Pennsylvania is overrun with cyber charters. There are 16 of them competing for customers, sucking money out of real public schools, supplying a terrible education. Some are under investigation. The legislature protects them because of campaign contributions.
Meanwhile public schools are suffering due to budget cuts while these sham schools make profits.
They have extracted $4 billion from the state’s taxpayers in inflated costs, padded enrollment data, and legislative beneficence. This is legal graft.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
And NONE of them make AYP but are NEVER on any list of “failing” or underperforming schools
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Reblogged this on 21st Century Theater and commented:
Diane Ravitch is a tireless advocate for public education. Anyone who wants to educate themselves about the current state of affairs should read her – and then do something about it.
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http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130530_ap_phillyschoolleaderstovoteondoomsdaybudget.html
Meanwhile Philly public schools, who’s School Reform Commission earlier closed 23 schools, is about to pass a “Dooms Day Budget” to “close” a $304 million budget gap. This budget would include cutting music and art as well as assistant prinicpals, guidance counselors and athletic programs.
According to the article:
“The state’s largest district, which serves about 204,000 traditional and charter school students, has not been able to keep pace with rising costs despite closing more than 30 schools and cutting hundreds of central office workers. Expenses include pension and health care contributions, plus payments for increasing charter enrollment.
Commissioners are trying to avoid the cuts by asking for $60 million from the city, $120 million from the state and about $130 million from unions through contract concessions.”
Something’s fishy; I just don’t see how, after all these years of cuts and concessions, the district could STILL be over $300 million in the hole.
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I couldn’t agree with you more Diane. I’ve also read your “The Myth of Charter Schools” in the New York Review of Books. You give a level headed approach to the charter issue alongside “Waiting for Superman”. The Charter situation is a large issue in the state of PA. I am currently working with the American Journal of Education Student forum and there is an article I wrote on PA charters and their low performance. There are unfavorable statistics to the level of teacher experience and preparedness in relation to performance among charters.
I thought that this piece might be something that you and your followers would find interesting and complementary to some of your recent posts. If it makes sense to reference/hyperlink to it in any of your upcoming pieces, I’d appreciate it. And if there’s anything you’ve written about that you’d like to have us consider referencing/linking to in the future, just let me know or connect with AJE Forum on Twitter (@AJEForum ) or Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/groups/335747253181089/]
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I see no facts to back up your claims, Diane. Where are they? Or are you just regurgitating PSBA propaganda designed to keep money in the pockets of failing school administrators?
None make AYP? Actually, most do.
$4 billion? Please cite this reference. I thought that taxpayer dollars were designated to educate our children, not pay salaries of those leading failing school districts. Things like Ambridge in Beaver County…paying for new building though they were in debt and not needing it, or also spending money to sue a charter to prevent it from locating there when legally they had no reason (and were subsequently told so). How many teacher could be paid if a superintendent’s salary was lowered to that of a teacher’s? How many supplies and books could be purchased? And what do school districts do with the remaining allocated dollars for students that no longer attend? They sure aren’t telling the residents or public that they get to keep 20-47% of what was allocated to that student who left for the charter.
Legislative beneficence? Explain then why it is charters marching in Harrisburg to scream out, ‘Don’t cut funding for schools’?
Please, if what you have to say is so true and important, back it up with facts rather than use something that is working for PA families and students as a scapegoat.
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