After Checker Finn called for an end to teacher tenure, Mercedes Schneider became interested in the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. First she reviewed its financial reports to the IRS.
Now she scrutinizes the performance of the charter schools that TBF sponsors in Ohio. Since TBF lectures the nation about the virtues of school choice, it is useful to know how it’s own schools are doing. It is not a pretty picture.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“it’s own schools”
Typo. it’s => its.
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The saying “Do as I say not as I do” comes to mind, eh!
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The difference between the Fordham’s charter results and those of a public school is that the public school’s results would be blasted all over by mainstream media with the label “failure.” Then, the policymakers would be looking to put these “failures” in the hands of the governor who would then turn them over to privatization. Many privatization failures go unnoticed because they are not subject to the same level of accountability as public schools. At least Fordham has results, even if it requires digging in a report. Once the schools go into privatization, there is no attempt to remove them from privatization, if complicit policymakers call the shots. This is hypocrisy, and no solution for poor students.
I would be interested in knowing the socio-economic levels of students tested. My crystal ball tells me most of the students are poor, but a couple of schools serve middle class students. The big influence on the results is POVERTY, and Fordham and other privateers need to wake up to this reality.
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Thomas B. Fordham also thinks it has the answers for fixing No Child Left Behind: https://edexcellence.net/articles/lets-leave-the-worst-parts-of-nclb-behind
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When will people wake up to the nonsense? It’s just unbelievably ridiculous. So tired of “public school badgers” who have no clue. For the most part, I am just speechless at the insanity.
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Further proof that there are no mirrors at Fordham- The Institute was quoted (as always) in Ohio media. Their response about a former congressman who spoke out to defend public schools, “It’s nothing more than naked political grandstanding.” Does Fordham expect us to believe that charter schools in Ohio are backed by apolitical do-gooders, not the tech industry, grifters, anti-union Walton heirs and a financial sector that makes 10-18% on charter school debt? Would they have us duped into thinking that our politicians in Columbus haven’t been bought by the campaign donations of charter operators?
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I agree about the white-glove treatment of the Fordham Insitute in Ohio media
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As do I. For some reason, they’re always given the status of objective expert opinion on all things education policy.
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Fordham’s white glove treatment diminishes the reporters and the 4th estate.
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Correction- contractor schools
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