Archives for category: Connecticut
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Bridgeport Parents Respond to Charter CEO Attack

By dianeravitch
May 27, 2013 //
13

Bridgeport parent leaders responded forcefully to an attack on their schools by Jennifer Alexander, the leader of ConnCAN.

Alexander claimed that charters in Connecticut outperform public schools and that 65,000 students are trapped in failing public schools. She certainly knows the corporate reform script.

The parent leaders wrote:

“As Bridgeport public school parents and elected parent leaders, we find it insulting that a paid charter school proponent is attempting to speak on behalf of a community she has no involvement with. Ms. Alexander does not have a child in the Bridgeport public schools, does not reside in the city of Bridgeport and does not pay Bridgeport taxes.

To Alexander’s claim that charters outperform public schools, the parents wrote:

“In reviewing the data of the six state charter schools that service Bridgeport students, it is abundantly clear that these six schools do not reflect the demographics of our traditional public schools. These six schools collectively underserve children with disabilities, English language learners and students receiving free/reduced-price lunch. By underserving these student populations, in some cases by double digits, they are able to claim that they achieve higher test scores.”

Bridgeport parents understand that ConnCAN represents fabulously wealthy individuals who use the public schools as a plaything. They wrote:

“ConnCan is funded by some very wealthy individuals. Their main purpose is to advocate for charter schools and their expansion. We are Bridgeport public school parents and elected parent leaders who volunteer our time and service. We do not receive a dime in compensation for the advocacy work that we do.

“Until Ms. Alexander can say the same, we recommend she speak for herself and not for those of us that are in the trenches fighting and advocating for our children’s education every day.”

The heartening aspect of this letter is that regular parents are seeing clearly what the game is. They understand that ConnCAN doesn’t care about their children. They recognize that the end game will be a publicly funded dual school system, with one free to exclude or push out kids it doesn’t want.

They are fighting for their children, for their community, for public education, and for democracy.

Categories Charter Schools, Connecticut, Corporate Reformers, Support for public schools

Duncan: In Chicago, I Cut Testing by 50%

By dianeravitch
May 26, 2013 //
59

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy at a meeting with students in Hartford, Connecticut. The main topic was school security, but at one point a student asked what could be done to cut back on excessive testing.

This was the exchange:

“Student Justin Vega said he feels as if all the time and money spent on standardized testing has compromised the quality of his education. He asked whether the money might be better spent on security.

“Both Malloy and Duncan agreed that it makes sense to find the right balance in testing. Malloy noted that Hartford schools could potentially have a 40 percent dropout rate. “We have to do everything in our power to make sure that doesn’t happen. We need a multifaceted approach which doesn’t overemphasize [testing],” Malloy said.

“Duncan agreed about balance and noted that when he was the head of Chicago schools, he cut the amount of standardized testing by 50 percent.”

The student didn’t ask Duncan about what he had done in Chicago, but what he could do now to reduce the time and money spent on testing.

Does Duncan not understand that his zeal to evaluate teachers by the scores of their students has led to more testing than at any time in the past? Why didn’t he answer Justin Vegas’ question?

Categories Chicago, Connecticut, Duncan, Arne, Testing

The Connecticut Corporate Reform Gravy Train

By dianeravitch
May 22, 2013 //
15

Now that Commissioner Pryor has the go-ahead from Governor Malloy to apply the principles of corporate education reform, he has loaded up the payroll of the state education department with his fellow reformers. Here comes the privatization movement, prepared to bust unions, demoralize teachers, and generate profits for friends of the movement.

Naturally, there is a Talent Officer, a Turnaround Officer, a Performance Manager, and a bevy of Broad interns. This in one of the nation’s top performing states.

Categories Broad Foundation, Connecticut, Corporate Reformers, Privatization

Connecticut: High Suspension Rates for Kindergarten

By dianeravitch
May 20, 2013 //
19

Guess which schools in Connecticut have the highest suspension rate for children in kindergarten?

Categories Charter Schools, Childhood, Pre-K, K, Connecticut

Hey, Kids! Let’s Open a Charter School

By dianeravitch
May 3, 2013 //
19

What do you do if you head the Connecticut chapter of Teach for America and you long for bigger worlds to conquer?

Simple.

You open a charter school!

The state commissioner is a charter school guy, so he is no problem.

You decide to open your new charter in Bridgeport, where the superintendent won his reputation by privatizing public schools in New Orleans.

All the right connections and the public’s money. No brainer.

Categories Charter Schools, Connecticut, Corporate Reformers, Privatization

Governor Malloy of Connecticut Opposes School Funding Lawsuit

By dianeravitch
April 11, 2013 //
5

This is a sad reversal for Connecticut’s poorest children.

As a candidate for governor, Dannell Malloy supported a lawsuit that would guarantee that the children of the state have a constitutional right to a quality education.

Now that he is governor, he is trying to quash the lawsuit he once supported.

Go figure.

Categories Connecticut

Connecticut OKs Charter Executive to State Board

By dianeravitch
April 10, 2013 //
12

Jonathan Pelto reports that the Connecticut House approved the nomination of a charter school executive to the State Board of Education.

According to his account, Governor Dannell Malloy promised that if she was confirmed, the next two appointments to the state board would be individuals who support public schools, where the vast majority of the state’s students are enrolled.

 

Categories Charter Schools, Connecticut

Connecticut: Why Not Hold “Reformers” Accountable!

By dianeravitch
April 10, 2013 //
4

Sarah Darer Littman wonders why some officials are not held accountable.

She points to the example of State Commissioner Stefan Pryor and Bridgeport Superintendent Paul Vallas, both of whom used ingenious ploys to avoid competitive bidding on contracts.

Shouldn’t accountability be applied uniformly for all public officials?

Categories Connecticut, Corporate Reformers, Vallas, Paul

Wendy Lecker: Why Do State Officials Ignore the Laws?

By dianeravitch
April 10, 2013 //
12

Civil rights lawyer can’t understand why state leaders in Connecticut get to choose which laws to follow.

They seem to follow the advice of NYC former chancellor Joel Klein, who responded to complaints by saying, “Sue me.”

Why the disdain for the law?

Categories Connecticut, Corporate Reformers, Malloy, Dannel

Will Connecticut Put a Charter Operator on State Board?

By dianeravitch
April 9, 2013 //
7

Jonathan Pelto asks whether the Connecticut House of Representatives will approve the nomination of a charter school executive to the State Board of Education.

Governor Dannell Malloy nominated Andrea Comer, the chief operating officer of a charter school to the state board, where she will exercise influence over issues that directly affect her organization, as well as the continued expansion of charter schools in that state.

Malloy is mad about charter schools. He chose a charter school founder, Stefan Pryor, to be his state commissioner of education.

“If Andrea Comer, the Chief Operating Officer of FUSE/Jumoke Inc., finds herself on the State Board of Education, she will certainly be in a “unique” position to directly and indirectly impact her job, her employer and the industry she has worked so hard to represent.  Prior to working for FUSE/Jumoke, Inc. she worked for Achievement First, Inc., the even larger charter school management company co-founded by Stefan Pryor.”

Charters in Connecticut that have the best success are known for having very small numbers of English language learners and students with disabilities. Comer’s charter is one of them.

Connecticut has leadership that disdains public education. Privatization is all the rage in the Nutmeg State.

Categories Charter Schools, Connecticut, Privatization
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »