Comments on: Closing underperforming charters http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/closing-underperforming-charters/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: Crimson Wife http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/closing-underperforming-charters/#comment-47754 Crimson Wife Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:59:39 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=9839#comment-47754 The problem with this proposal is that it penalizes charters that do not "teach to the test". A lot of the virtual charter programs are like this. Their standardized test scores may not be as high as would be predicted because many of the parents who are homeschooling through the charters frankly don't care about the CA standards and STAR tests. They only have their students take the tests because they're required to enroll in the charter and receive the curriculum stipend. I know a number of families in our homeschool support group and enrolled in the local virtual charter who did NO test prep at all with their kids. The kids are learning plenty, but it may or may not line up with what's on the state tests. The problem with this proposal is that it penalizes charters that do not “teach to the test”. A lot of the virtual charter programs are like this. Their standardized test scores may not be as high as would be predicted because many of the parents who are homeschooling through the charters frankly don’t care about the CA standards and STAR tests. They only have their students take the tests because they’re required to enroll in the charter and receive the curriculum stipend. I know a number of families in our homeschool support group and enrolled in the local virtual charter who did NO test prep at all with their kids. The kids are learning plenty, but it may or may not line up with what’s on the state tests.

]]> By: allen http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/closing-underperforming-charters/#comment-47753 allen Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:20:24 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=9839#comment-47753 If the California Charter Schools Association had their organizational head screwed on straight they'd pick some attainment standards, find some charters willing to put their claims to the test and then make sure that the charters that measure up get the CCSA seal of approval. While the charter that trumpets its quality and can prove their claims won't necessarily get chosen over a charter that disdains crude "numericalizations" of educational quality, that's the way the smart money will bet. Rendering parents superfluous is a good deal of what's gotten the district system into the fix it's in. Emulating the district system is a good way to anger parents since, good school or bad, their responsibility is being usurped. If the California Charter Schools Association had their organizational head screwed on straight they’d pick some attainment standards, find some charters willing to put their claims to the test and then make sure that the charters that measure up get the CCSA seal of approval.

While the charter that trumpets its quality and can prove their claims won’t necessarily get chosen over a charter that disdains crude “numericalizations” of educational quality, that’s the way the smart money will bet.

Rendering parents superfluous is a good deal of what’s gotten the district system into the fix it’s in. Emulating the district system is a good way to anger parents since, good school or bad, their responsibility is being usurped.

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