The parent-led Public Schools First NC calls on the public to speak out against legislation to create an “achievement school district,” modeled on Tennessee’s failed ASD. The goal of the law is to invite charter takeovers of low-scoring schools.
“An Achievement School District is a bad idea for North Carolina. Taking over failing schools and giving them to out-of-town charter operators does not help students or communities. Yet the House is ready to take up a bill (HB1080) that would create an ASD with five of our most vulnerable elementary schools. Tell your representatives you DO NOT SUPPORT this unproven and unaccountable strategy when state transformation teams working closely with local schools and districts are beginning to succeed. They deserve more staff and funding, not an expensive state takeover!
Tell your legislators to REJECT HB1080! (click here and sign the petition
HERE IS the calendar in the house tomorrow.
Click to access CurrentHouseCalendar.pdf
HERE is the calendar in the senate tomorrow.
Click to access CurrentsenateCalendar.pdf
HERE is the House Education Budget
http://www.publicschoolsfirstnc.org/resources/education-budget/”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The research has been published. While choice arguments offer, intuitively, a way ‘out’ of a crazy, failed situation, the facts are, those from poor performing schools did not choose better performing schools. Rather , and elite population of typically well educated parents, research and electronic to send their children to schools where students and parents are most likely themselves-thus perpetuating the classification of our schools. Choice arguments sound promising but in practice , do not meet up to the hype and hope of choice.
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The research has been published. While choice arguments offer, intuitively, a way ‘out’ of a crazy, failed situation, the facts are, those from poor performing schools do not choose better performing schools. Rather , an elite population of typically well educated parents, research and elect to send their children to schools where students and parents are most like themselves-thus perpetuating the socio economic and racial segregation of our schools. Choice arguments sound promising but in practice , do not meet up to the hype and hope. Choice had been elevated into a dogma without the benefit of balancing argumentation about the good of the collective – or common good. This is an arbitrary development perhaps motivated by outrageous public debt-as politicians seek ways to address any insane federal debt. However, if indeed our youth are our future, shortchanging our investment in our future by dismantling public education or defunding schools is dangerous and short sighted.
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We had a charter school in Buffalo who wanted to take over a “failing” school – the building, that is, not any of the students.
That’s one way to increase test scores.
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In my discussion with North Carolina Secretary of Education June Atkinson, she was interested in re start schools that kept low achieving schools in the public sector. I will confirm this with her. This would give a viable alternative to charter take overs with much better teachers.
She also told me she is very much interested in applying for the Sanders / Collins amendment that allows a pathway away from the test. Of course this has to be approved by others. However, supporting this would give much needed talking points.
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Poor North Carolina. Once ed reformers capture your state legislature the public school kids in the state are really screwed.
From here on out it will be charters and vouchers, 24/7. It’s all-consuming. Your lawmakers will spend session after session establishing “choice” and then session after session reforming and funding choice. It will so dominate media you’ll wonder if public schools still exist.
There’s a BIT of an upside for public schools. They’re so busy with the ed reform agenda they rarely find time for more gimmicks and fads and cheap “fixes” for the unfashionable public school sector. Neglect can be a GOOD thing! 🙂
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James Merrill, Superintendent of Wake County Public School System (N.C.), shares membership in EdLeader21, with the Colorado superintendent, Elizabeth Fagan, whose resignation is the subject of a more recent Ravitch post.
Fagan praised EdLeader21, in an interview with the Reason Foundation. David Koch is on the Board and funds Reason.
Sourcewatch reports that Reason’s V.P. of Public Policy is an advisor to ALEC.
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