Jersey Jazzman has a sharp article about Commissioner Cerf’s decision to turn a local charter school over to a national chain. The chain is expanding thanks to a $9 million federal grant and extra help from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The chain has fewer students who are special education or English language learners, as compared to the local district. It spends more than district schools.
Is this a sustainable model?
Jersey Jazzman concludes:
“To recap: Democracy Prep’s practices includes more spending per pupil, a rigid “no-excuses” culture, high rates of attrition, and segregation by poverty, special need, and English proficiency.
“This is your future, Camden – imposed on you by state-officials and outside CMOs. Don’t even think about fighting back.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
According to the Deloitte and Touche audit of N.Y. City Schools their revenue was $23.9 billion and they had about 1.1 million students which equals $21,727/student. Here again someone is packing money in their pocket just as at LAUSD, D.C. and who knows where else. Just take what the charter school receives and then subtract what the district revenue is and multiply that by the students and you have the extra money and it does not go nowhere.
Heed George’s words and follow his research as he is spot on!
Global Business Coalition for Education is about; making money while appearing to perform a humanitarian service. Rheeforms and Charter Schools are sheep in the wolve’s clothing. Enough has been written on the private vs public school debate to know that the difference is in individual schools and did not require dismantling the entire education system of the country.
Fixing what is not broken makes no sense, fixing what is broken means fixing not disgarding.
The disruption to children’s and educator’s lives with this edu-emperialism of a one world education system reframed and retooled
for profit/greed, power/control, expediently sorting children while escaping the requirements of law for others. This is led by and married to tech and business gurus, government and military interests (David D. Noble work on education and military) is not in the first interest of all children and their futures.
Probably all true, but I note the standard radical liberal premises:
“The disruption to children’s and educator’s lives with this edu-e[sic]mperialism of a one world education system reframed and retooled for profit/greed, power/control, expediently sorting children while escaping the requirements of law for others. This is led by and married to tech and business gurus, government and military interests (David D. Noble work on education and military) is not in the first interest of all children and their futures.”
anti-profit=anti-private property=anti-freedom, so tyranny becomes generosity (because against greed). Anti-technology (turn in you cell phone), anti-business=anti-wealth creation, anti-military, anti-government, equivalent to being FOR the first interest of all children and their futures.
Next you know, groff will be complaining about Iran, about AlQuaida, about the Califa in the Caucasus, about Cuba, about Venezuela. . . . don’t hold your breath. He might as well be tea party.
The only thing that can keep those children safe enough to go to any school is the military and the government, although most recently, I concede, the latter was not successful in picking up the tremors from the Dagestani Dudes in Boston before they put a bomb next to an eight year old and blew him to gobbets. But OH MY GOD, he might have had to go to a charter or a voucher school. Oh well. If he isn’t in a public school, he’s better off dead, right ronee?
Is it not possible to advocate for the learning disabled without bashing capitalism?
I often wonder about you too Harlan. The beauty of your reply are your very first words “Probably all true.” thank you.
I will give you credit. You do evoke passion in your distain for Liberals. On answering your last question I (am a woman) would have to refer to my nearly forty years of advocacy for the disabled. Fighting for the rights of the disabled in this country or anywhere has been difficult because of the value added and getting the best buy for your buck mentality that comes far too often with those that think charity should be thrown at or given to the disabled. Harsh words but true enough.
Harlan, we have different points of view for sure, but I don’t judge your love of country or caring of what might be your opinion of how to make a better tomorrow. I don’t think of that as liberal or conservative, just fair mindedness.
I admire the cogency, passion, and consistency of your advocacy. Our humanity requires stability, kindness, and respect for the learning disabled, not left overs. That still does not solve the problem of funding. A recognition from all, even those who differ on a vision, that nothing comes without someone’s work might go a long way towards putting a solid floor under those services. Respect for the earth makes harvest of the corn possible. Contempt for the worms in the soil irritates the worms.
Why should a for-profit charter chain get tax dollars to EXPAND? If they were doing a good job, wouldn’t more districts want their services anyway?
A siphoning of Camden’s children and an abandonment of concern or obligation to the rest. A very convenient walk around and away with public money from the Federal Mandates for the challenged learners. If the school takes one dollar of public money
they should be held (just like the public school) to teaching the learning disabled and others. Instead, that money will be kited out of the regular school budget to pay for
Charter School weakening their ability to accommodate those left in their care. I wish there were a class action lawsuit to challenge this madness.
Hot house education will deny children the social experience and understanding of living and working with others. They will not receive the important sense of comradery which
can offer an open mind to understanding and a sense of responsibility for those that require patience and information in order to survive in a world made of many kinds of people. Children with severity of disabilities will be denied an level education playing field. The greatest number of those children are learning disabled and they are now
back to being pushed through and many dropped out once again. Our society is regressing in it’s humanity. Greed has a way of doing that!!!