LWVeducation
Need Oversight
by Meredith Machen
This is an updated post of the struggle between the Public Education Commission (PEC) and the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) over proper supervision of charter schools. The PED is not responding to State auditors’ requests for information following a federal investigation of charters there. Continue reading
Kentucky offers us a peek into the process of drafting bills to enable charter schools. 
It also helps us understand what is meant by granting greater flexibility to charter schools. The Pritchard Committee report has side-by-side comparisons of which traditional public schools regulations would change for charters.
Options drawn from other states are presented but not an analysis of the pros and cons for each approach. For example, is it better to have fewer rather than more authorizers? Are reports of charter vs. traditional public school achievement gains valid? We offer some sources that can enhance the understanding of these issues.Continue reading
The National Council of State Legislatures should be commended for bringing together two people with very different views of charter school for-profit management. On the surface, the webinar: Charter School Networks: Does Profit Status Matter? seemed to be a reasonable, thoughtful discussion about management issues.
The discussion was polite. Responses to questions were forthcoming. The rationale for-profit status was discussed and management issues were raised. The fact that both for-profit and non-profit management companies have fiscal management problems was acknowledged. Yet, the meat of the topic was only alluded to.
If you want to really understand the issues, read on. Continue reading
FEA Cites Violations of Class Size Amendment in this short video. There are several ‘work arounds’ to avoid the restrictions imposed by a Florida constitutional amendment in 2002. PreK through grade 3 is limited to 18 students. The limit for grades 4-8 is 22 and for grades 9-12 it is 25 in core subjects like reading, math and science. The temptation to manipulate the limits is great in order to reduce cost. Clearly, there is more to this story. Continue reading
Some of the most fascinating research is being done in the development of the minds of little children. What can be more fun to watch than a young child’s first steps or to hear that first word. 
Suppose progress just does not happen as we think it should. By the time they get to kindergarten, these children are already behind. Catching up is really difficult.
Across the nation, the realization that pre school has to be more than day care has reached legislators. Do we understand what quality pre school is? What should be taught, and how do these children learn? Who is teaching?
What is happening in states? We learned that a 16 year old can be an instructor in some pre school programs in Florida. We need better standards. If we want to judge progress, what makes good reading? Here are some sources for programs in different states.Continue reading
The Florida Legislature is listening.
The Tampa Bay Times reported today that some testing reform is likely in the next legislative session. The article ‘School testing poised to get scaled back by Florida lawmakers’ cites several tentative proposals for reforming assessment practices in Florida. Senator John Legg acknowledges that testing has grown for many well intentioned reasons, but ” …one question got waylaid: How is it affecting the students?”
Proposals are surfacing, Continue reading
by Meredith MachenNew Mexico is a beautiful state. It is also known in politics as a swing state. It has a Republican Governor, and the Democrats just lost a majority in the legislature. The people have an interesting history. While the majority are primarily Hispanic, most claim a Spanish or native American heritage and have lived there for centuries.
Thirty-six percent of the school age children speak a language other than English at home compared to 20.1% nationwide. The per capita income in most NM communities is below the state average of $22,966 and the national average of $27,334. A University of New Mexico Center for Education Policy Research report provides detailed statistics, by county, of social and economic concerns that the New Mexico schools face.Continue reading
In June, 2014 the U.S.DOE increased reporting requirements for students with disabilities programs. Both program procedures such as meeting evaluation timelines and student outcome data are now required for federal funding. The U.S.DOE estimates that only 18 states and territories will meet the new standards; 41 states and territories met previous standards. California, Texas and Delaware are in the lowest compliance level.
A change in assessment policy can have a big impact. Title I Part A regulations have been amended. Alternative ESEA standards and assessments that are based on disabilities with be phased out. Data such as graduation and suspension rates as well as state assessment scores will be used for Individuals with Disability Act (IDEA) grants.
The acting Assistant Secretary of Special Education stated that less than 10% of 8th graders with IEPs were proficient in reading. In his announcement of the new requirements, Secretary Arne Duncan said “We must be honest about student performance, so that we can give all students the support and services they need to succeed”. Federal programs provide $11.5 billion in grants to states that in 2010 served 6,614,000 children.
Charters, however are growing. 
According to the National Alliance for Charter Schools, there are 6400 charter schools enrolling 2.5 million students. Two hundred charter schools closed nationwide. The National Center for Education Statistics is a good data source for finding facts about many choice programs also including magnet and Title I programs by type of school and level of school.
from Meredith Machen, New Mexico
Charter school oversight problems are rampant. In today’s New Mexican the State Auditor revealed a serious lack of oversight of charter schools by the State Public Education Department (PED).
At issue was charter school financial mismanagement and conflict of interest. The Auditor charged that the PED was unresponsive even though the school was raided by the FBI in August. This case highlights the struggle between local school districts vs. state control of the charter authorization and oversight process. This is only one of 18 cases nationwide of charter educational management firms nationwide that the U.S. Department of Education, the FBI, SEC, and IRS are investigatingContinue reading
