San Jose, CA: Planning to Close Several Elementary Schools as Charters Proliferate

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1. Ray says:

   December 2, 2017 at 2:15 pm

   The charter model. They don’t have to be better – all they have to do is open enough of them until they bring down the system, so there is no other choice but to rely on the private sector. See Oakland.

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   • ciedie aech says:

     December 3, 2017 at 1:45 pm

     YES. Systematically starve and abuse the traditional system into disrepair and then sell the result to the public as “bad.”

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2. maestramalinche says:

   December 2, 2017 at 3:23 pm

   The same corporate forces responsible for dividing the resources and communities in San José have been infiltrating San Francisco this past year. San Francisco residents are going to need to get informed, get critical, and come out to support our public schools and our public school teachers. We are poor, we are proud, we are mighty, and we love our communities. Our schools are not for sale to corporate investors. Beware of the charter pushing organization called “Innovate Public Schools” based in Silicon Valley, funded by people and corporations outside of San Francisco with very little knowledge of our communities, our school district, and public education.

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3. teachingeconomist says:

   December 2, 2017 at 5:22 pm

   This article (https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/San-Jose-Unified-School-District-Enrollment-to-Plunge-Amid-Skyrocketing-Living-Costs-Shortage-of-Single-Family-Homes-444191723.html) blames the ever increasing cost of rent and decline in single family homes for the decline in enrollment. Any new housing is aimed at folks without children.

   Because of ever more restrictive zoning and building regulations, very few homes of ay kind have been constructed in the bay area in the last 20 years. . See this GIF originally from the NYT: http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2017/12/72400.html

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   • dianeravitch says:

     December 2, 2017 at 5:41 pm

     San Jose, like San Diego, is losing students to charters. The third rate Rocketship charters are expanding in San Jose, against the wishes of the local schools. Parents are hoaxed by marketing.

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   • teachingeconomist says:

     December 2, 2017 at 5:46 pm

     Charter growth was not cited in the NBC article above. Perhaps you could find some documentation for the claim that charter growth is responsible.

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     • dianeravitch says:

       December 2, 2017 at 5:50 pm

       I spoke to educators who work in Dan Jose just last night. I had dinner with the superintendent of San Diego Thursday night. They know more about their districts than NBC.

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     • teachingeconomist says:

       December 3, 2017 at 10:48 pm

       Dr. Ravitch,

       Is the superintendent of San Diego public schools an expert in the demographic changes in San Jose, a municipality 470 miles from San Jose? To put it in an east coast perspective, New York is closer to Portland Maine, Cleveland, Ohio. or Richmond Virginia than San Diego is to San Jose.

       Did you read the report in the article I linked to? That is what the San Jose school district will consider in making a decision.

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     • dianeravitch says:

       December 3, 2017 at 11:59 pm

       Sorry, TE, I met with the superintendent of schools of San Jose, as well as many other Superintendents. San Jose is literally overrun with charter schools, which drain money from public schools and are supervised by no one and accountable to no one.

       I may block you again because of your snark.

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     • teachingeconomist says:

       December 5, 2017 at 12:34 am

       Comment deleted by DR.

       Reply to TE,

       The law in California says that a charter applies to the local school board. If the local school board turns it down, it may appeal to the county school board. If the county school board turns it down, it may appeal to the state school board, which is very charter friendly and seldom turns any charter down. That’s why California is overrun with charters.

       The law also allows small rural districts to charter schools in districts far away, even if the host district doesn’t want them. Read Carol Burris’s report “Charters and Consequences,” which explains in detail.

       As for your string of invective directed at me, get out of here. You are fired.

       Diane Ravitch

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4. InService says:

   December 2, 2017 at 5:39 pm

   I just still can’t believe Jerry Brown, of all people, won’t allow charter oversight. Big Oil and Big Charter dominate Dem campaign funding in California. He doesn’t support Big Oil, so why all the support for Big Charter? So disappointing.

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5. j135cooper says:

   December 4, 2017 at 12:22 am

   Jerry Brown? the man who brought us the train to nowhere; the carbon tax that is going directly to the oil industry (that’s why the Sierra Club and me didn’t support the carbon tax on gasoline) and that he’s going to use for the train to nowhere;
   and the same Jerry who appointed his buddy Michael Kirst from day 1 who worked for K-12, Inc to be President of the Ca Board of Ed?

   That Jerry Brown made it very clear where he stood.
   He has also allowed the Porter Ranch to spew methane gases because his sister is on the board of the gas company.
   His environmental policies are just talk, talk, talk. And does he love to talk.

   But no real actions or legacy except trillions on common core.
   That Jerry Brown? He’s pathetic.
   He’s made me think of changing my political party.

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