The latest news from Indiana is that the state education department–which seems to be in lockstep with the rightwing group ALEC–has given the green light to for-profit online corporations to expand without accountability.
The three largest and oldest cybercharters have received a D and two Fs. But unlike public schools, there are no consequences for the cyber schools. They can keep expanding regardless of the lousy education they offer up to gullible students.
The state currently has 4,000 students in these pretend schools, and the number is expected to double or triple because of legislation passed last year that makes it easier for them to expand, increases their payment per student, and increases the amount of extra funding they get for special education students.
The spokesman for State Superintendent Tony Bennett and Governor Mitch Daniels–who seem to leading the education section of the Tea Party–make clear that quality is not a consideration, only choice. They want the families and children of Indiana to be able to choose without regard to quality.
Interesting that the defense of the cyber scams to their poor academic performance is that the students are “transient.” Of course, they are transient. That’s part of the business plan: A) lure new students; B) students get bored, drop out and return to public schools; C) Keep the state tuition reimbursement; D) lure new students.
The other interesting point in the article is that the only point of these cyber schools is to get students to take and pass the state tests. No one knows who is actually taking the test. But that is school in America today, boiled down to its essential element: pass the multiple-choice state test.
Could there be a clearer demonstration of the bankruptcy of “reform”? It has literally nothing to do with quality or accountability. It is all about profit and only about profit.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
According to the article, students — at least those at the “blended” schools — must appear in person to take the tests…so their parents can’t do it for them.
One of the things which struck me was the fact that the “marketplace” will weed out the “bad” schools…continuing the myth that teaching children can be equated to a business. If parents don’t like a school they just pull their kids out and move to another. I can imagine some parents being influenced by advertising and moving their children every couple of years. There will be no consistency…no stability, but of course, the bottom line is profit, not real education.
Tony Bennett (and it grieves me no end that he shares a name with one of my favorite singers!) believes that the important thing is to provide
for children in Indiana. It seems, however, his definition of quality 1) includes the quality of profit which corporate charters bring in for their shareholders and 2) doesn’t include investing in the current traditional public schools to improve their quality.
Finally, I like the list of questions which the article lists as a guide for parents. One of those questions,
is one which parents should answer yes to no matter what school their child attends!
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Hi Diane,
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20120716_Cyber_charter_is_a_magnet_for_money.html
This is from today’s (July 16, 2012) Philadelphia Inquirer. The amount of money laundered through these cybers shocking.
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Tony Bennett?? Great singer, lousy superintendent.
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It was interesting to see the Star putting it’s toes into the murky waters of private education with public money. The next thing they need to do is follow the dictum of Deep Throat from the Watergate era, “Follow the money.”
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