Tag Archives: Charter schools

In a News & Observer op-ed titled “The hijaking of charter schools,” Edward B. Fisk complains, As a longtime supporter of charter schools, I am distressed to watch Republican legislators attempting to hijack this once-promising notion for school improvement and transform it into a force for undermining public education in North Carolina. This may sound familiar.  Fiske’sContinue Reading

According to an editorial published in the News & Observer yesterday, When the charter school system was created by the General Assembly in 1996, the schools were to serve as laboratories of sorts, free to experiment with courses and teaching methods that might prove useful in conventional public schools… The intention was, in other words,Continue Reading

In “North Carolina superintendent defends Teach For America,” Washington Post education reporter Jay Matthews gives Warren County Superintendent Ray V. Spain the floor to defend Teach for America.  Spain concludes, “My district’s experience with Teach for America has been overwhelmingly positive and with a corresponding positive impact on student achievement. I look forward to continuingContinue Reading

According to the NC Department of Public Instruction, North Carolina’s 107 charter schools had a record 50,001 students in average daily membership (ADM) this school year.  Charters enrolled 45,388 students last year. Here are a few student enrollment fun facts: The three largest charter schools in North Carolina are: Franklin Academy (Wake) – 1,624 studentsContinue Reading

I spent quite a bit of time “arguing” with folks on the comment section of a News & Observer article highlighting the NEA’s “Rankings and Estimates” study, among other topics.  It was exhausting.  I don’t recommend it. Anyway, a few of the folks commenting on the article accused me of being “obtuse” because I askedContinue Reading

Mathematica Policy Research just published a study of KIPP charter schools, “KIPP Middle Schools: Impacts on Achievement and Other Outcomes.”  Researchers found that students enrolled in KIPP middle schools had significant gains in reading, math, science, and social studies.  They concluded, Mathematica used a matched comparison design and a random assignment lottery to produce comprehensiveContinue Reading

Public Schools First NC (PSFNC) is a coalition of left-wing advocacy groups. The News & Observer gives the coalition the royal treatment in an article published today. I visited their website and here is what I found: The first face you see when you arrive at their website is Karen “off with their heads” Lewis,Continue Reading

I have been told that North Carolina’s public schools have no business contracting with for-profit companies because nobody should make a profit from educating kids.  Specifically, two non-profit boards have indicated that they will apply for a charter from the State Board of Education.  One plans to contract with for-profit online education company K12 (NYSE: LRN). Continue Reading