazes me is how you make stuff up! "What amazes me more than anything is the hired shills who come onto a site like this and regurgitate the republican talking points that they've been programmed to spew to deny facts" What amazes me is how you have no facts to back up your above statement. Has it occured to you maybe the people on here talking about public charter schools are concerned parents? Has it occured to you that maybe they want to do what is best for their child? You may continue to spew your rant, but at least have the decency enough to have some facts to back up your rants. Otherwise, your rants will be, well, a rant- a baseless rant.
Basic Bob
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:27 p.m.
Why are you assuming it's the Willow Run kids with the behavior problem?
ahi
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:50 p.m.
Operational budget of $6.167 million (plus capital costs) for 605 students? I know a few public school systems that would kill for that kind of funding.
Aquarius
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.
I recently had a conversation with a person who resides in the Pymouth-Canton district and she said that the reason why charters are cropping up in her area is because parents are upset that the schools are "changing". This means that they don't want their kids to have to go to school with poor black kids. Now Plymouth-Canton is a high achieving district so whats the problem? The problem is fear and apparent racism. We don't want our kids going to school with ghetto kids regardless of whether or not the schools are getting high marks or not. All this does is spread out the money to traditional public schools and bleed them a slow death while privitization companies come in and pick the carcasses clean. In the meantime Snyder and attorney general Bill Shuette steal money unconstitutionally from teachers and deny them the right to vote for collective bargaining. Do I need to elaborate on the 3% that has been taken out since 7-1-10 and confiscated by Snyder?
dswan
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
This is outrageous. Based on one anecdotal case, you are able to form an assertion, or more accurately, a generalization, about an entire community. My children's classrooms at NHA South Canton are far more diverse than their former P-CCS classrooms. The decision to make the switch was far more complicated than just one data point, which is the case with every family I've spoken with.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 10:06 p.m.
Their racial "entrance policies"? It's a lottery--exactly the same as Community High School. But I don't see the anti-charter folks on here complaining about CHS being disproportionately rich and white.
Aquarius
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 5:30 p.m.
That is precisely my point. The groupings that these people are referring to are the African - American students that are coming to Plymouth-Canton schools. This is the "change" that scares them and this is why these charters are going up. The Detroit metro area is the most segregated metropolitan area in the US and this is what is occurring, the resegregation of education along cultural and economic lines. The better off kids go to the charter school and the poor black kids go to Willow Run, Van Buren, Ypsilanti or Wayne- Westland. These schools need to be held accountable for their entrance and cultural admission policies along with how they kick kids out. These are deregulated corporate schools that are ripping off the taxpayer and resegregating public education. Welcome to Michissippi.
maallen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 5 p.m.
Aquarius, Are you serious? Do you know what the racial make-up is in the Plymouth Canton Charter school system? It is very multi cultural.
treetowncartel
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
Because people in the ghetto never win the lottery, don't you pay attention to the powerball and mega millions winners?
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
Or, more likely, you made up that story out of thin air / heard it from one of your union co-workers who made it up out of thin air. What, exactly, would prevent "ghetto kids" (as you call them) from going to charter schools--which are public, and tuition-free?
treetowncartel
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.
Does the Michigan Gaming commission oversee this lottery?
jns131
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.
I have always wondered that myself. If the money is to go to the schools, then where is the money these schools need so badly.
Aquarius
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
This is a classic example of why our traditonal public schools do not have any money. And what have they done other than build elaborate new looking buildings? Not Much! Do I need to repeat all the established empirical data showing that only 17% of charters outperform traditional public schools? The vast majority underperform or achieve at a comparable level. Yet today I see lots of hype and adjacent hash tags to this column describing shortcomings to area community schools. National Heritage Academies has an EMO that makes lots of money with a CEO, C.J. Huizenga who is embedded with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy which we all know is a radical right wing transmitter of propaganda. They make money by shortchanging the teachers on wages, benefits and work conditions. They don't have a voice in their workplace so they are in effect indentured servants to the EMO. These are the people who couldn't get a job in a regular public school that actually pays a living wage so they get the rookies that don't know what they're doing yet. Your public dollars my friends are going to fund the lavish lifestyle of a greedy CEO who is a businessman, nothing more nothing less. Kids are not commodities to be bought and sold on the open market. We can thank Engler and Snyder for finding a way for their corporate cronies to make money off our kids, how disgusting, while at the same time Snyder hasn't decided whether or not he is going to refund the 3% that he has stolen from teachers since 7-1-12. Where is your story on that?
maallen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:33 p.m.
Aquarius "They make money by shortchanging the teachers on wages, benefits and work conditions. They don't have a voice in their workplace." Really? Do you have proof that the work conditions are shortchanged? Wages and benefits? If a teacher was unhappy about their wages and benefits do you think they would be working there? Sounds like another union teacher rant.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.
"Only" 17% are better? That's supposed to be a bad thing? What a joke.
Caring
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
Charter schools are now joining the tradition of parochial schools by getting rid of or avoiding problem children. Even way back when I was in a public high school I remember fearing Catholics because the only ones we had at our school had been kicked out of their parochial school and were both disturbed and violent. I guess that leaves the public schools with the motto "Suffer unto me the little children".
Joe Kidd
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
Caring is absolutely correct with the part of avoiding problem children. It has gotten out of hand in some districts. It is just not fair for good students having to put up with disruptive students.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
"I remember fearing Catholics because the only ones we had at our school had been kicked out of their parochial school and were both disturbed and violent." Oh my! Never heard that one before. Now I have coffee to to clean up, it's all over my computer I laughed so hard..
Ghost of Tom Joad
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.
and yet politicians will point at public schools as failures because of these scenarios. Never considering the fact that the deck is stacked against them.
tom swift jr.
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:03 p.m.
The foundation allowance from the state for Willow Run Schools was 7,449 per student. The budget for this new school, if it is reflecting the revenues, indicates a foundation allowance from the state of 10,193. Folks, your state legislators are more willing to put nearly $3,000 per student into the pocket of a for-profit business than into our own public schools. If my math is wrong, someone show me where I made my error. Welcome to our new world.
debbie
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:56 p.m.
First just because one group of charter schools are for profit doesn't mean they all are. Second if public schools focused more on the kids like they use to instead of just passing them along every year people would send they children to public schools.
DonBee
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:40 p.m.
tom swift jr. - Willow Run has a total revenue per student that is closer to $12,000 per student according to the state FID data base. Ypsilanti is also close to that number. They get special education money from the WISD and other funds from county wide, and district taxes. We don't know if the amount listed is purely the foundation allowance or if it contains other funds as well. We also don't know how much of the budget was contributed by the charter operator. Until you can give me a budget breakdown (it will be in FID by May of 2013 but not before), you can't tell me which part of the money came from where. The state 2012 foundation allowance shows $7,110 for other NHA new schools. In fact for every new charter that is the number listed in the school aid by district spreadsheet. You can find it on the State of Michigan website if you want to look for yourself.
Joe Kidd
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.
I think this "for profit" accusation is over blown and not supportable. All schools private or public need to show a for profit account book. Which means end your fiscal year with a positive balance, not a deficit. I think if legislators are supporting alternate education, if may very well be due to constituent pressure. After all any school has to survive financially. I substituted last year and I was shocked at the behavior issues, typically at the middle school and high school levels, once involving a sixth grader. Of the districts I worked, the worst behavior issues were in A2 schools. I will not return to some schools because the pay is not worth the aggravation. My kids are all grown up but if they now were in middle school or high school, I may be looking into a private school also.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:38 p.m.
Why don't you show us where your info is coming from? Then we'll talk about the math.
Ghost of Tom Joad
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:33 p.m.
precisely! The conservatives (who blame it on the unions, conveniently) have no problem funding education, so long as it is a for-profit educational system that supports their biggest campaign donors.
debbie
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:58 p.m.
My son goes to a charter school and personally I love it. He has a speech problem and gets one on one time with a speech therapist twice a week and I feel a better education then If he went to a public school. I will say I don't know how NHA schools are because he goes to a different charter school, but I will say as long as a school has a better education opportunity for my child with small class sizes and more time working with the student my son will always go to a charter and not a public school
StopCrying
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
Isn't the bottom line here that if public schools were equal or superior to charter schools then there would be no charter schools? Since that hasn't happened...we have charter schools. Step up or your game or you get passed up..
Somargie
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 3:44 a.m.
Public schools that aren't charters are not what it used to be because people vote for politicians that destroy them & then send their children to those same schools & don't believe they are really private schools paid with public monies with the best interest of their profits, CEO's, Deans, and political contacts they've lobby to divert money from public schools. Private education is paid with the private monies of a family not public monies with different rules, outrageous salaries, ability to not educate everyone, have different funding per students, etc... If you click your ruby slippers twice, maybe it will turn into a real public school.
debbie
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 9:29 p.m.
Ok so based on what you say then the taxes that I pay shouldn't go towards a school that I won't send my child too. I'm sorry almost everyone is against charter schools but it's a parents job to want what's best for your child. Public school is not like it use to be and that has nothing to do with charter school's.
Somargie
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:38 p.m.
Pardon, but your son's speech services, small sized classroom & attention are paid with public monies therefore it is a public school. My taxes are paying for son to have a private education with taxpayers money. So instead of supporting your home district to have small classrooms, attention & speech services for your child you decided to destroy it for a private education paid for by me, your neighbors & the taypayers of MI. Thanks.
debbie
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.
I don't pay tuition for my sons school he goes to eastern Washtenaw multicultural academy which is a free school just like public schools the only difference is they take the time to focus on the children as individuals and not as a whole.
Ghost of Tom Joad
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
for profit doesn't mean that students pay tuition. When they don't reinvest all of their surplus capital back into the students, and instead, it goes to shareholders, that is called profit. The point the the debate isn't even that education is becoming a market, it's that the access to these "better" schools isn't afforded to ALL students, which is the point of a public school system to begin with. It is the backbone to a healthy democracy.
maallen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
All public charter schools are non profit. Where people are getting confused is some services are run by for profit companies. Some schools use a for profit company to run their lunch program. Some schools use a for profit management company, etc.
Lizzeh
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
I think that people focus so much on the NHA charters, which are for-profit and not on the non-profit charters like Honey Creek Community school and Ann Arbor Learning Community. We love that AALC is so child-focused in our daughter's education and how she's able to get some one-on-one time with her teacher. I also like how the older students are involved in helping the younger students. I know the students, parents, the teachers, and the school administrators. The class sizes are smaller and I like the how the school is child-friendly. It's exactly what my husband and I were looking for in a school.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3 p.m.
Glad you found a good school for your special needs son, debbie. Your critics are completely wrong of course--charter schools are public and tuition-free.
apples
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.
charter schools are public schools-just for orifut
Ghost of Tom Joad
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:32 p.m.
now what is to say that every child doesn't deserve this? Why is it that this type of education is only afforded to the families that can pay for it? I'm not saying your child doesn't deserve these opportunities, I'm saying that every child does. The only way to ensure that happens is through a STRONG public school system, that isn't constantly undermined by a for-profit education industry that has their cash in the pockets of politicians.
Lynnec
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
I think the interesting story would be how many students at the new East Arbor charter left during the year or aren't returning for a second year. There are a lot. My only charter experience is with NHA. They admit children in a lottery, including kids with IEPs and/or behavioral issues. They weed them out (after count day) by telling the family the child will be held back based on factors other than academics. If a child is performing at or above grade level, they can still be held back if their behavior isn't considered to be at grade level.
Lynnec
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
DonBee - I agree with most of your post. I was not commenting on Detroit, which has its own unique problems. I'm just trying to explain how NHA schools are able to "weed out" the students with special needs. It's not that they don't accept them, it's that they don't promote them so the parents send them back to public schools.
Lynnec
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:27 p.m.
AM - No, they can accept a child who is learning at or above grade level, who needs some $ services per their IEP, and then tell the parents their child can't be promoted because of very minor behavioral issues. The public schools can only suggest medication for ADHD students, but East Arbor told our friends that if they didn't medicate their child, he would be held back. How would holding back a student performing well above grade level improve his behavior? He would be even more bored and worsen the behavior. It would encourage the parents to put him back in public school, though.
DonBee
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:26 p.m.
Lynnec - I am sorry, I support holding children back if they are not ready for the next grade. Social promotion is the worst thing that ever happened to education in the US. Ready is not just reading and writing but behavior too. Sorry you don't agree, but with 7 out of 8 students who start school in Detroit never learning to read, there are documented problems with the public school model. Every child should have the opportunity to learn to read in a school and every student should have to perform at grade level to advance. If they can't they should not be passed on to another teacher to become an even large problem.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:59 p.m.
So the charter schools actually make appropriate decisions about when students are educated enough AND mature enough to move on to the next grade level, while public schools graduate students who can't read, show up on time, or be silent for 30 minutes while the teacher is talking? Awesome, I know where my future kids will be going to school!
glimmertwin
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:11 p.m.
Like it or not, the "pressure" being placed on legacy schools is driving change. This is competition working. The problem here is that this "competition" is also funded with tax dollars which certainly brings out the critics. Just the fact that people, without paying additional tuition, are finding choices which will either bring up other schools performance, or force them out of existence. Long overdue IMHO.
walker101
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:06 p.m.
You can tell this is upsetting the liberals, they hate the competition. If the public school system wasn't so bad maybe this would of never happened? Improve overall test scores, get rid of deadbeats and award the good ones financially, kind of like the private sector. What a concept.
jns131
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:25 p.m.
If you go to an Ann Arbor school you are twice as likely to go to a better college or be selected by a better college then if you went to WR or Ypsilanti. Just stating fact here folks.
Joe Kidd
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.
Monica explain your "for profit business model" school claim. Name one school were investors are making money by investing in a school. Then if that is happening, tell us why that is bad. If a school were so good parents paid a premium to send their kids there, enough to make it so profitable, that must be a good school. Charter schools still have to compete and show good performance to survive. If they don't they would develop a deficit and surely close. With public schools with deficits, they can't close.
a2flow
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.
In Ann Arbor Public, the kids that work hard and do what's asked have the opportunity to attend excellent colleges (e.g., UM and others). Apparently UM accepts substandard kids from horrible schools. The evidence just isn't there that charters are the answer.
Ghost of Tom Joad
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
it's not about competition, it's education! This is about equality of access to resources.
Monica R-W
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
Since when did our children's education become test subjects of "for-profit business model"? Former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who successfully argued Brown v.s. Board of Education (1954) is probably shaking his head in Heaven, over what has occurred as America's Education system engagement in the Charter Schools "for-profit" business model. Sadly, we're sliding backward into a "separate but equal" matrix of the pre-Brown ruling.
dexterreader
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
And people wonder why the public school systems are losing money?? Thank you to our republican-led legislature. Yes, we see just how well you support public education.
dexterreader
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 11:33 p.m.
@Joe .... I spent 31+ years in public K-12 education, in both central admin and the schools. And you??
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
They are losing money because 670 families in Ypsilanti alone know that they aren't as good as charter schools.
Joe Kidd
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
You need to spend some time in schools to see how public education is going. At least they support education by providing a way for parents to put their kids in a school that is safe and where they can learn.
xmo
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:30 p.m.
I keep hearing about how the Republicans in Lansing keep cutting education but now I read where the Republican led legislature caused this new school to be built. More schools equals more education? Somebody is not telling the truth? "Northern Michigan University authorized the new public school academy, after the Republican-led State Legislature lifted the cap on charters last fall."
maallen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
Wow Monica R-W, I think you hit the nail on its head! When an entity can't meet its budget it should be closed! Parents were taking their kids out of Victory due to low performance in the school. Due to less kids there was less money and the school couldn't pay their bills. It was rightfully closed. Please explain why that is such a problem?
DonBee
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.
Monica R-W - Call Bay Mills about Victory Academy, I did. Not once in the discussion did I hear profit. I heard "struggling academically", "not attracting students", "not making the kind of academic progress we want to see". I think you are listening to your union. I would suggest you need to do a bit of independent reading on the subject.
Lizzeh
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:04 p.m.
Not all charter schools are for-profit education. We send our daughter to a non-profit charter school in Ann Arbor. I love her school and it fits her perfectly.
Monica R-W
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
Joe Kidd, Yes, I can agree slightly that each and every charter school technically is not a "publicly traded company" or for privatized investment. But, please study the case of what's happened to Victory Academy briefly noted above in this article. When this "not-directly for profit school" didn't make the profits matrix's its' charter administrator desired, it was closed. From Ann Arbor.com-http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/ypsilanti-township-victory-academy-charter-school-still-searching-for-new-authorizer/#.UDOgOd1lSwc "Current authorizer Bay Mills Community College Charter School office chose not to renew its contract with the pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade school..... Patrick Shannon, Bay Mills Charter Schools office director, said its authorization is set to expire July 1. Shannon said the charter was not renewed following a two-year renewal process in which Bay Mills examined the overall performance of the school. Shannon cited the "financial condition and academic performance" of the school as reasons why Bay Mills chose not to renew the carter. A committee of five individuals made the recommendation, Shannon said. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, Victory had a deficit of $91,576. Projections for fiscal year 2012 expected the school to have a surplus of $3,049."
Joe Kidd
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.
Do not assume charter schools are "for profit." All schools public or private should be "for profit" but only in the sense they can pay their costs, do their job, and end the year with a surplus and not a deficit, which is a common problem in public schools. I think it is foolish to say charter schools are "for profit" in the sense that they are set up for people to make a lot of money. Unfortunately they are essential and in my experience as a substitute teacher, I have been appalled at the lack of discipline at many public schools. If my kids were still in AAPS, I would send them to a private school once they left elementary school.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
Monica R-W Please provide facts to back up your claims. I'll ask again, are you employed my the school district, or their union?
maallen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
Monica R-W Just because you keep repeating the words "pick and choose student model" doesn't make them true. Where is your evidence? Have you been involved with the public charter school's lottery system? Have you filled out the card they use to pick students? Do you know what is on those cards?
Monica R-W
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
Charter Schools "for-profit" matrix and operators similar to National Heritage Academy's generally support Republican candidates and Legislators. A simple Google search can enlighten anyone about this: http://bit.ly/O1lPKG Let's remember, the charter school matrix is not really ALL about education, as the shiny new buildings are mini-for profit BUSINESS institutions first. http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/04/the_genius_of_national_heritag.html From the article linked above.... "While the charter school movement was largely predicated on pushing innovation, Levin said that National Heritage -- a privately owned, for-company company ....."It's so simple, it's genius," Levin said." So it totally makes sense with the "for-profit education model" to build new "wonderful" cheap schools, make claims of educational excellence (never mind generally engaging in the "pick and choose student model") and have it all supported via our tax dollars. That's the GOP/Corporate based education model way!
apples
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:13 p.m.
The students with severe behavior problems will be back at their local schools too. Let's be sure to follow up after the state count is completed.
slave2work
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 7:51 p.m.
well stated.. a2flow
janofmi
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:03 p.m.
Here are several links about the effectiveness of charter schools http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/on-education/2009/06/17/charter-schools-might-not-be-better http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/newsroom/releases/2010/Charterschool_6_10.asp http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/charter-schools/
a2flow
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:16 p.m.
I have to agree with apples...I teach at a good public school. Maybe 5% of the students cause about 90% of the problems. I also agree that some of the posters want to roast the whole educational establishment because of a few bad apples. Contrary to what is reported, administrators have levers they can use to get rid of teachers, but it takes effort/documentation. Some of the administrators have very little experience, are not good managers, and are focused on the next stepping stone, integrity be damned. From a business model approach (charter), you cut your losses and move on. The evidence isn't there that charters are better (some are, some aren't, but we can say the same about public schools). Some of the ones in NY get more money and provide more services, basically doing everything that would traditionally be expected of parents. Some politicians want it both ways, less funding, less services, higher expectations. It would be nice to see a real plan from the administration at the state/local level. As it currently sits, students are socially progressed all the way to grade 9 (regardless if ALL teachers fail them). At this point, reality sets in and a few years later the bottom dwellers are fit for underemployment and unemployment.
Monica R-W
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
Let's see. They turn away 600 or so students and 9 to 10% of "their accepted students have a IEP". Curious minds want to know (and wished A2.com would have asked) how many of the turned away students have a current IEP? As for "picking and choosing", since they are receiving public financing via our tax dollars, shouldn't they accept everyone? Guess what I heard on a certain local podcast program about Michigan Governmental resources might in the next session take on changes to the State's School Code (thus deferring more of OUR tax dollars to these "charter schools" that pick and choose which students they desire) is not that much of a rumor anymore.....
ProudTeacher08
Mon, Aug 27, 2012 : 3:47 a.m.
I used to work at a charter school owned by THe Leona Group, and I do know for a FACT that charter schools can only have a certain number of student with IEPs in the school based on how many resource teachers they have. But hey ask anyone who works for an ISD and sees the IEPs written by a charter school....I remember this one "student recieves 15 minutes of resource a day" REAALY?!? So to answer your question most likely when they reach their cap, yes they do turn away students with IEPs. Oh and for the keep students till count day and send the off....seen this happen many times! Because after count day they don't care if they stay or go!
Arborcomment
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 : 1:05 a.m.
Direct quote from 3/21/12 comments section on Ypsi-Willow Run Schools Consolidation Plan: "As for charter schools, yes... They are a PART of the state we see YPSDin today BUT... Go back to the early 2000's era. The fights and everything else that were occurring at Ypsilanti HS. This ends any hope of myself, as Alumni, sending my two children there in the latter 2000's... Even if YHS was schools of choice." Author: Monica R-W Oops!
jns131
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:23 p.m.
Charters are public. But they can get funding from the private sector for additional things they might need if they have after school activities.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:10 p.m.
ahi - so do the other public schools. If a student doesn't do well at Community, the punishment is getting sent back to Huron or Pioneer. If he doesn't do well at Huron or Pioneer, they say that he's a better "fit" for Stone or Roberto Clemente.
ahi
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:48 p.m.
Charter schools don't typically discriminate at the point of enrollment. It would be too obvious. Instead, they "coach" underperformers out of the school.
DonBee
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 3:11 p.m.
Monica R-W According to http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2001/overview/table10.asp The US Department of Education that is... Michigan has 4.8 percent of students with an IEP. While this is a statewide average and seems under reported to me. This school is at almost double that percentage. I would suggest that they did not "cherry pick" based on this information.
Angry Moderate
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
Monica must HATE Ann Arbor's Community High School, Stone School (or whatever it's called now), and Roberto Clemente High School. After all, they don't accept everyone!
maallen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
Monica R-W, Way to avoid the questions being asked of you! Did I dispute your "for profit" accusation? Nope So why bring it up? Oh, to avoid answering the questions, known as let's change the arguement! Care to answer the questions?
Monica R-W
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:40 p.m.
And Mallen, you have yet to provide any business knowledge base to support that Charter Schools don't engage in a For-Profit Business model. Especially considering its' admitted openly, that they do. From MLive.com-http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/04/the_genius_of_national_heritag.html "Edison Schools proved that," Levin, head of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education at Columbia University, said during a recent phone interview on charter schools. "They got knocked off their block" trying to turn a profit. "There's really only one company that's making money at it," Levin added, and that's National Heritage Academies, which is based in Grand Rapids and operates 71 schools across the country, including 43 in Michigan." So NHA has 60% of its' schools in Michigan because our state's educational system is "so terrible" and they're the only power that can save it by picking and choosing potential students out of a hat. Okay.... "There's lots of parents who don't want innovation," Levin said. "They just want a school where there's going to be discipline. ... They want their kids' butts kicked." He said the company also tapped into church communities to promote their schools, put church leaders on their boards and spread the word that National Heritage schools would be all about "values." "It's so simple, it's genius," Levin said. And no, I'm NOT a public schools employee. Instead I'm a parent that's PROUD of the education my children received in Michigan's Public School based systems.
maallen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:28 p.m.
Monica R-W, You still haven't answered any of the questions. What evidence do you have? All we are hearing about is your conspiracy theories. Have you participated in the public charter school lottery system? Have you filled out a card? Have you attended the event when they pick the cards? Do you know what information you put on the card?
Monica R-W
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
So, we are to believe that a students' CA-60 file are not reviewed by the Charter Schools that "pick potential students" out of a hat. And what's in a CA-60 file? Well let's see: http://davetgc.com/CA-60.htm "Information kept in the Cumulative Record Folder includes pictures, attendance records, all testing results: ACT, SAT, MEAP, ASVAB, PSAT, PLAN, DAT, CAT, etc., surveys and interest inventories, etc." and..... Offenses and Disciplinary Actions, Temper Tantrums, Inheritable Tendencies, Neighborhood Environment, Where reared-farm, city or town, Parents' Preference of Occupation for Student, Associates, Character and Moral Traits and Truancy History. So, Mallen....with students were their CA-60 file might not meet the "for-profit business needs" of a charter school, I wonder what happens to these "picked out of a hat" children after statewide student count day?
maallen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
Monica R-W, Do I detect a consipiracy theory? You actually think within 5 years or so we will no longer have public schools? Hmmmm....I thought charter schools were public?
Monica R-W
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:03 p.m.
"Its the teachers union fault" argument. Raberwhitetail, there are a small minority of public school teachers who need to be routinely counseled for improvement and/or removed from the profession all together. The key to this statement is SMALL MINORITY. If non-union based administrators, who are paid well by the way, do the job effectively--teachers who are not performing, can be rooted out of our public schools systems. Instead, what's happening here engaging in the "blame and take an easy way out" matrix of business. First, assign blame to ALL public school teachers for the actions of a few. Next, dismantle the public school systems as a whole by actively promoting a "for-profit pick and choose children" educational model. What's amazing, is that generally America's society is "wearing blinders" to the for-profit educational model, denying what is clearly in front of our faces. Within 5-15 years, the "charter-school for-profit matrix" with no competition from Public Schools, will toss "free K-12 education" out of their 3-5 year Proforma statements. After all, our children's education is a typical business and all, right? And profits are most important, at all costs.
maallen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
Monica R-W, I gotta love your statement: "Additionally, parents can (if their children are accepted) choose to send children to an adjoining public school district via the schools of choice model." Let me get this straight, parents can send their kids to an adjoining public shool district "if they are accepted." And you complain that public charter schools can only accept a certain number of students?
maallen
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
Monica R-W, "charter schools...engage in an "pick and choose IEP student model" and frankly, get away with it." Where is your evidence that this happens? Apparently you did not read the article or understand how students get "picked" in a Public Charter School. Parents fill out a card with their name address, name of their child, and grade they will be entering. That gets put into a "hat." If they get drawn, they are in. Once space is filled everyone gets put on a waiting list according to the number they were drawn. On the card they fill out, there is NO WAY a school knows if a child has a current IEP. It is ONLY after they are picked to be placed in a public charter school do they fill out additional paperwork and find out if they have a current IEP. Therefore, there is no way for a public charter school to know if a child who is on a waiting list has a current IEP.
raberwhitetail
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 1:33 p.m.
I agree with no-flamers 100% you are wrong Monica.......This proves that most parents are tired of the teachers union and want something better for their children....wake up teachers....we the tax payers are tired of your BS.
Monica R-W
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:58 p.m.
Actually No Flamers, you're wrong. Public Schools do accept everyone within an school area radius. With schools of choice, parents have options whether to send children to the public school facility in the area, or another K-12 educational institution in the district (assuming the public school district has more than one elementary, middle or high school) if they provide in most cases, transportation. Additionally, parents can (if their children are accepted) choose to send children to an adjoining public school district via the schools of choice model. In this scenario an adjoining school district acceptance of a out-of-district student is generally based upon the matrix of providing educational resources to students within the district first, then accepting a certain number of potential students from outside the district, second. Either way, an adjoining public school district cannot deny acceptance of a "school of choice" student because the child has an IEP. Read the current State School Code and learn. In contrast, charter schools via the-for-profit business model while receiving our TAX DOLLARS regularity engage in an "pick and choose IEP student model" and frankly, get away with it. This is discriminatory in nature and shameful but, the bigger question is why do "charter schools" engage in this practice. Well, it comes down to the corporate based profit model. Anyone that has a bit of business acumen knows a student with a IEP allocates revenue sources away from the fiscal budget, over a non-IEP student. Why would charter schools want to harm their "for-profit" business model by robustly accepting IEP students? I'll wait for you to enlighten me on this....
no flamers!
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:20 p.m.
I disagree with your post and fault its logic. First, how could any school "accept everyone" when the building has a set number of classrooms and seats? Second, you presume that there is a higher % of IEP students in the "rejected" pool but the school was quoted as saying students were selected randomly and you have nothing buy your own conjecture to dispute that claim. Third, relying only upon your own conjecture, you conclude that charter schools pick and chose students is no longer a rumor. Bad facts, bad analysis, no transparency.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 12:04 p.m.
Seems a lot of people don't trust the public school system anymore, I know I've paid out more then $40k already on private schools for my Son, and he's only half way through. Something needs to be done, or the public schools will just keep failing.
Somargie
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 4 a.m.
Therefore, you chose a private school education that is paid with your private money. Charter schools = private education with public monies that don't operate by the same rules & regulations. They pick & choose, the students they do want then force, pressure or push out students they don't won't . They are for-profit businesses with political connections/lobbyists, outrageous salaries for administrations, unreasonable work standards, little or no real academic gains...while the public schools that educate everyone funding is being drained by the repubs for these by these for-profit groups financing their coffers, via expansion of charters, emergency laws, outside religious groups and so-call standards of excellence devised by the charter movement to drain public school funding even more. What needs to be done, is a political movement to vote out the politicians & politics destroying public education for politics
Tom
Wed, Aug 22, 2012 : 12:30 a.m.
It's actions like this that are destroying public schools: people pulling their children out, causing enrollment (and consequently funding) to plummet. It's a vicious cycle, but I don't see an end to it unless all children are required to attend public schools, which isn't happening.
jns131
Tue, Aug 21, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
We used school choice. WR is not the choice for me.