Some time ago, at a charter school near you, I went to enroll a foster child, let’s call her ”Keasha.” She needed a good school; that was smaller and more personalized. Brushing aside my lack of legal authority, we asked the receptionist for an application. She explained that the school may not have any spots,…
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The Rhetorical War on Public Schools from the Left and Right
Political language… is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. George Orwell Words matter. What we call something affects public support for it. Is a medical meeting, “end of life counseling” or a “death panel”, the descriptions matter So it’s not a coincidence,…
Schools to Celebrate- Autism Inclusion in Harlem
New York City has a great program for autism inclusion in its district schools. Thing was, there wasn’t one in Harlem. We helped change that. While folks often see charters as modeling practices for the District, we stole the District’s model and put in a charter. And it’s working. It all started over steak-frites. A…
Real Stories of American Indian Public Charter School
It was over 15 years ago, when elders in the Native Community asked me help with the American Indian Public Charter School. A school, then in revocation, and now rated among the best schools in the City, state, and country. But at that time, nepotism reined, the school was in debt, had no employees, only…
Common Enrollment is Dead, and That is a Good Thing; for Everyone but Families
I don’t want to call it. But checking the vital signs and virulent opposition, I think common enrollment is dead in Oakland. It did not seem like a revolutionary idea. But may it rest in peace. It seemed like a good idea. Rather than families needing to fill out 40 some different charter school applications…