Charter debate
I'm a continent away and totally out of touch, but I have a request to post this news release concerning denial of a charter school application in the LR School District. Here it is on the jump in the interest of further discussion. I imagine |I will have something to say on this eventually.
CHARTER SCHOOL N£WS RELEASE
Education Consortia President calls for Case by Case Review of Charter School Applications
Dr. R.J. Hampton, President of Education Consortia, Inc. the sponsoring organization of
Learning for Life Academy, a proposed charter school targeted to ‘students with emerging abilities” stated in response to the Little Rock School District’s objection to the application submitted by Learning for Life Academy, “We applaud Mr. Daugherty’s courage in taking a stand for innovation in education and making the educational needs of all our children a top priority of the Little Rock School Board. The positions taken by Mr. Daugherty and Mr. Berkely on Charter schools is a welcome sign that School Board members may be finding the common ground needed to reach the goal of Board Chair Katherine Mitchell “to work together from this day forward”.
It is ironic that as the vote was being taken to limit the ability of the school district to respond to challenges facing our community two deadly shootings took place in Little Rock. A goal of Learning for Life Academy is to provide an educational program geared toward youth and families exposed to risk factors associated with crime and violence. A witness response to the shooting as reported in the Arkansas-Democrat Gazette is a critical and timely reference, “This is a just a mess, I’m mad. Mad that this could happen in the middle of a busy street. Mad that somebody’s failed at giving these people some sense”. We believe that the institution of education bears some of the responsibility for giving people ‘sense”.
Learning for Life Academy proposes to extend the service base of its school to assist in helping parents of “youth with emerging abilities” meet the challenges of life caused by poverty, poor education and family structure. The school seeks to build a “sure” education foundation for youth in grades 4-8 on educational principles that shape values based on content and discipline.
Dr, Hampton further stated “Mr. Daugherty and Mr. Berkely may have different reasons for their “votes of conscience” but they have shown a willingness to place the generic mission of providing education services with the community, the administrative mechanism ought to be servant to the needs of the community rather than its dictator. We hope the District will adopt a policy of case by case evaluation of Charter school applications and encourage the free flow of ideas in education. We believe such a policy will place the education of our youth as the top priority of our School District.
Comments
It's happening in NWA too
"FAYETTEVILLE -- The Fayetteville School Board disapproved a charter school application for a new math and science middle school Thursday but the opposition may have little effect on the new school's approval.
Martin Schoppmeyer Jr. applied to the Arkansas Department of Education, to establish the Northwest Arkansas Math and Science Intermediate School, an open-enrollment charter school for middle-grade students in Northwest Arkansas.
The proposed location is in a commercial center on Arkansas 112, west of Interstate 540, in the Fayetteville School District. State law mandates the charter applicant notify the school board in the school's resident district and allows that school board to approve or disapprove the application.
The board rejected the application because several attachments, including a proposed budget, school calendar, salary schedule, facility use agreement and other documents, weren't included in the application Schoppmeyer sent the district.."
But never underestimate the power of Waltons:
"Caroline Proctor, director of the Arkansas Charter School Resources Center, said the disapproval likely would have little impact on Schoppmeyer's application. The center is housed at the University of Arkansas.
"No school district approves initial applications," Proctor said. "It won't affect the charter. (The Fayetteville School Board) doesn't have any authority."
Proctor said state statues give application approval power only to the Arkansas State Board of Education."
(Actually the law gives local school boards first judgment on the applications. If denied can be appealed to State Board.)
bluename
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Haas Hall still pursuing charter middle school
BY BRETT BENNETT Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Saturday, September 29, 2007
Haas Hall Academy founder Martin Schoppmeyer Jr. says he is still pursuing plans to create an open-enrollment charter middle school in Fayetteville, even without the Fayetteville Board of Education's approval.
Schoppmeyer said he is committed to his plan to develop the new school, currently titled Northwest Arkansas Science and Math Intermediate, which would serve grades 6-8. The school board voted to deny the application at its meeting Thursday.
As the district where the school would be based, Fayetteville had the right under state law to vote whether or not it wanted the school to operate there.
see: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/57695/
Posted by: eLwood![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 29, 2007 01:08 PM
I applaud anyone who is willing to develop alternative education to meet the needs of those who are falling behind, so public schools need the competition. If we are truly concerned with the education of all students, then we should employ whatever is necessary to address the various communities. Ann Curry (NBC News) did a great segment on a teacher last night who is making a difference in the lives of young people. The teacher established a private school for students from various backgrounds, and the students are so engaged in their learning and have accepted responsibility for their education. All schools should function the way this school does.
Posted by: honestone![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 29, 2007 03:40 PM
Max,
Whatever you will say will be negative. But don't you see, that even with all of your wrangling, people just really aren't interested in the debate. YOU are, but time and time again, when you post charter issues ... no one responds. The blog's success is dependant on controversy and lots of posts. Try as you may, charters is not a high post subject.
ARK. BLOG: It's important to me. Be prepared to read more.
Posted by: OnesAndZeros![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 30, 2007 10:01 PM
On the contrary, I and likely a lot of other parents and grandparents in Little Rock are concerned about any proposal for expansion of charter schools in the LR School District -- concerned in particular that the district is not drained of the resources required to serve all students in the district.
If indeed there is a lighter response to the editor's comments on this subject, perhaps it is because Max's comments are compelling enough to discourage argument. More likely it is because potential posters don't really understand the issues here, which is all the more reason to continue to put the matter before the readers.
Posted by: rogerpotts![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 1, 2007 11:14 AM
What would preclude the potential posters from comprehending the issues, rogerpotts? I guess some of us are still searching for pseudo-leaders and self-appointed gurus to tell us what we should think and believe, huh?
Posted by: honestone![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 2, 2007 08:46 AM