Media Round Up

NAPCS in the News

• “Parent Trigger Laws Give Parents the Power They Deserve,” Nina Rees (President and CEO) op-ed on the U.S. News & World Report, Oct. 26
• “Opinion: School Choice on the Ballot,” Nina Rees video interview with the Wall Street Journal, Oct. 25
• “Savannah, Chatham voters to decide who should authorize charter schools,” Todd Ziebarth (Sr. VP State Advocacy) quoted in Savannah Morning News Oct. 20

News to Know

On November 6th, voters in Georgia and Washington will vote on state legislation impacting the future of public charter schools in their respective states. The Charter Blog collected supportive op-eds, editorials and letters to the editor in both states from the past two weeks. Additional news coverage includes:

• “Georgia Judge Dismisses Anti-Charter Campaign Case,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 26
• “Georgia Judge Issues No Ruling on Charter Campaign Injunction Request,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 25
• “Former Foe Now Embraces Charter Schools in Washington State,” Seattle Times, Oct. 24
• “Georgia State Senator: Charter Amendment Will Inject Competition into System,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, Oct. 23
• “Initiative 1240: Charting a New Course in Washington State?,” Olympian, Oct. 22

Audience Favorites

Facebook— In a Marietta Daily Journal op-ed, retired high school teacher and former Georgia state legislator Roger Hines explains why he now supports a constitutional amendment to restore the state’s power to approve and fund public charter schools.  “I must break rank from the educational establishment and support the constitutional amendment because the time has come for a new order,” Hines writes.

Twitter— @charteralliance GA & WA voters will decide on legislation impacting the future of public charter schools in their states. bit.ly/P2J9Ju #WApol#GApol

You can stay up to date on all the developments in the public charter school sector by subscribing to our regular news updates…Sign up here.

Support for Public Charter Schools in Georgia and Washington State

On November 6th, voters in Georgia and Washington will vote on state legislation impacting the future of public charter schools in their respective states. In the past two weeks, there has been an outpouring of supportive op-eds, editorials and letters to the editor in both states. You can learn more about the legislation in Georgia and Washington through the linked pro-charter organizations.

Georgia

Oct. 22 On an Atlanta Journal Constitution blog, Georgia state Sen. Fran Millar argues in favor of the constitutional amendment to restore the state’s power to approve and fund public charter schools. Millar points out that the amendment “primarily deals with charter schools created by the state after a local school board turns down the application."

Oct. 21 According to the Savannah Morning News, the proposal would prevent local school districts from denying approval to highly-qualified applicants. “There are 160 districts in Georgia that refuse to approve any charter schools,” said Tony Roberts, Georgia Charter Schools Association chief executive officer.

Oct. 21 In a Marietta Daily Journal op-ed, retired high school teacher and former Georgia state legislator Roger Hines explains why he now the amendment to restore the state’s power to approve and fund public charter schools. “Which is more local, a board of education making educational decisions for parents, or parents making those decisions for themselves?”

Oct. 21 In a Macon Telegraph op-ed, CNN contributor and Atlanta radio talk show host Erick Erickson points to flawed logic used by those who argue against restoring Georgia’s right to approve and fund public charter schools at the state level, a right now only extended to local school districts. “Charter school opponents believe the very same school systems that are failing our children should be the sole authority on creating their own competition,” Erickson writes.

Oct. 18 In a Marietta Daily Journal op-ed, Georgia Charter Schools Association president and CEO Tony Roberts argues that the amendment would restore the state’s authority to approve and fund public charter schools. “Independent charter schools have the most basic form of local control — parents.”

Oct. 18 In a letter to the Cherokee Tribune, Lyn Michaels-Carden of the Georgia Charter Educational Foundation writes that the debate is “a passionate subject that goes to the basic instinct of parents, what’s best for our kids and who is best to decide that.”

Oct. 17 On the Getting Smart blog, Alisa Hug, the Director of the Board of PublicSchoolOptions.org, says the amendment would give the state authority to create and oversee charter schools. “With various public charter school options available – from brick and mortar schools to online schools, to blended learning options, we have the tools to meet the individualized learning needs of all students. Let’s not fail them.”

Oct. 13 According to the Augusta Chronicle, a recent poll shows Georgia voters closely divided over the amendment. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll showed 45 percent of likely voters supporting the amendment and 42 percent opposed. An additional 13 percent said they did not know about the amendment or did not answer the question.

Washington

Oct. 23 According to the Seattle Times, Lisa Macfarlane, Washington state director of Democrats for Education Reform, campaigned against a ballot measure to bring public charter schools to Washington 16 years ago. Now, she supports Initiative 1240, which would allow the establishment of up 40 public charter schools statewide. She became curious about President Obama’s pro- charter stance and visited several charters serving low-income children. "You wish more kids could have that option," she said. In her current work promoting I- 1240, Macfarlane is now trying to change other voters’ minds. “We've got to do better by a group of kids that aren't faring well in our traditional public schools," she said.

Oct. 23 The Yakima Herald-Republic urges Washington state voters to approve I-1240. Critics of the measure have pointed to “big money” donated from the founders of Microsoft and Amazon.com. “This is big money, true,” the editorial board writes, “ — big money from state companies that have a vested interest in a high-quality public-school system.”

Oct. 21 According to the Olympian, Washington voters will decide whether the state will allow the establishment public charter schools when they vote on Initiative 1240 on the November 6 ballot. Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington, said charter authorizers can ensure that schools have “strict accountability requirements that most public schools don’t have.”

Oct. 21 In a Seattle Times op-ed, University of Washington Tacoma associate professor of economics Katie Baird writes: “I-1240 is carefully designed to maximize the chance of creating high-performing schools.”

Oct. 13 The Seattle Times editorial board urges Washington state voters to approve I- 1240, which would allow the creation of 40 public charter schools statewide. “We need both charter public schools, where principals are given latitude to pick teachers, shape budget priorities and tailor curriculum to students, and good traditional schools willing to innovate…We cannot continue to put off change because it is uncomfortable and challenges the status quo.”

Oct. 13 Seattle Times editorial page editor Kate Riley notes in her op-ed that public charter schools are also an issue in the governor’s race. Republican Rob McKenna supports charters; Democratic challenger Jay Inslee does not. Riley writes: “On education, Washington needs leadership that is open to possibilities — whether charter schools or the levy swap — that can move the state forward.”

Media Round Up

NAPCS in the News

“School Choice: A Subject Both Candidates Support,” Nina Rees (President and CEO) quoted in NPR, Oct. 13

News to Know

• “Parents could seek charters at 35 Miss. Schools,” WSLS, Oct. 19
• “Pa. House pulls the plug on charter school reform bill, killing the measure for this year,” Patriot-News, Oct. 18
• “Anxiety High Over Charters, K-12 Aid in Wash. State,” Education Week, Oct. 17
• “Pa. Senate approves some charter school regulations,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct. 16
• “Charter school supporters say they’ll turn out in force at State Board of Education meeting in Concord,” Union Leader, Oct. 15

Audience Favorites

Facebook— The Intergenerational School in Cleveland, OH takes us on a "walk through" of their college prep instructional strategy on the Charter Blog. "We have coined the term 'intergenerativity' to denote the powerful synergy that emerges when the generations learn together. To us, this represents community service at its most profound and personal level."
http://www.publiccharters.org/Blog/Default.aspx?id=280

Twitter—MT @Part4Learning: New @KCTS9 @UW poll shows registered voters favor #charter schools 48% to 39%:washingtonpoll.org/results/kcts9w…

You can stay up to date on all the developments in the public charter school sector by subscribing to our regular news updates…Sign up here.

Teaching the Next Generation Financial Literacy

Seattle Times Gives Thumbs Up to Charter Ballot Initiative

On October 13, the Seattle Times editorial page endorsed Washington state’s ballot initiative to create a charter school law. The editorial points out that the initiative “includes language taken from laws governing the best-performing charter schools. The creation of 40 public charter schools is a slow, careful step toward innovating and improving our public system.” The Washington initiative incorporates many elements of the model law for charter schools, which NAPCS developed to guide state policymakers to help them create a vibrant sector of public charter schools.

More than that, the editors made a compelling argument for charter schools everywhere. Here are some excerpts:

This is not about doing away with or abandoning traditional public schools. Evidence continues to mount that students need creativity and flexibility in the classroom and the current system does not provide or encourage enough of it.

In 41 states, charters are making a difference for a significant number of public-school students. There is no evidence that those charter schools will lead to the privatization of public education. In many cities, including Denver, New York City and Cleveland, charter schools are partnering with traditional schools to reform entire districts.

We need both charter public schools, where principals are given latitude to pick teachers, shape budget priorities and tailor curriculum to students, and good traditional schools willing to innovate.
…

Charters have been accused of cherry-picking the best public-school students, leaving traditional schools with the most challenging students. I-1240 not only gives priority to at-risk students, it codifies this intent by clearly defining at-risk students as those, “performing below grade level, at risk of dropping out of high school or currently enrolled in chronically low-performing schools.” Also included are special-education students, those with higher-than-average disciplinary sanctions or low participation rates in advanced or gifted programs or limited English proficiency, and those who are members of economically disadvantaged families.
…

Wholesale change of the sort needed to alter the academic lives of tens of thousands of students requires more than a single effort. Space must be made for innovative schools, charters and other proven efforts.

A region innovative enough to lead the world markets for airplanes, coffee, software and global health can surely be more aggressive reforming its schools. Otherwise, another generation will stumble through, with far too many students failing out of school.
…

The University of Washington’s Center for Reinventing Public Education analyzed all major charter studies and found low-performing charters tend to be in states with loose rules. Washington has an opportunity to set rules upfront that build on the most successful charter models.
…

Criticism that charters siphon funds from traditional schools is a smoke screen. The fact is they are part of the same system. Education funding already follows students wherever they go in the public system, whether to alternative, magnet or charter schools. That’s as it should be.
…

Charter schools are not a panacea for poverty or other societal problems that interfere with learning. But charters have become laboratories for innovation precisely because they work to address those problems, often by providing wraparound social services and connecting schools with community resources.

We cannot continue to put off change because it is uncomfortable and challenges the status quo.

Media Roundup

News to Know

• "Charter Schools: Yes. Initiative 1240 has plenty of protections for traditional educational system," The Columbian, Oct. 8
• “Gov. Corbett must step up for charter school reform,” Patriot News, Oct. 9
• "State seeks to double enrollment in charter schools,” Orlando Sentinel, Oct. 10
• "Charter networks being urged to take over troubled schools in city,” Chicago Tribune, Oct. 11
• "Don't deny school choice,” Augusta Chronicle, Oct. 12  

Audience Favorites

Facebook—Check out our infographic on public charter school instructional strategies. 

Twitter— @CenterNonProf: Welcome David! MT @charteralliance:pleased to announce David Hoff will be our new VP for Communications & Marketing


You can stay up to date on all the developments in the public charter school sector by subscribing to our regular news updates…Sign up here.

Media Round Up

NAPCS in the News

• “D.C. considers neighborhood admissions preference for charter schools,” Renita Thukral (VP Legal Affairs) cited as committee member, Washington Post, Oct. 4
• “N.H. Charter Freeze Triggers Fierce Backlash,” Todd Ziebarth (Sr. VP State Advocacy) quoted in Education Week, Oct. 3

News to Know

• “Plenty of Common Ground in Obama and Romney’s Ed Reform Pitches,” Color Lines, Oct. 5
• “Veto pits charter school autonomy against reduced-price meals,” California Watch, Oct. 4
• “Charter backers rally as teachers vote on contract,” Chicago Tribune, Oct. 3
• “First charter schools in Maine start first day of school,” Bangor Daily News, Oct. 2
• “LAUSD, 3 charter groups win grants to develop evaluation systems,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 1

Audience Favorites

Facebook—  (Oct. 4) This afternoon, our CEO Nina Rees moderated a panel on Capitol Hill with representatives from Achievement First, Breakthrough Schools, IDEA Public Schools, KIPP Delta Public Schools, Noble Network of Charter Schools, and Success Academy Charter Schools. The discussion examined practices in high performing charter networks to see if there's a "secret sauce" that can be used to close the achievement gap. What do you think is the most important thing a school can do to achieve transformational results for its students?

Twitter— @KIPPDelta talks character ed & serving a rural community: "our students aren't just test scores...they need the right vehicle to succeed."

You can stay up to date on all the developments in the public charter school sector by subscribing to our regular news updates…Sign up here.

DOE Celebrates District and Charter Collaboration

South Carolina Leadership Summit Focuses on Academic and Operational Excellence in Public Charter Schools

I had the pleasure of speaking at the Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina Leadership Summit this week. What a wonderful compliment to their annual state charter school conference! The two-day summit was targeted at new school leaders, business managers, and governing board members. It included intensives in business finance and operations, fundraising and marketing, speeches by legislators and the state superintendent on the status of the charter sector in South Carolina, and demystifying funding formulas. The summit ended with a leaders roundtable to discuss the use of research and data in charter schools.

The summit gave me a deeper awareness that:

• the power of an emerging charter support organization to serve as a convener is essential to growing a high quality charter sector in a state;
• the need for consistent and focused networking opportunities for new and veteran charter leaders and board members is invaluable;
• awareness and engagement of charter school stockholders in federal policy development and implementation is critical;
• business bootcamps that provide useful resources and tools in finance, operations and communications can never be offered enough.

Kudos to Mary Carmichael and Carol Aust for putting on one heck of a summit. The attendees that I spoke with during the reception appreciated the opportunity to go more in-depth and have access to
their peers outside of the state conference. For more information, click here.

Photo: Taishya Adams and Carol Aust of the Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina at their Leadership Summit

Congratulations to the 2012 Teacher Incentive Fund Grantees