Will the Charter School Initiative I-1240 really offer flexibility?
October 21, 2012
Will the Charter School Initiative I-1240 really offer flexibility?
All Charter schools must follow the same learning standards as each other and as the public schools, according to the initiative.
Read the initiative. Section 204, page 8 says: “(2) All charter schools must….. (b) Provide basic education, as provided in RCW 28A.150.210, including instruction in the essential academic learning requirements and participate in the statewide student assessment system, as developed under RCW 28A.655.070.”
The state learning requirements under RCW 28A.655.070 are now Obama’s federal common Core State Standards—fuzzy math, non-traditional literature—thanks to the state bill E2SSB 6696, passed in 2010.
Therefore the curriculum in all charter schools must align with Obama’s federal Common Core State Standards. Also, be aware that Obama’s learning standards align with UNESCO’s philosophy.
So what is this talk about flexibility?
Page 8 mentions flexibility in scheduling, personnel, funding, and educational programs. The first three of those don’t deal with curriculum, but perhaps the last item, educational programs is where curriculum flexibility can occur. Section 205, page 10 of the initiative mentions “themes”. Here are some examples:
A Wall Street Journal article states that Alameda County in California is developing charter schools which teach everything in Chinese including Chinese culture. There was no mention of teaching American culture or values.
Indiana’s new Green Meadows Charter School will be teaching a curriculum of social justice and environmental sustainability—similar to the philosophy of Agenda 21. A n explanation of Agenda 21 can be found in the articles: “Why Are Americans Ignorant of Agenda 21?” and “Agenda 21 in One Easy Lesson”.
You have probably heard of the Gulen Muslim schools originating in Turkey, and generously funded by Bill Gates. One can claim these schools teach culture and academics, not religion, but as you know Islamic religion and culture are intertwined. Page 20 of the initiative allows for charter applicants from other nations.
KIPP schools, another Gates-funded chain, has received much publicity. Among other things, they also use flexibility in scheduling. Be aware that since they operate longer hours each day, six days a week, and have a longer school year, they also cost much more. What about results? Their academic scores and drop-out rates vary from good to bad among the various charter schools locations.
Funding flexibility should raise red flags too. For example, already, the Chinese are spending millions of dollars to fund charter schools in Florida in order to receive special EB-5 residency visas, according to the Miami Today News. In another article on charter schools in general Miami Herald reporters describe many funding abuses, but show the people have little control. You can read this in their article “Florida charter schools: big money, little oversight”.
Ignoring the laws in the Common School Manual
The common school manual contains RCW codes which were legitimately enacted over the years. Many of them are good ones, such as pledging allegiance to the flag, and learning about Veteran’s Day. Allowing each charter school to ignore whichever RCWs they wish creates an educational free-for-all and certainly does not result in “uniform” schools, as is required under Article IX of the State Constitution. A careful process of repealing onerous laws would be wiser and would be constitutional.
Remember, the new charter schools commission would be unaccountable to the voters and taxpayers. In Georgia, a similar commission was ruled unconstitutional by their State Supreme Court last year.
Also, under this initiative, both the new commission and the local school board authorizers would have to follow the dictates of the national authorizers (NACSA)—a non-elected, non-appointed corporation.
I prefer to retain the government structure under Article1, Section1 of our State Constitution: “All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.”
Joyce Fiess
Tags: Common Core State Standards, Race to the Top, charters, federal
Will the Charter School Initiative I-1240 really offer flexibility?
All Charter schools must follow the same learning standards as each other and as the public schools, according to the initiative.
Read the initiative. Section 204, page 8 says: “(2) All charter schools must….. (b) Provide basic education, as provided in RCW 28A.150.210, including instruction in the essential academic learning requirements and participate in the statewide student assessment system, as developed under RCW 28A.655.070.”
The state learning requirements under RCW 28A.655.070 are now Obama’s federal common Core State Standards—fuzzy math, non-traditional literature—thanks to the state bill E2SSB 6696, passed in 2010.
Therefore the curriculum in all charter schools must align with Obama’s federal Common Core State Standards. Also, be aware that Obama’s learning standards align with UNESCO’s philosophy.
So what is this talk about flexibility?
Page 8 mentions flexibility in scheduling, personnel, funding, and educational programs. The first three of those don’t deal with curriculum, but perhaps the last item, educational programs is where curriculum flexibility can occur. Section 205, page 10 of the initiative mentions “themes”. Here are some examples:
A Wall Street Journal article states that Alameda County in California is developing charter schools which teach everything in Chinese including Chinese culture. There was no mention of teaching American culture or values.
Indiana’s new Green Meadows Charter School will be teaching a curriculum of social justice and environmental sustainability—similar to the philosophy of Agenda 21. A n explanation of Agenda 21 can be found in the articles: “Why Are Americans Ignorant of Agenda 21?” and “Agenda 21 in One Easy Lesson”.
You have probably heard of the Gulen Muslim schools originating in Turkey, and generously funded by Bill Gates. One can claim these schools teach culture and academics, not religion, but as you know Islamic religion and culture are intertwined. Page 20 of the initiative allows for charter applicants from other nations.
KIPP schools, another Gates-funded chain, has received much publicity. Among other things, they also use flexibility in scheduling. Be aware that since they operate longer hours each day, six days a week, and have a longer school year, they also cost much more. What about results? Their academic scores and drop-out rates vary from good to bad among the various charter schools locations.
Funding flexibility should raise red flags too. For example, already, the Chinese are spending millions of dollars to fund charter schools in Florida in order to receive special EB-5 residency visas, according to the Miami Today News. In another article on charter schools in general Miami Herald reporters describe many funding abuses, but show the people have little control. You can read this in their article “Florida charter schools: big money, little oversight”.
Ignoring the laws in the Common School Manual
The common school manual contains RCW codes which were legitimately enacted over the years. Many of them are good ones, such as pledging allegiance to the flag, and learning about Veteran’s Day. Allowing each charter school to ignore whichever RCWs they wish creates an educational free-for-all and certainly does not result in “uniform” schools, as is required under Article IX of the State Constitution. A careful process of repealing onerous laws would be wiser and would be constitutional.
Remember, the new charter schools commission would be unaccountable to the voters and taxpayers. In Georgia, a similar commission was ruled unconstitutional by their State Supreme Court last year.
Also, under this initiative, both the new commission and the local school board authorizers would have to follow the dictates of the national authorizers (NACSA)—a non-elected, non-appointed corporation.
I prefer to retain the government structure under Article1, Section1 of our State Constitution: “All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.”
Joyce Fiess
Tags: Common Core State Standards, Race to the Top, charters, federal