Darcie Cimarusti (aka Mother Crusader) dives into the racially charged politics of Hoboken, where charter schools have become a refuge for those who don’t want to go to the public schools, which have an enrollment that is most poor and minority.
While many people think that charters are “saving poor minority kids from failing public schools,” charters in Hoboken are a means of encouraging gentrification by providing a haven for white and affluent families.
Darcie explains the politics behind a decision to expand the dual-language Hola charter school. Mayor Dawn Zimmer–famous for her role in the investigation of whether Governor Christie withheld Sandy relief funds for political reasons–is a charter school parent.
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Hola had all the right political connections. As it grows, the public schools wither.
The Star-Ledger commended Hola for its high performance, while noting that only 11% of its students are poor.
As Darcie points out,
“HoLa’s Board President is not only a former Wall Street Journal Education Reporter, [and] she is also the “Chief External Officer,” AKA Director of Communications, for Uncommon Schools, one of the states favorite CMOs.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thank you for the insight Mother Crusader. This is the kind of citizen journalism that helps to make a lie out of the “professional journalism” that is paid for by those with the money to buy the press.
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Can the “back up” schools for the “choice” schools demand more money per student to even the playing field?
If public schools are to be relegated to a position where they are ignored and abandoned except for their role as a “safety net” so we can continue to claim we still have a public school system then they’re serving a unique and vital role and should be compensated accordingly.
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Obviously charter schools which manage one way or the other to effectively exclude lower class children will be very popular with middle class parents.
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As with public schools and private schools that middle class parents can afford. Because that’s what middle class parents generally want.
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True! Even if flocking together is natural, it shouldn’t be publicly funded. If similar kids choose to group together at lunch or after school, that’s ok, they can do it within a diverse school excitement. It would increase understanding and respect.
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correction – diverse school environment
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