Best news of the day!
The charter-friendly State Board of Education turned down Rocketship expansion plan, after 25 speakers denounce it. Chair of board voted to support.
“In a 9-1 vote, the board agreed with the California Department of Education’s recommendation to deny the charter organization’s petition to establish a new school in San Pablo near Richmond, which the West Contra Costa Unified school board and Contra Costa County board of education had also denied. Citing concerns about the charter school’s financial and educational plans, some board members said Rocketship – which operates 10 schools in San Jose, one in Antioch, one in Concord and one in Redwood City where the company is headquartered – may be trying to expand beyond its capacity. Board President Michael Kirst voted against denying the appeal.
“Board members said they were especially concerned about problems associated with the Rocketship Futuro Academy charter school, which opened in Concord two years ago, with the State Board’s approval. The California Department of Education has sent six letters of concern to the school, which is located in the Mt. Diablo district, related to finances and other issues. Rocketship said they expected new philanthropic support which would improve the school’s finances.
“Chief Deputy Superintendent Glen Price, who was sitting in for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, said the California Department of Education was concerned about the lack of students with disabilities in Rocketship schools, lack of information about its English learner program, high suspension rates among some student groups, and its governance model, which includes charter school board meetings held in San Jose. Price, who lives in Contra Costa County, said meetings that far away were “counter to all of our objectives for parent and stakeholder engagement.””
Even with the billionaires’ support, charter schools are becoming toxic.
Resistance works.
Charter schools divert money from public schools.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
YES!
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Yes!
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Autocratic toxic billionaires = toxic charter schools
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Good for California but Devos has sent big money to this franchise.
http://progressive.org/public-school-shakedown/betsy-devos-just-gave-12-6-million-grant-to-rocketship-chart/
here is a You Tube that shows a “launch for the school day” Dodging backbacks is the name of he game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyHMkIIZ2fA
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Missing in this discussion is the recommendation to approve this appeal by the CA Advisory Commission on Charter Schools(ACCS). This commission makes recommendations prior to the charter appearing at a State Board of Education meeting for a final determination. The commission voted 7-2 to reverse the CA Dept. of Education(CDE) recommendation to deny the appeal. And yet, the state voted 9-1 to uphold the CDE’s denial. This is VERY unusual. So, Rocketship was denied locally, at the county, by the CDE and the CA State Board of Education. How then, did the ACCS decide to recommend approval? Maybe because the commission maintains a majority of members who are associated in one way or another with charter schools. Practically no-one knows anything about this appointed board. That needs to be changed.
Here are the meeting notes from the August 14 ACCS meeting on Rocketship:
ITEM 05
Subject: Petition for the Establishment of a Charter School Under the Oversight of the State Board of Education: Consideration of Rocketship San Pablo Elementary, which was denied by the West Contra Costa Unified School District and the Contra Costa County Board of Education.
CDE Recommendation: The CDE proposes to recommend that the SBE hold a public hearing to deny the request to establish Rocketship San Pablo Elementary (RSPE), a TK/K through grade five charter school, under the oversight of the SBE, based on the CDE’s findings pursuant to EC sections 47605(b)(2), and 47605(b)(5) and 5 CCR Section 11967.5.1.
The RSPE petitioners are unable to successfully implement the intended program as the petitioner has presented an unrealistic financial and operational plan for the proposed charter school.
Additionally, the CDE finds that the RSPE petition does not provide a reasonably comprehensive description of the educational program, MPOs, employee qualifications, health and safety procedures, and suspension and expulsion procedures.
If approved by the SBE, as a condition for approval, the RSPE petitioner will be required to revise the petition in order to reflect the SBE as authorizer and include the necessary language for the required charter elements.
Action: Commissioner Hinton Hodge made a motion for the SBE to approve the petition on appeal.
Commissioner Engelberg seconded the motion.
Yes votes: Commissioners Austin, Bauer, Engelberg, Hinton Hodge, Garbolino-Mojica, Ryan, and Sever
No votes: Commissioners Constancio and Washington
Members absent: None
Abstentions: None
The motion passed by a vote of seven to two.
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One more time: yes!
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