Charter school applicants have troubled histories - Sun Sentinel

Charter school applicants have troubled histories - Sun Sentinel

The Problem with the Common Core:

The standards were drafted largely behind closed doors by academics and assessment “experts,” many with ties to testing companies. Education Week blogger and science teacher Anthony Cody found that, of the 25 individuals in the work groups charged with drafting the standards, six were associated with the test makers from the College Board, five with the test publishers at ACT, and four with Achieve. Zero teachers were in the work groups.

Charter Pot o' Gold

Some things you may or may not know about charters:

1. Very few are started by actual teachers--those that are are started for a specific population --SPED students, processing students, extremely poor who spend from 6am until 11pm at school while their parents work.
2. As soon as the charter is approved the first check for $350,000.00 is cut and given to the charter school. No, I did not get those zeros wrong.
3. For 3 years, the charter will get $350,000.00 each year from the state as "start-up" money to be used for the building, furnishings, salaries.
4. In addition, the school gets FTE money just like any other district. They are paid only for those students that are present during "FTE week"--we all know what that is.
5. After Jan, they don't have to pay any of that FTE $ back if the student leaves the school
6. In order to remain solvent a school needs 100 students on average
7. There is more grant $out there that they can add to the pot
8. They have equal access to all district amenities--warehouse, free furniture, therapy services from the district, PD training for the staff, district copy center,etc
4. In addition, the school gets FTE money just like any other district. They are paid only for those students that are present during "FTE week"--we all know what that is.
5. After Jan, they don't have to pay any of that FTE $ back if the student leaves the school
6. In order to remain solvent a school needs 100 students on average
7. There is more grant $out there that they can add to the pot
8. They have equal access to all district amenities--warehouse, free furniture, therapy services from the district, PD training for the staff, district copy center,etc
The numbers are staggering to me--imagine if the district got that money for their schools...




Now my question is for those that close because they are not financially solvent--what the heck did they spend THAT kind of $ on?

Stepping up for Public Education

It is time. It is past time to get back to my blog. I removed all the posts from my days in the traditional classroom setting but decided to keep my favorite nom de plume , Goody Miller. 2014 finds me still holding a part-time (not at all) teaching position and not at all secure. What can they do, fire me?

Yes, they do that quite often and without notice. I assume if it happens to me, I'll get the same respect. It works out fine for me as I'm just back in the game until they pink slip me or I decide I have finally, and at long last, had enough.