A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS. “Can Mr. Rogers nostalgia help cure today’s culture”? Erica Komisar, a psychoanalyst in New York City thinks yes, it can. “Rogers rejected the old-fashioned idea that children are to be seen and not heard. He believed adults should lead them with love and understanding, not fear and punishment.” Closely related to the potential for an overturned Blaine Amendment to provide access for parents to enroll their students in religious schools if they so desire, the independent Komisar makes a compelling case on why religious faith is the underpinning of much successful child-rearing and educational success. An important read.
WHAT WE’RE READING TODAY. An alarming article from the Associated Press that some think high school is enough. Meanwhile employers want students to have more training… and the options are plentiful, but are they enough? Finally, the cause for equity and justice gets a boost from Washington, where poor kids are given another few years to enjoy attending the kinds of private schools that many of us reading can already afford.
AND THEY’RE OFF! It’s the start of another Presidential Derby. And there’s no need to peruse dozens of websites, blogs, columns, harangues, etc., to find out where education opportunity and choice stand in the race at the moment. CER’s new Education 2020 section lays it out for you. While most of the current candidates defy the polls of
Newswire – December 18, 2019
‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE DEBATES, when all thru’ the house,
Randi was stirring the Democratic candidates’ house.
The strike signs were hung ‘ron the country with care,
In hopes that Ms. Warren soon would be there.
The union agitators were all snug in their red,
While visions of new contracts danc’d in their heads.
And Bernie in his kerchief, and Joe in his shawl,
Had just settled in for a 40 minute long explanation of Medicare for all.
When out in the Free Speech zone there arose such a clatter,
The media sprang from impeachment coverage to see what was the matter.
Away to the cameras the journalists flew like a flash,
Turned on the microphones and called Dana Bash.
The moon on the park where protestors flow,
Gave a lustre of hope to the people made low.
When what to Ms. Klobuchar’s wondering eyes should appear,
But mighty charter school parents marching so near.
With zeal in their eyes, moving lively and quick,
I knew in a moment, Mayor Pete would be sick.
More rapid than unions the charter advocates came,
Senator Bennet took the time to tell them his name.
Now Castro! Now Gabbard! Now Steyer and Williamson!
All missed the chance to just try and listen-some.
To the podiums, to the comfy chairs, candidates all.
Now hustling, bustling and trampling all. (Read the rest and share!)
#WHATABOUTUS ? As we near the grand finale of the Holiday Season, it’s fitting, though frustrating, that parents and teachers and opportunity-loving people would have to travel to and through Los Angeles to demand that the Democratic
Newswire – December 10, 2019
TIS THE SEASON TO BE (JOLLY) HEARD Like Shakespeare, we try not to repeat ourselves, but an event in 4 days is too important not to mention again. A reminder that the entire blob/aka industrial complex/aka cartel of anti-ed reform groups is uniting to interview the Democratic presidential candidates next Saturday, December 14th, in Pittsburgh, and on the docket already are plans to tear apart charter schools. It’s a full day forum and will be broadcast live. Charter school advocates, particularly those in Pittsburgh where district schools spend $25,000 per student and among the dismal stats only 19.5 percent of 8th graders are proficient in math! take exception to the negative narrative being created by the candidates about charters in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Just ask Propel Schools which since 2003 have served thousands who don’t have great schools at their disposal – and has a MUCH higher math proficiency rate! We could go on, and will, but watch @edreform on Twitter and Facebook to follow the counter effort in Pittsburgh this weekend.
EVERYTHING YOU’VE ALWAYS NEEDED TO KNOW… but the candidates neglected to ask. So let’s tell them the real story behind why parents want power, children need choices and charters are a life saving ed reform that has transformed education for millions since they began in 1991. CER’s handy dandy Education & the Election page collates in one
Newswire – December 5, 2019
SHARPEN YOUR (PENCILS) SWORDS. The entire blob/aka industrial complex/aka cartel of anti-ed reform groups is uniting to interview the Democratic presidential candidates next Saturday, December 14th, in Pittsburgh. It’s a full day forum and will be broadcast live.
According to PennLive, “The organizing coalition for the Democratic candidates forum includes national groups such as the American Federation of Teachers, Alliance for Educational Justice, Center for Popular Democracy, Action Journey for Justice Alliance, NAACP, National Education Association, Network for Public Education Action, Schott Foundation for Public Education and the Service Employees International Union.
“At least six Democratic presidential hopefuls will attend a nationally televised education forum in Pittsburgh next weekend, according to published reports.
“Event organizers have said confirmed candidates to the day-long forum, in which candidates will appear in a series of individual question-and-answer sessions, include Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer. Two more candidates are considering attending the forum, organizers told TribLive.com. “
Charter school families, students and advocates need to sharpen their swords to defend their honor, integrity and most importantly, these critical education opportunities. OnePA which is helping organize the
Newswire – November 26, 2019
WE GATHER TOGETHER As the great hymn says, to ask for God’s blessings and also to give thanks. Listing all we are thankful for would fill books. So as to not keep you from your preparations for the feast, here are just a couple of tidbits for which WE GIVE THANKS…
FOR THE FREEDOM COALITION FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS who successfully WOKE the sleeping media. Today’s Gray Lady (aka The New York Times) has done the noble thing of covering this critical story about African-American and Latino parents and community leaders whose demands for real power over the education of their children have all but been ignored by the party they traditionally support.
FOR THE COURAGE OF SARAH CARPENTER(@LadyTenn), a vocal Memphis parent and leader of Memphis Lift and her members who forcefully got the attention of Senator Elizabeth Warren at the Atlanta debate. Chanting “we want to be heard,” the group which included CER favorite Dr. Howard Fuller eventually got an audience with Warren who was a supporter of charter schools…before she started running for President and did a “180” reversal. The Senator now essentially wants to “freeze” charters, though to her credit she promised the demonstrators
Newswire – November 19, 2019
MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR
Thanksgiving may officially be over a week away, but we find ourselves counting our blessings a bit early and we wanted to share our gratitude with you.
PARENTS AND KIDS FIGHTING BACK. There may have been a chill in the air but the over 1,300 attendees at the “Open Doors – Unlock Opportunity” in D.C. last Thursday provided plenty of warmth and enthusiasm. A combination call to action for Mayor Bowser to release empty surplus former DCPS buildings for use by public charter schools, celebration of D.C. charter schools and student excellence awards with a prize pool of over $20,000, the event made us thankful that these parents, teachers and students heeded Frederick Douglas’s words that Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. And Demand they did.
AFTERWARDS… RECOGNIZING TALENT. We’re proud – and a little in awe – of the winners of the Student Achievement Awards at the Open Doors rally. We thank these talented students as well as their teachers and parents: Amari Romney, Richard Wright Public Charter School, for the video “My School is
Newswire – November 11, 2019
FREEDOM ISN’T FREE.
We offer this special Veterans “Day” edition of Newswire, because it shouldn’t just be about a day. The federal holiday was celebrated differently from place to place, but how many of the thousands of schools that were open took time to explore what Veteran’s Day is all about. It’s not too late, of course, to teach and to learn. So this Newswire is dedicated to the millions of men and women who have worn our country’s uniform, especially the nearly 1,400,000 who perished while serving.
CER’s Newswire is about achieving educational excellence, and it occurs to us that the pursuit of that would not be possible but for the sacrifices of our armed forces in defending all of our freedoms.
So join us in taking a break from the education battles and in saying
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU
THE ARMY BEFORE THE ARMY. Before the colonies won independence, the soldiers serving in the cause of freedom were known as “Continentals.” One of their first big tests came in August of 1776 when the British army landed on Long Island. George Washington’s general
Newswire – November 5, 2019
US SCORES DROP AGAIN. The results of the 2019 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) are nothing short of SHOCKING. Scores in 4th and 8th grade reading math either declined or flatlined for most groups. Proficiency on the Nation’s Report Card is defined as the ability to “demonstrate solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter.” The fact that more than half of American Students are performing below the Proficient Level is a travesty. Only 35 percent of 4th grade and 34 percent of 8th grade students performed at or above the proficient level in NAEP reading, and 41 percent of 4th grade and 34 percent of 8th grade students performed at or above the proficient level in NAEP math,” and that’s not reflecting the declining performance of historically low performers, precisely the students we should worry the most about. In what world are these acceptable results?
STATE BY STATE the numbers are disheartening at best. We could fill books with words of exasperation from around the country about the numbers, but we’ll share just this one from Nevada Action for School Options, which points out that forget proficiency, more than a third of their kids
The Grand Rapids Press: Lawmakers hope to lure successful charter school companies to Michigan
By Dave Murray
The Grand Rapids Press
September 30, 2011
LANSING – Companies managing charter schools would no longer pay property taxes as part of reforms aimed at luring successful out-of-state operators to Michigan.
The package is headed to the state Senate, with a vote expected in the next two weeks. It includes lifting a cap on university-approved charter schools and allowing all public schools to hire companies to provide teachers.
Supporters say the bills are intended to spark more competition for struggling schools, but critics charge competition alone won’t help them do better.
“They’ve taken a free-market approach to education and providing parents with more and more choices and seeing if anything sticks,” said Donald Wotruba, deputy director for the Michigan Association of School Boards.
“But when you have a struggling business, you either shut it down or use resources to fix it. They’re doing neither to the low-performing schools.”
The reforms passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday on a party line vote.
Committee Chairman Phil Pavlov said it’s fair to waive property taxes for charter schools because they can’t collect taxes for new buildings or improvements, as districts do, He said tax payments for charters mean taking money from the classroom.
“I look at this as a tax abatement,” said Pavlov, R-St. Chair Township. “Governments offer tax abatements to industries all the time, so why not for education?”
The savings to schools or their landlords would be considerable. Property taxes for National Heritage Academy’s Knapp Charter Academy in Grand Rapids Township were $90,800 in 2010. The company manages 44 schools in Michigan.
Pavlov also said allowing charter schools and traditional districts to contract with outsiders to provide teachers is intended to allow districts flexibility and cost saving, not break unions, as critics contend.
Districts pay an amount equal to 24 percent of each
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