CER NEWSWIRE
Vol. 4, No. 2
January 15, 2002

* CHARTERS: Them's fighting words…from the NEW YORK State School Boards Association (NYSSBA): "The NYSSBA shall seek legislation to establish a moratorium on the granting of additional charters to new charter schools until such time that the legislature mitigates the negative financial and educational impact of the current charter school law," says one of the group's position statements for 2002. Not only are some pro-charter school board members upset about this outwardly hostile position, but it does explain why it was necessary for New York to craft a law giving authority to entities other than local school boards. It's unlikely that the school boards group will get its way. However, most policymakers with integrity are concerned not about whether a particular district feels the pinch from the creation of a new charter public school, but whether or not the money that the taxpayer spends to educate children is used to do just that.

* Financial scare tactics are the program-du-jour in INDIANA among school superintendents, who want money for every child NOT educated in their district. The administrators say that they really do support charter schools, but "it's just the funding scheme we oppose." So rather than have money follow children, they'd like to be paid regardless of how many children they educate, in essence requiring the taxpayer to pay twice for the same children.

* That same illogic characterized a recommendation by a state advisory body in NORTH CAROLINA. While the entity recommended a 10 percent increase in charter schools, the measure would also allow schools that lose students to be held harmless at the rate of 60 percent of funding in the first year, and 40 percent in the second, costing about $ 6-7 million more in education funding.

The head of the state's charter league, Roger Gerber puts this into perspective in a way that most Americans not steeped in education politics can understand:

"Your community has a restaurant. One in twenty-five die from food poisoning at this restaurant. Restaurants throughout the state have a similar problem. The controlling powers decide to only allow another 10 restaurants to open in the state. If your area is fortunate enough to get another restaurant you can take heart in the fact that the original restaurant will be held harmless if some customers elect to try the new restaurant."

UNIONS: Is the taxpayer funding New York city's school employee union to buy a $75 million building at ground zero? You decide. The president of the United Federation of Teachers announced with praise from Mayor Bloomberg that her group would soon be leaving its current address to purchase a larger property. The larger building is apparently needed to increase training and continuing education space, which teachers need to qualify for pay increases. But since the unions bank account is built on mandatory dues payments from teachers and public money which subsidizes professional development, the building is actually tax-payer and teacher financed, an irony given the union demands for more money and better working conditions for teachers. How many teachers who currently have old books and are lacking supplies could they help? How many repairs could be made?

* That same group's national leader provided readers of her paid monthly column today which contains more unconvincing reasons that teachers need traditional certification to be good teachers. Sandy Feldman states that "advocates for [eliminating certification requirements and simply recruiting smart people into teaching] have never spent a week in a classroom…" suggesting that certification is a must for quality teaching.

But certification isn't now, nor has ever been, a barometer of quality. Alternatively certified teachers in New Jersey outscore traditionally certified teachers and are more likely to be successful. Many leading, accomplished schools do not tend to choose teachers with certification. At the Choate Rosemary Hall, according to the Teacher Quality Bulletin, only 3 percent of faculty have teaching certificates.

* REFORM MINDED SCHOOL LEADERS agree: Typical of rank and file school board members, members of the Marion, Indiana School Board are urging legislators in the Hoosier state to consider exempting superintendents from the state's onerous licensing requirements and allowing school board wide latitude in who they choose. Rather than support these reformers, the Indiana school boards group and superintendents' association oppose the effort.

* And speaking of superintendents, you're a winner if you guessed that the answer to last week's quiz -- -- what city superintendent needed to buy a $33,000 Chrysler on taxpayer money? - was Arlene Ackerman of San Francisco, formerly of Washington, DC. While her contract clearly allows this benefit, the question most reformers want to know is whether or not she is required -- in return for such heady compensation -- to make major improvements in order to keep her benefits and her car. Apparently not. Like many urban school leadership positions nowadays, bonuses for school improvements can be won, but nothing will be taken away if they fail to better the schools. Interesting industry.

The nation's only directory of charter schools is now available! The National Charter School Directory, Seventh Edition can be purchased from CER for $39.95 plus S&H by calling 1-800-521-2118 or ordering online right here.

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