If you haven’t seen Informing Equity: Student Need, Spending and Resource Use in Oakland’s Public Schools, you should. It is a critical first step in understanding what is happening in the difference public education sectors in Oakland and across the range of schools. I will excerpt the reports own big takeaways, but there are two critical … Continue reading 2 Big Takeaways in the Latest Charter and District Comparisons in Oakland
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The Importance of “Fit” and the Costs of Student Mobility
One of the schools I volunteer with is a “maker” school. It is built around empowering students to create their experience and even the physical environment. This starts day 1 of school where they literally construct, using tools and timber, the stool they will sit on. For some families and kids this is fun and … Continue reading The Importance of “Fit” and the Costs of Student Mobility
2 Things You Need to Know about the “Charter Movement”
Everything you hear about charter schools is true. And everything you hear about charter schools is false. That’s what 20 plus years working with them has taught me. They send high numbers of low income kids to college, they pick and choose students, they are safer. They disproportionately suspend certain kids, they save taxpayers money, … Continue reading 2 Things You Need to Know about the “Charter Movement”
Humpty Dumpty and “Public” Charter Schools
Some people in Oakland don’t like charter schools, most of them seem to live in the Hills, and have good neighborhood choices. Meanwhile many Flatlands families are voting with their feet, choosing public charter schools. Lost in this debate is the fact the families at charters are more likely to be low income, people of … Continue reading Humpty Dumpty and “Public” Charter Schools
Conflicting Reports on CA Charter Admissions Violations, Any Number Is Too High
Too many charter schools are setting illegal admissions standards, whether that is 2%, as the California Charter Association reports or 20% as the ACLU of SoCal and Public Advocates report (full disclosure my first legal gig was at Public Advocates). Charter schools are public schools and need to have open admissions, so any number is … Continue reading Conflicting Reports on CA Charter Admissions Violations, Any Number Is Too High