“Don’t let them kick me out.”  That’s what “Johnny” (not his real name) said when he heard that his new school found out about his special needs and Individualized education plan (IEP).  His mom was worried too, she had seen several restrictive schools, where restraints were regular and sometimes bordered on assaults.  Well, they were…

After two special meetings this week discussing charter schools by the OUSD board I was more confused than enlightened.  And while there are legitimate, if sometimes overstated, critiques of charters and the effect they can have on the broader system, some of what I heard was just factually wrong, and could have been corrected by…

There is some powerful data coming out on school performance and operations in Oakland, often comparing charter public schools and the district schools.  The challenge comes in interpreting it.  Charter school overall outcomes are stronger than the district’s, particularly at the middle and high schools, but is that because charters are actually doing a better…