Resources

(This resource page is new, and will be updated regularly. To recommend resources/topics, please email scscbrooklyn@gmail.com.)

CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING

(July 2011) Following the Charter Dollars: Who Benefits Financially from the Pro-Market Charter School Movement. The Louisiana School Boards Association provides an analysis of how charter school movements around the country are funded, and touches upon the fine line between school funding and school control.  http://www.lsba.com/PressRoom/PressRoomDisplay.asp?p1=4508&p2=Y&E=N

(Jan 2011) Adding Up the Spending: Fiscal Disparities and Philanthropy Among New York City Charter Schools. In a blow to conventional wisdom, New York City charter schools are not outperforming traditional public schools and are not inadequately funded, according to a new study out of Rutgers University. http://greatlakescenter.org/docs/Policy_Briefs/Baker_NYCharter.pdf

CHARTER SCHOOL CO-LOCATION

(July 2011) Consensus for Reform: A Plan for Collaborative School Co-Locations. This report by NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio expands upon two case studies to highlight persistent shortcomings in the NYC Department of Education’s processes for co-locating schools. It concludes by outlining eight concrete steps the State and City should take to reform co-location policies.  http://advocate.nyc.gov/files/Consensus_for_Reform.pdf

SCHOOL CLOSINGS

(Winter 2012) Save our Public Schools! Unions fight to end school closures http://working-families.org/publications/newsletter/LPWFnewsWinter12.pdf#page=2

(11/01/2011) Study Warns of Limited Savings From Closing Schools http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/11/02/10closings_ep.h31.html

(02/3 1/2011) Urban Activists: School Closures Hurt Our Communities http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/03/31/27pnbk_schoolclosures.h30.html

LINKS For understanding Charter Schools in District 14

DEMOGRAPHICS

• Schools in Williamsburg Have Become More Diverse
• Brooklyn Neighborhoods

CHERRY PICKING OF STUDENTS through marketing (pre-enrollment)

• Councilwoman Diana Reyna Calls for Investigation of Success Academy Marketing
• Why are we opening a charter school in Williamsburg?
• In Williamsburg, a Charter School Divides North From South

COUNSELING OUT (post enrollment)

• Message From a Charter School: Thrive or Transfer
• Some Charters finally admit attrition — then rationalize it
• Revealing Interview With Harlem Success Academy Principal

NOTE: the “counseling out” or low-testers doesn’t happen until AFTER the money for the child goes to the charter school

HEDGE FUNDS & NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS

• Juan Gonzalez: Big Banks Making a Bundle on New Construction as Schools Bear the Cost
• Tax Cut Extender: Boon to Charter Schools
• Charter Schools’ New Cheerleaders: Financiers
• Charter Schools Benefit From New Markets Tax Credit Financing
• Luring Business Developers Into Low-Income Areas

ELLs AND SpEds  DISCREPENCIES

• Asking Hard Questions About “What Works”
• Notice of Public Hearing: Success Academy 4

NOTE:  Success Academy is seeking to change their charter and it’s at-risk design admissions factors to include a variable set-aside for English language learners (“ELLs”), which would be set at 20 percent of the incoming class for the 2012-13.

PRIVATIZATION

• Charter schools and the attack on public education
• Why I want some charter schools to fail, and soon

EFFECT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS (AND MAYOR) ON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

• Charter vs. Catholic schools: New research says charters are siphoning students from parish schools
• Plan to turn Catholic schools into Charter schools won’t save them… yet
• Catholic schools set to close may get second lease on life as charter schools, Mayor says
• CHARTER SCHOOL STRUGGLES DIOCESE SCUTTLES LEASE PLAN

COSTS OF RUNNING CHARTER SCHOOLS vs. PUBLIC SCHOOLS

• Report: Most city charter schools receive more per-pupil funds

NOTE: article shows that the costs per student is the same with co-location, but doesn’t factor in additional monies brought in through New Market Tax Credits

PRESS FOR SCSC and WAGPOPS (Williamsburg And Greenpoint Parents for Our Public Schools):

• http://www.dnainfo.com/20120228/williamsburg-greenpoint-bushwick/brooklyn-parents-protest-plans-for-two-new-charter-schools
• http://www.dnainfo.com/20120119/williamsburg-greenpoint-bushwick/school-marked-for-closure-does-not-have-math-or-science-teacher
• http://www.dnainfo.com/20120111/williamsburg-greenpoint-bushwick/williamsburg-success-academy-charter-school-faces-concerned-parents
• http://www.dnainfo.com/20120112/williamsburg-greenpoint-bushwick/williamsburg-parents-rail-against-plan-share-space-with-charter-school
• http://www.dnainfo.com/20120118/williamsburg-greenpoint-bushwick/fight-over-proposed-williamsburg-success-academy-reaches-fever-pitch
• http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/35/10/dtg_successapproved_2012_03_09_bk.html
• http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/35/10/dtg_chartersuit_2012_03_09_bk.html
• http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2012/9/all_opeedparker_2012_03_02_bk.html
• http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/35/3/dtg_burgelementaryschool_2012_01_27_bk.html
• http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/35/3/dtg_successhearing_2012_01_27_bk.html
• http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/35/3/dtg_successcriticism_2012_01_20_bk.html
• http://greenline.stnicksalliance.org/?p=526
• http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/02/5333286/how-long-have-you-lived-here-argument-about-eva-moskowitz-schools-a?page=all

LAWSUIT

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/322700-southside-community-schools.html

SUCCESS ACADEMY AND D14:

• archive.feedblitz.com/225080/~4010483
• http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2012/01/williamsburg-latino-community-fights.html
• http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/01/18/in-williamsburg-a-charter-school-divides-north-from-south/
• http://gothamschools.org/2012/01/13/critical-stickers-added-to-success-academys-new-subway-ads/
• http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/03/02/success-charter-wins-approval-to-open-a-williamsburg-school/
• http://brooklyn.ny1.com/content/154862/suny-committee-does-not-block-controversial-williamsburg-charter-school
• http://brooklyn.ny1.com/content/156957/pep-oks-five-co-locations-as-group-fights-charter-school-expansion

NEGATIVE/UNFAIR INFORMATION RE: D14 SCHOOLS

Schoolfisher (Eric Grannis/Tapestry anti-progressive schools and anti-community schools):

http://www.hackeducation.com/2011/03/15/mapping-affordable-housing-good-schools-great-but/

Claiming that our public schools are segregated:

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-27/news/31105896_1_charter-schools-success-charter-network-success-academy

Claiming that there is no choice for high achieving kids in W/G:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/good_school_for_all_fNkzyqfPs3wpBrR1JSC0JP

Moskowitz OpEd

http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2012/9/all_opedmoskowitz_2012_03_02_bk.html

Success brings choice

http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/01/18/in-williamsburg-a-charter-school-divides-north-from-south/

SUCCESS ACADEMY  – info about the school

• http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2011/10/19/high-teacher-turnover-at-a-success-network-school/
• http://nymag.com/news/features/65614/
• http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-02-02/news/bronx-charter-school-success-academy/

FOIL REQUESTS AND DOE

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/many-city-agencies-flout-law-by-withholding-public-info-from-press-1.3031728