The great charter school rip-off

Last week when former President Bill Clinton meandered onto the topic of charter schools, he mentioned something about an “original bargain” that charters were, according to the reporter for The Huffington Post, “supposed to do a better job of educating students.”

A writer at Salon called the remark “stunning” because it brought to light the fact that the overwhelming majority of charter schools do no better than traditional public schools. Yet, as the Huffington reporter reminded us, charter schools are rarely shuttered for low academic performance.

But what’s most remarkable about what Clinton said is how little his statement resembles the truth about how charters have become a reality in so many American communities.

In a real “bargaining process,” those who bear the consequences of the deal have some say-so on the terms, the deal-makers have to represent themselves honestly (or the deal is off and the negotiating ends), and there are measures in place to ensure everyone involved is held accountable after the deal has been struck.

But that’s not what’s happening in the great charter industry rollout transpiring across the country. Rather than a negotiation over terms, charters are being imposed on communities – either by legislative fiat or well-engineered public policy campaigns. Many charter school operators keep their practices hidden or have been found to be blatantly corrupt. And no one seems to be doing anything to ensure real accountability for these rapidly expanding school operations.

Instead of the “bargain” political leaders may have thought they struck with seemingly well-intentioned charter entrepreneurs, what has transpired instead looks more like a raw deal for millions of students, their families, and their communities. And what political leaders ought to be doing – rather than spouting unfounded platitudes, as Clinton did, about “what works” – is putting the brakes on a deal gone bad, ensuring those most affected by charter school rollouts are brought to the bargaining table, and completely renegotiating the terms for governing these schools.

(Continue reading at Salon.com)

Ohio schools earn a C in nationwide review

Ohio’s education system still outperforms that of most other states, but it has fallen to 18th on a national report card released today.

Ohio earned a C, receiving 75.8 points out of a possible 100, in the annual Quality Counts report by Education Week, an education trade newspaper. That was slightly higher than the national average of 74.3, also a C.

Five years ago, Ohio got a B- and ranked fifth among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

“We know we have a literacy problem, and we’ve been addressing that for a few years,” said John Charlton, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Education.

“We feel like we’re moving in the right direction and have put some things into motion that we hope will have long-tem positive effects, like the third-grade reading guarantee, but it will take time.”

Most states — 31, including Ohio — were in the C+ to C- range.

(Read more at the Dispatch)

State school board to have leadership battle next week

Democrats are still a minority on the state school board, but several are banding together to try to make one of them president or vice president of the board.

That's the first step in a planned push by Democrats, who gained two seats on the 19-member board in November, to take a more active role in support of "public education," meaning, traditional public schools instead of charter schools.

The members will explain their new agenda to the public Friday morning in a conference call with media.

The board will select new leadership at its first meeting of the new year on Monday, with last-year's vice president, Tom Gunlock, the clear favorite for the position.

Gunlock, an appointee of Gov. John Kasich who did much of the work to redesign the state's report cards for schools and districts, had been wavering on whether to seek the spot. He told The Plain Dealer this week that he is interested, but will not actively campaign for it.

Board members pointed to Ron Rudduck, a Wilmington Republican, as a likely nominee for vice president.

(Read more at Cleveland.com)

The Testing Camera

This video by author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds is a both current reality and cautionary tale about what testing does or can do to our children.

The fascinating story about the testing camera raises questions about education in general and about testing in particular.

Leader of charter schools in Ohio linked to possible government unrest in Turkey

Media reports show millions go to for-profit charter schools; one Ohio school leader may have strong anti-U.S. sentiments

A prosecutor reportedly has asked a Turkish court to issue an arrest warrant for U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gülen, the honorary president of the Niagara Foundation, whom President of Turkey Tayyip Erdoğan accuses of trying to overthrow him, according to a report by a London newspaper. (See: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/19/turkey-arrest-warrant-fethullah-gulen.)

The Turkish court has not ruled on the request, the newspaper reported.

In a Christmas Eve email from Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy in School Funding Executive Director William Phillis, a recent report in The Columbus Dispatch had indicated a warrant may have been issued for Gülen. Other reports said a warrant has not been issued.

"The Gülen movement operates about 150 tax-supported charter schools in the United States, 19 of which are in Ohio," Phillis said. "The Gülen schools have been the subject of investigations by state and federal agencies.

“In spite of the investigations, these schools seem to enjoy protection from state and federal officials. International politics seem to be at play. Meanwhile, these suspect charter schools keep sucking funds from Ohio school districts," Phillis said.

(Read more athe the Highlandcountypress.com)

Charter officials pay for extra days in Vegas

What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas, especially if you inappropriately charge taxpayers for the trip.

Two employees of the Columbus-based Internet charter school Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, or ECOT, attended a school-safety conference in Las Vegas in July 2013. The charter school paid for their flight, hotel and expenses.

If you’re wondering why officials from an online school, whose students take classes from home, need five days of training on responding to school shooters and the like, your curiosity might be doubly piqued to learn the conference was at the Red Rock Resort, with more than 3 acres dedicated to pool-side lounging.

“Boasting 19 irresistible private cabanas and an island fountain, our sprawling pool area offers enough space and the right balance of ambience for both pool parties and quiet relaxation,” including swim-up blackjack tables, the hotel’s website says. The adults-only Cabana Club “offers a more intimate poolside ambiance.”

It also has a few conference rooms, of course.

The conference’s “Meet & Greet Reception” was held poolside, “featuring networking, drinks, food, entertainment & door prizes,” according to the schedule.

Five days weren’t enough for the two ECOT employees, Dana Comparetto and Carol Dimoff.

“The conference ended at noon on Friday,” the audit says. “However the employees did not leave Las Vegas until Sunday night, incurring additional spending of $290 in hotel fees and $102 in meal expenditures,” which “does not meet the definition of a proper public purpose.”

(Read more at the Dispatch)