Dr. Mark Henry, superintendent of the Cypress-Fairbanks school district in Texas, says it is time to save students from failing charter schools.
Dr. Henry proposes:
“I have an even better prescription that Texas should try. In my solution, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD will create “The Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Opportunity School District” to take over and manage failing charter schools.
“Around 8.2 percent of public school campuses are classified as failing, but nearly 17 percent of charter schools are designated as failing. In fact, within three years of being included on the low-performing list, only seven out of approximately 8,500 traditional public schools are still designated as failing. If you are mathematically inclined, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of all Texas public school campuses are rated IR or AU for more than three years.
“It seems that public schools are doing a great job of addressing low-performing schools without the added bureaucracy of another state agency. But there does appear to be a need to help charter schools, when nearly 1 in 5 are considered failing.
“CFISD is recognized as one of the most effective school districts in the state when considering academic achievement and financial efficiency. We don’t pick and choose our students; we educate all students within our borders. The principles we practice should be quite useful in assisting the great number of failing charter schools. We feel that with more funding, less regulation and our processes, we can give thousands of students trapped in failing charter schools hope for a better tomorrow.
“The proliferation of failing charter schools is the “civil rights issue of the 21st Century.” CFISD sees an opportunity to rescue these students and generate additional dollars to help offset the current underfunding (less operation funding than charters) that we receive. It is a win-win! Students at the failing charter school will benefit by receiving a quality education and CFISD students will benefit with more funding.”
When I read this brilliant parody of the “reformers'” favorite reform, I concluded their days of hoaxing the public are numbered.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
^^This!^^
Diane, I think the disconnect you’re seeing between how ed reformers speak nationally and how they speak in their own districts is real, and might be baffling unless you see it up close.
I just saw it last week. Our state lawmaker traveled out for a public school groundbreaking. He’s got nothing good to say about public schools in Columbus, but he’s DEVOTED when he’s standing in the cafeteria for a photo op. A member of the Kasich Administration showed up too. They speak very differently about public schools locally than they do at these conferences and conventions. They know they’d never get elected if they bashed our public schools on the ground like they do in the national “movement”.
It’s like twin tracks. The trains only crash if the national crosses over to the “local” track.
I think it’s inevitable that collision occurs 🙂 I’m almost looking forward to it when Jeb Bush lands here.
This post is a good reversal of the usual mantra, however….
The charter schools are having a national conference in New Orleans in June (21-24). You can use the following website to register (if you wish) or to see that the keynote speakers are Geoffrey Canada, John White, and a high profile civil rights lawyer speaking about the pipe-line to prison. The post-Katrina schools in New Orleans will be the subject of a special session, a session unlikely to be informed by the meticulous research of Mercedes Schneider.
You can take a look at all of the vendors who are marketing services ( floorplan then side bar for the list), and also find some model legislation and research in the form of scorecards. The research includes a map that color codes and rates each state’s legislation/policies according to a point system this national charter organization favors.
http://www.publiccharters.org/involved/conference-2015/attend/speakers/
How are Louisiana public schools doing under Mr., White?
Oh, right. Doesn’t matter. Maybe they can hire a private advocate in addition to the person they’re already paying.
Will they be sharing rooms, rides, and paying their own relatively small registration fees, as the vast majority of advocates in Chicago last weekend did? Likely not.
I’d go but I can’t afford the $475 teacher registration fee. Maybe I should go as a press person.
Just a tad steeper price than NPE in Chicago.
“In fact, within three years of being included on the low-performing list, only seven out of approximately 8,500 traditional public schools are still designated as failing.”
Does anyone know any more detail on this statement? This strikes me as nothing short of amazing given that failing schools in my area have been on the list for a decade. Did they change the definition, or have they discovered how to turnaround failing schools?
How do these numbers square with this?
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/List-of-Worst-Texas-Schools-Increases-286464701.html
Some info; looking for the chart that shows the 3+ year failure rate. The number quoted above is accurate. Campuses move on and off the list. Also, the criteria changed when the state went from TAKS to STAAR(without, of course, any additional support from the state for the increase in standards. More students were doing well on TAKS so it was time to change up the test again. Because heaven forbid our public schools students suddenly look as if they are doing well. That wouldn’t fit the narrative of failing public schools.) http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2014/statesummary.html
Here you go, Texas public school district, campus, and charter school rated Academically Unacceptable by district & campus, including number of years: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2014/multiyearau.pdf
Just another typical day in Dallas ISD, well almost.
http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/investigates/2015/05/01/records-disd-hr-investigation-was-completed-not-released/26680525/
Records: DISD HR investigation was completed, not released
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20150430-dallas-leaders-rally-behind-embattled-disd-superintendent-mike-miles.ece
Dallas leaders rally behind embattled DISD Superintendent Mike Miles
http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/2015/04/how-does-this-help-the-kids-most-of-dallas-city-council-asks-disd-school-board-not-to-fire-mike-miles.html/
‘How does this help the kids?’: Most of Dallas City Council asks DISD school board not to fire Mike Miles
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/the-cost-of-instability-in-dallas-isd.html/
The cost of instability in Dallas ISD
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/transparency-accountability-and-the-high-stakes-at-todays-disd-trustees-meeting.html/
Transparency, accountability and the high stakes at today’s DISD trustees meeting
http://educationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/online-petition-at-least-suggests-theres-support-for-disd-superintendent-mike-miles.html/
Online petition, at least, suggests there’s support for DISD superintendent Mike Miles
http://learningcurve.dmagazine.com/2015/05/01/we-need-another-hero-why-miles-fate-is-in-the-hands-of-dan-micciche-and-eric-cowan/
We Need Another Hero: Why Miles’ Fate is in the Hands of Dan Micciche and Eric Cowan
“The United Neighborhood Organization, also known as UNO, is fighting with the charter school chain it founded, and thing are getting ugly. In a letter today, UNO CEO Rick Cerda said the Charter School Network owes nearly three million dollars in back payments. UNO is threatening to sell the buildings of six schools if no payment is made.”
Can UNO “sell” 6 public schools? Who paid for the schools and why didn’t Chicago/Illinois lawmakers insist on owning the facilities they paid for? I mean, for God’s sake, does no one in government protect the public interest?