News

A state grant of $4.5 million will enable NYC charter schools to share best practices with traditional public schools.

The New York Daily News reports on the new initiative:

“We should all work together, because we all have the same goals,” said Bronx Charter School for Excellence leader Charlene Reid, who is collaborating with educators at nearby Public School 85. More than 86% of students at Reid’s school passed state reading exams in 2012, compared with just over 20% of students who met literacy standards at PS 85.

According to a New York Times editorial, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s efforts to close failing schools, open new ones, and expand charter schools, have improved education in poor communities throughout the city.

The Times notes that while this expansion of school choice has helped NYC students, the United Federation of Teachers has recently filed a lawsuit attempting to stop a plan that will open new schools or expand existing ones:

The suit’s underlying point seems political: to send a clear warning to Mr. Bloomberg’s successor that the union wants a new set of policies. Mr. Bloomberg rightly believes that shutting down failing schools and expanding the highest-performing charter schools are critical elements in any broader school reform. The union believes that things have gone too fast, and means to press the point.

In this week's education news: a parent run school is set to open in California, record number of donations show New Yorkers hope Mayor Bloomberg’s policies stay in place, a Buffalo teacher says that in-service teachers need to be more vocal on policy, and NYC wins $75 million in federal grants.

California Public School Seized by Parents Set to Open
Politico // July 29, 2013

On Monday, the Desert Trails Preparatory Academy in Southern California opened, making it the first school in the nation where parents were able to fire the principal and teachers to remake the school. According to Politico, California passed a law in 2010 known as the "parent trigger," which allowed parents to organize and take over underperforming schools and bring in private management.

Six other states - Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas - have followed California in passing a "parent trigger" law. Observers expect more states to pass "parent trigger" legislation, as well:

"Parent Revolution, a nonprofit dedicated to organizing trigger campaigns, anticipates a surge of interest in other state legislatures as Desert Trails and three other California schools transformed by parent activism reopen over the next month. Parent empowerment has strong bipartisan support in many states — a sign of the diminished clout of teachers unions, which oppose trigger laws but have not been able to stop their traditional allies in the Democratic Party from endorsing the concept."

Record Donations Show Concern about Preserving Bloomberg’s Policies
Wall Street Journal // July 29, 2013

Fund for Public Schools, which raises money for the NYC public-school system, had a record of $47 million pledges in the past year. According to the Wall Street Journal, the record number of pledges has been attributed to donors wanting to ensure that Mayor Bloomberg’s policies stay in place.

Rick Smith, The President of the Pinkerton Foundation that helped fund an academic summer camp, commented on the concern about preserving Bloomberg’s policies:

"There is great concern that a lot of the progress that has been made in education innovation will get lost in the switch to a new administration. There's no way of knowing that until you get a sense of whether the next mayor is committed to using these privately generated dollars to test and try new things."

Op-Ed: Teachers Must Play a Large Role in Fixing Education
The Buffalo News // July 29, 2013

In an opinion piece for the Buffalo News, teacher Geoff Schutte argues that teachers must have a more outspoken and independent voice on education issues.

Schutte says that education is key to the future of cities like Buffalo, and that in-service teachers should speak up on how to improve schools for their students:

“Teachers must begin to speak more directly about the issues they face, the professional development they need and the support that is necessary to help all students achieve. When this is the conversation we are having, then we will begin to see results.”

NYC Wins New Federal Grants to Improve Schools
GothamSchools // July 29, 2013

According to GothamSchools, the state has announced that the City has won nearly $75 million in federal grants to help schools improve as part of the School Improvement Grants program.

Students Chancellor Dennis Walcott praised the new grants:

“The additional dollars will support students at schools that are phasing out, provide resources to bolster interventions in schools that are struggling, and help new schools deliver great outcomes.”

Fund for Public Schools, which raises money for the NYC public-school system, had a record of $47 million pledges in the past year. According to the Wall Street Journal, the record number of pledges has been attributed to donors wanting to ensure that Mayor Bloomberg’s policies stay in place. The $350 million in pledges received by the fund since 2002 has allowed the fund to distribute grants for libraries and after-school programs.

Rick Smith, The President of the Pinkerton Foundation that helped fund an academic summer camp, commented on the concern about preserving Bloomberg’s policies:

"There is great concern that a lot of the progress that has been made in education innovation will get lost in the switch to a new administration. There's no way of knowing that until you get a sense of whether the next mayor is committed to using these privately generated dollars to test and try new things."

The state has announced that the City has won nearly $75 million in federal grants to help schools improve as part of the School Improvement Grants program. Over the next three years, sixteen schools will divide $20 million to improve their status using the “transformation” model. This model requires the schools to replace their principals, implement new teacher training and experiment with an extended school day. According to GothamSchools, fourteen other schools will receive the remaining $55 million under the “turnaround” model. This strategy will require the schools to replace their principal and most of their teachers.

Students Chancellor Dennis Walcott praised the new grants:

“The additional dollars will support students at schools that are phasing out, provide resources to bolster interventions in schools that are struggling, and help new schools deliver great outcomes.”

In an opinion piece for the Buffalo News, teacher Geoff Schutte argues that teachers must have a more outspoken and independent voice on education issues.

Schutte says that education is key to the future of cities like Buffalo, and that in-service teachers should speak up on how to improve schools for their students:

Teachers must begin to speak more directly about the issues they face, the professional development they need and the support that is necessary to help all students achieve. When this is the conversation we are having, then we will begin to see results.

 

The Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) entered into written agreements with colleges to assist its students in getting into and through college. In 2011 KIPP signed pledges with leaders of a number of universities to create recruiting pipelines and support systems at college to help disadvantaged students get into college. KIPP has worked with its students to achieve academic success by with longer days and an extended school year.

KIPP co-founder Mike Feinberg spoke with the Washington Post about the program's success with written agreements:

“KIPP students are applying, getting accepted, and matriculating to our partner colleges and universities. Next steps will be to figure out how to increase not just acceptances but matriculation, and also how to ensure we are maximizing our partnerships to help our alumni stay in college and graduate.”

In this week's education news: UFT politics costs the city a $15 million grant, Buffalo’s “failing schools” had most students with special needs, language barriers and dropout indicators, KIPP's partnerships with universities prepares students for college and more Hometown Heroes in Education nominees.

Data’s Role in Education Policy
SchoolBook // July 23, 2013

Chief Academic Officer Shael Polakow-Suransky reviewed the Bloomberg administration’s legacy of using data when implementing education policy with Beth Fertig of WNYC’s SchoolBook. Suransky discussed how the Department of Education is finding a balance between quantitative and qualitative information when evaluating schools:

“And so when we evaluate school quality, we now never make any decision to close a school, to change the structure of the school, to remove a leader, without first looking at both our quantitative and our qualitative information. And the quality review is a big piece of that. The surveys [of parents, teachers and students] are another piece that.”

UFT Politics Costs NYC $15 Million Grant
SchoolBook // July 23, 2013

The city failed to meet a deadline set by state officials for a grant proposal from the Department of Education by only receiving approval from the Council of Supervisors and Administrators, which represents principals, and not the United Federation of Teachers. According to WNYC’s SchoolBook, the $15 million grant which was supposed to help school staff implement the new teacher evaluation system will now be redistributed to other regions.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott commented on the UFT’s refusal to sign the proposal:

“The latest obstructionist positions of Mr. Mulgrew will cost the City and his own members $15 million in grant money that would provide teachers and principals additional training and resources in the new teacher evaluation system. By refusing to sign the grant and inserting unrelated issues at the eleventh hour, the UFT is once again hurting the students and schools of New York City.”

Teacher Engages Autistic Students in Creative Ways
NY Daily News // July 24, 2013

Trained by the Manhattan Music Project, Rachel Goeler works to bring art, music, and dance activities to her autistic students to enhance their communication skills. Goeler has been nominated for a Hometown Heroes in Education award for her work in bringing out the best in her students at P233Q.

Goeler spoke to the NY Daily News about teaching and her students:

“It’s my life. There’s something so pure about this population. When they’re happy, you know it’s not disingenuous. And to be that person to make them laugh or smile has always been unbelievably motivating.”

Buffalo’s “Failing Schools” Had Most Students with Special Needs, Language Barriers and Dropout Indicators
The Buffalo News // July 25, 2013

Buffalo’s Bennett, Burgard, East, International Prep, Lafayette and Riversides registered graduation rates lower than forty percent. The Buffalo News found that these “failing schools” had the highest placement of students with special needs, the most language barriers and the greatest dropout indicators.

According to the Buffalo News all six “failing schools” share common factors:

“They have all seen alarming drops in their graduation rates from 2010 to 2012 while their populations of special education, immigrant and impoverished students have swelled over the same period.

"And they don’t have admissions requirements that prevent kids with serious academic problems from walking through their front doors.”

KIPP Partners with Universities to Prepare Students for College
Washington Post // July 26, 2013

The Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) entered into written agreements with colleges to assist disadvantaged students by creating recruiting pipelines and support systems at college.

KIPP co-founder Mike Feinberg spoke with the Washington Post about the program's success with written agreements:

“KIPP students are applying, getting accepted, and matriculating to our partner colleges and universities. Next steps will be to figure out how to increase not just acceptances but matriculation, and also how to ensure we are maximizing our partnerships to help our alumni stay in college and graduate.”

Charter School Prepares Students to Become Responsible Citizens
NY Daily News // July 26, 2013

Democracy Prep Charter School founder Seth Andrew has been nominated for a Daily News Hometown Heroes in Education Award for his work with his charter school network which posts higher math and reading scores than comparable schools.

Andrew spoke to the NY Daily News about the Democracy Prep Charter Schools’ curriculum’s heavy focus on civic engagement and government participation:

“The goal is to prepare students to become responsible citizens. We want them to go to college and change the world.”

In this week's education news: UFT politics costs the city a $15 million grant, Buffalo’s “failing schools” had most students with special needs, language barriers and dropout indicators, KIPP's partnerships with universities prepares students for college and more Hometown Heroes in Education nominees.

Data’s Role in Education Policy
SchoolBook // July 23, 2013

Chief Academic Officer Shael Polakow-Suransky reviewed the Bloomberg administration’s legacy of using data when implementing education policy with Beth Fertig of WNYC’s SchoolBook. Suransky discussed how the Department of Education is finding a balance between quantitative and qualitative information when evaluating schools:

“And so when we evaluate school quality, we now never make any decision to close a school, to change the structure of the school, to remove a leader, without first looking at both our quantitative and our qualitative information. And the quality review is a big piece of that. The surveys [of parents, teachers and students] are another piece that.”

UFT Politics Costs NYC $15 Million Grant
SchoolBook // July 23, 2013

The city failed to meet a deadline set by state officials for a grant proposal from the Department of Education by only receiving approval from the Council of Supervisors and Administrators, which represents principals, and not the United Federation of Teachers. According to WNYC’s SchoolBook, the $15 million grant which was supposed to help school staff implement the new teacher evaluation system will now be redistributed to other regions.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott commented on the UFT’s refusal to sign the proposal:

“The latest obstructionist positions of Mr. Mulgrew will cost the City and his own members $15 million in grant money that would provide teachers and principals additional training and resources in the new teacher evaluation system. By refusing to sign the grant and inserting unrelated issues at the eleventh hour, the UFT is once again hurting the students and schools of New York City.”

Teacher Engages Autistic Students in Creative Ways
NY Daily News // July 24, 2013

Trained by the Manhattan Music Project, Rachel Goeler works to bring art, music, and dance activities to her autistic students to enhance their communication skills. Goeler has been nominated for a Hometown Heroes in Education award for her work in bringing out the best in her students at P233Q.

Goeler spoke to the NY Daily News about teaching and her students:

“It’s my life. There’s something so pure about this population. When they’re happy, you know it’s not disingenuous. And to be that person to make them laugh or smile has always been unbelievably motivating.”

Buffalo’s “Failing Schools” Had Most Students with Special Needs, Language Barriers and Dropout Indicators
The Buffalo News // July 25, 2013

Buffalo’s Bennett, Burgard, East, International Prep, Lafayette and Riversides registered graduation rates lower than forty percent. The Buffalo News found that these “failing schools” had the highest placement of students with special needs, the most language barriers and the greatest dropout indicators.

According to the Buffalo News all six “failing schools” share common factors:

“They have all seen alarming drops in their graduation rates from 2010 to 2012 while their populations of special education, immigrant and impoverished students have swelled over the same period.

"And they don’t have admissions requirements that prevent kids with serious academic problems from walking through their front doors.”

KIPP Partners with Universities to Prepare Students for College
Washington Post // July 26, 2013

The Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) entered into written agreements with colleges to assist disadvantaged students by creating recruiting pipelines and support systems at college.

KIPP co-founder Mike Feinberg spoke with the Washington Post about the program's success with written agreements:

“KIPP students are applying, getting accepted, and matriculating to our partner colleges and universities. Next steps will be to figure out how to increase not just acceptances but matriculation, and also how to ensure we are maximizing our partnerships to help our alumni stay in college and graduate.”

Charter School Prepares Students to Become Responsible Citizens
NY Daily News // July 26, 2013

Democracy Prep Charter School founder Seth Andrew has been nominated for a Daily News Hometown Heroes in Education Award for his work with his charter school network which posts higher math and reading scores than comparable schools.

Andrew spoke to the NY Daily News about the Democracy Prep Charter Schools’ curriculum’s heavy focus on civic engagement and government participation:

“The goal is to prepare students to become responsible citizens. We want them to go to college and change the world.”

Democracy Prep Charter School founder Seth Andrew has been nominated for a Daily News Hometown Heroes in Education Award for his work with his charter school network. The Democracy Prep Charter Schools post higher math and reading scores than comparable schools. The network’s success has been recognized by the federal government which granted a $9.2 million grant to the network to expand its size.

Andrew spoke to the NY Daily News about the Democracy Prep Charter Schools’ curriculum’s heavy focus on civic engagement and government participation:

“The goal is to prepare students to become responsible citizens. We want them to go to college and change the world.”