Recently I issued the KIPP Challenge.
I proposed that KIPP put an end to suspicion that they were skimming students and excluding low-performing students by taking over an entire district. A district with ELLs, special ed, the whole gamut of students. If they did that, they could show their stuff to the world and silence the skeptics.
Then Jersey Jazzman offered Camden, NJ (though he is in no position to offer it). It is distressed. It is not very large. It should be just the right size for the KIPP Challenge.
But what I didn’t know was that KIPP had already run a charter in Camden that failed.
Did Jersey Jazzman hoax me?
Even if it is true, Camden still looks like a perfect candidate for the Challenge due to the receptive political climate in the state.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Not only did they run a charter in Camden, thy had so many problems that thy left town.
Now, however, there’s a new law in NJ called the Urban Hope Act. According to the terms of the act, any nonprofit can open a “Renaissance School,” akin to a charter, funded pretty much the same way.
The nonprofit can bring in an outside CMO to provide management or instructional help.
Democrat power boss George Norcross has applied to have a campus of 5 of those schools built on the grounds of the former Lanning Square school, which had been torn down. The land is adjacent to property owned by Cooper Hospital, where, coincidentally, Norcross just built the newest med school in the country. Cooper Foundation will be the non profit, and guess who he’s bringing in to run the nuts and bolts of the 5 schools? KIPP, whose application states they have limited experience with ELL or Special Ed kids, and that turnarounds are not their forte. Their application to run these schools in this town states those things.
Hmmm, Wendy Kopp, Richard Barth and Governor Sammiches. We’re only missing Michelle Rhee and Vahan Gureghian from right across the Delaware River. What could possibly go right?
Diane, Jazzman was not hoaxing you. Here is a link to an article that was in the Courier Post about a month ago which discusses the Renaissance School choices. http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120806/NEWS01/308060010/Hope-Act-applicants-under-review.The KIPP mess is discussed on the last page.
KIPP ran a school called Freedom Academy but pulled out and has left a big mess. The NJDoE has put Freedom on probation for its poor results. The sad part about the “Renaissance” schools is that these choices go from bad to worst. The NJDoE is hell-bent on forcing these choices on the residents of Camden who have no real voice regarding this because the Camden residents cannot vote for their own Board of Education. The mayor and governor appoint board members. Very sad.
Dr. R, I have far, far too much respect for you to try to pull a fast one! I did say in my post that KIPP had tried – and failed – before in Camden:
http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2012/08/hey-kipp-take-camden-challenge.html
“Of course, there is the slight problem of KIPP’s previous failure in Camden, where they turned tail and ran out of the place after they couldn’t get the job done. I think the good people of Camden might be reluctant to give these folks another chance when they blew it once before.”
See: http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2012/08/charters-no-consequences-for-failure.html
My point was that failure never seems to matter much to the reformy; KIPP is being invited back in to Camden, with George Norcross’s and Chris Christie’s blessing, in spite of the fact that they didn’t get the job done last time.
If that’s the case, why not go all the way? I say Camden is the perfect place for these guys to put up or shut up.
The headline was tongue-in-cheek.
I know exactly what you were saying.
Whew! Thought I was in trouble there!
😉
As always, thanks for all you do, and for highlighting our fight here in Jersey!
My two heroes, Diane Ravitch and Jersey Jazzman, both are the real deal. Pax vobiscum and Pacem in Terris.
Thanks, and “In Vino Veritas” to you!
Let me get this straight. The state gives money to run a district. The district pays salaries, runs district, buys supplies, take care of fields, has teams, etc. Now enter the charter school. They will do all of the above plus take a cut for a profit. If Camden doesn’t have enough money to run a district now, how will a charter help when they take a cut?
“how will a charter help when they take a cut?” The same way that trickle down economics helps sink all boats.