Regents’ Decision This Week: Will Charter School Make The Cut?
Monday, June 13, 2011
The public hearings that consisted mostly of bitter opposition to the proposed Mayoral Academy in Cranston are over, and now it’s up to the Board of Regents to decide if a well-known nonprofit charter management organization will be allowed to set up shop in Rhode Island.
On Thursday, the Regents will vote on Achievement First’s application to come in and run the state’s second Mayoral Academy. The first, Blackstone Valley Prep, was originally supported by another well-respected charter school network (Democracy Prep) before the relationship ended over a financial dispute.
Race To The Top Funds A Question
In making the decision, the Regents will have to weigh the vocal opposition of many union members and Cranston residents against the risk of potentially losing out on additional Race to the Top funds or possibly even the $75 million already granted to the state, Rhode Island Campaign For Achievement Now Executive Director Maryellen Butke (left) said last week.
“Backing away from the chance to bring the best public charter school operator in the country, a school that has prove it can change kids' lives, send each and every one of its kids to college, and create a culture of
achievement and positivity, is danger for Rhode Island,” she said at Thursday’s final hearing. “Let me read you a quote from Education Secretary Arne Duncan in the publication Education Week: ‘Where folks aren’t following through, are we prepared to take funds back? Absolutely.’”GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAchievement First Stands By Its Record
Achievement First advocates point to the organization’s history of great results in each of the 19 schools it runs in New York City, New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport. In Connecticut, Achievement First students, coming from three of the poorest cities in the state, have consistently outperformed the rest of the state when it comes to math and reading.
Reshma Singh, who is currently serving as Achievment First’s director of Rhode Island’s expansion, said she believes the Board of Regents should be judging Achievement First by its results and impact. She said the organization is able to create great a culture for achievement based on strong development of its teachers, the strategic use of data that allows students to be assessed in real-time as opposed to just standardized tests, and because of a much longer school day. Achievement First students go to school from 7:30am – 4:00pm, 195 days a year.
Don’t Siphon Resources
Despite the proven results, some opponents maintain that allocating funds to a new school only damages existing schools that could use the funds. Cranston residents say they are especially unhappy about paying for Providence students and vice-versa. But supporters of the school maintain that not one penny of Cranston or Providence’s per-pupil funding will pay for the other’s students.
Other opponents simply aren’t sure Achievement First can make a real impact in the state.
Daniel Wall, a Cranston resident and Providence teacher, said Cranston should be providing more resources to already existing public schools.
“I’m not sure if a charter school will solve the problems,” he said. “But I am sure that siphoning resources will weaken our schools.”
According to the Board of Regents’ website, the meeting and vote will take place Thursday morning in room 501 at the RI Department of Education at 255 Westminster Street in Providence.
If you valued this article, please LIKE GoLocalProv.com on Facebook by clicking HERE.
Related Articles
- Charter School Battle in Cranston
- Charter School Law Revamped
- Charter School Wants To Close Achievement Gap
- Charter Schools Help Some Kids, but Cost Many Others
- Group Says Charter Schools Key to Improved NECAP Scores
- Providence City Council President Supports Charter School
- 5 Charter Schools RI Needs Now