LIVEBLOG; Joint Committee on education part II

part I is here
Marty Walz (who totally has sold out and is working for DFER now!)
Celebrating success of 2010 act
require changes in the schools
Lawrence schools "performing beautifully"
same thing happening in Holyoke
has allowed school districts to create more than 50 innovation schools
concedes that there is dispute around number of wait list but "thousands" on them
have a chance to make a change
have a choice to either have the cap lift through ballot or through Legislature
(and we wouldn't want that now would we?)
Mass High Tech Council and there's our first citation of the Great Schools lobby
most highly educated state
need more well educated people for high tech jobs (I think?)
global competition
"far too many of our children remained trapped in under performing schools"
"show us a sixth grader in a failing school today"
then fast forward to a child with a tech degree...and something about boundless opportunity
and I don't know who this guy is
wants us to keep turnaround plans beyond three years
"so they can continue to do what's working"
extend Level 4 status plans to Level 3 schools
also supports cap lift
issues raised here are real but not insurmountable

Superintendent of Fall River: charters should offer an educational option that is not available in the public schools
"dialogue should be about how best" to educate all of our young citizens
comparison from Pioneer Institute did not compare like to like
if that were done, Fall River "outperforms charter school"
return of students after  October 1
10% of one charter school returned to Fall River Public Schools after Oct 1 and most were sped
should be about how a community creates a portfolio of options for our parents and students
Fall River teachers' union
parents want their children "away" from particular children
never said that it offered a more creative and innovative option for their children
"when did it become acceptable from one children to benefit another?"
"the greater the need in the community, the greater the need of the schools"
"makes no sense to think that we can run multiple schools for the cost of one"
"it might be a great business strategy, but it isn't a move towards equity"
President of the Taunton teachers' union speaking with her school committee and superintendent
"are district schools failing our children?"
"the answer to that question is a resounding no"
citation of MCAS scores
recognized the greatest closing of the dropout rate in the Commonwealth
recognized as having an exemplary breakfast in the classroom program
"while there's always more work to be done, great things are happening in the Taunton public schools"
Carol Doherty, Taunton SC: "to provide for the few at the expense of the many" is the question before us again today
"we struggle financially"
"we take advantage of every dollar"
some of the lowest administration spending in Massachusetts
"every year we fight the cash-strapped city of Taunton for 95%, not 100%, of the minimum funding"
"the time and energy and resources spent on this fight would go to that end" if leaders were really interested in improving public education
"just imagine how they could flourish with adequate funding"
Taunton superintendent: change in way calculation of lowest 10%
districts went up or down without using indexing and this drastically skewed the results
"you don't have the information you need to adequately make the decision you need to"

Steven Tolman, president AFL-CIO: idea of charter schools was to broaden public education
that isn't happening
we know the commitment of public school educators
losing the common goal of public education
impact on funding of traditional public schools
creation of a two-tiered education system that no longer serves every child equitably
rigorous applications: parents do not have the time or resources to apply
public schools having greater concentration of high need students
S326 will suspend issuance of new charters until 2018
teachers needing licensure, ongoing training, even masters degrees: charter school teachers exempt
charter schools compete with the very same schools they were designed to experiment on behalf of
"and all I heard was longer school days come out of this experimentation"
and I don't know who is speaking now...oh! Someone from Boston Justice Alliance
applied to Roxbury Prep for her daughter
subjected my "high testing" daughter to the worst charter school in discipline
speak for thousands of parents who have been forced to question their children's intelligence
some parents who are so traumatized by their children's charter experience that they just don't want to talk about it
standing in solidarity to ask you to refrain from lifting the charter cap
"serve all students"
"do not raise the cap until every child receives equal resources"
"just because your child is making it doesn't mean that every child is making it"
and then she called out the testimony being stacked for early pro-charter testimony. Peisch wasn't a fan.

Barbara Madeloni, MTA president with whom I can never type fast enough: full remarks here
"I became an educator because I saw a need for us to deepen
"public education funded by the Commonwealth"
charged constitutionally with creating a "well-educated citizenry"
"grounded in a duty to serve the common good"
charters accept a slice of students
recommendation that Lawrence be all charter is destablizing
most charter schools lose a significant number of students betweent their first and last years
high teacher turnover
we need more democracy and a stronger commitment to the public good
"fully fund all of our public schools, so all of our young people will have the public schools they deserve"
Tom Gosnell, AFT citing loss of resources and the different students served
attrition rate can be very high, as high as 50%
outsource of managment

Jehlen Q: had to write an essay to apply: what if you didn't write an essay?
I assume that she wouldn't get in
Jehlen: also heard this weekend that they require a technology fee
wasn't true when she was there...when she began to speak out, I began to get barraged with phone calls
"as a result she kinda shut down"

New England conference of NAACP: speaks for all branches in its jurisdiction
one branch after another is at fault for this failure
"a separate and unequal school system"
we must commit ourselves to finding solutions to the overarching issues with education
reject charters as the vanguard approach to public school students
if we don't do that "we could expand the school-to-prison pipeline"
Tucker: could unions work with charters?
Madeloni: this is a distraction. We made a commitment a long time ago for public education for all children: "where are the solutions in our public schools? where is the funding for that?"
"that's a profound commitment, and we need to live up to it"
Gosnell: foundation budget adopted two decades ago, no longer in effect
"our public school kids are being cheated, particularly our poor kids!"
"know what the maximum class size is at Phillips Exeter? Twelve! Can you imagine if we could do that for our boys and girls?"

asst superintendent of Everett Public Schools with president of teachers union
S326
47% of parents don't speak English as first language; 87% free and reduced lunch
transporting students who are homeless "reimbursement went back to the general fund, not to the schools"
Everett has always been an immigrant community
20 translators just to translate for parents
many family and social issues: 10 additional social workers
charter schools take only the best of the best
Gregoire: is charter school still in operation (that had questionable billing)

Looks like a BTU panel?
Stutman: president of BTU
his daughter went to some Level 3 schools, and some of her best experiences were in Level 3 schools
128 welcoming, diverse thriving educational institutions
ask you to pop in and visit
graduation rate that is increasing, achievement gap that is shrinking
"we've done it all through collective bargaining"
"we educate all students who show up"
don't have a steady income stream: "find a new formula works better for our urban areas"
school psychologist: we've heard a lot about the demographic divide between who they serve
outcomes are difficult given our data sources:
studies that show charter schools outperforming have been repeatedly challenged given sources
public oversight lacking in charter schools
charter schools can and do turn families away
"have seen first hand the ugly side of charter schools"
"have heard students try to make meaning of their departure from charter schools...as an adult, I know that it is the system that has failed" but students internalize that
political director BTU: reading testimony from a special ed teacher in BPS
worked in a charter school: people I worked with in both are wonderful
"they were trying their best to support Massachusetts students"
when I was in the charter school, counseled parent to send kid to a BPS school for behavior
others might not be counseled out, they might not be allowed in
students couldn't pass entrance exam, which was said to be a placement exam
charter schools cultivating their student bodies
systematically sending students back to public schools
Jessica Tang, organizing director BTU
"not anti-charter; I'm pro-equity"
"who is being left behind? who is being served? who has historically been underserved? why? how do we fix that?"
"if we really do want all studetns to succeed, we need your support"
noticed something that bothered me: received students partway through the year from local charter schools
class sizes very different; supplies different
"I'm not mad at the charters....I'm happy that those conditions are available for some students...I'm mad that my students did not"
fighting over too small a pie
not giving all students the resources they need without proper resources or lack of resources
Many many more than 30,000 students have chosen their local public schools
we cannot in good conscience create a system of haves and have nots
invest in all students

Sandra Mackintosh: parent of BPS, member of BEJA
I have a problem with this movement that's trying to pit me against my neighbors
"these are my black and brown people"
"you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's a still a pig"
charters are not public schools
adding further to the already two tiered system we have in Boston
the charter school movement should spend their time and their talents trying to fund their schools
"if you want them, fund them!"
"not take money from my child to give to your child"
Yvonne...missed it...
the diversion of funds has disadvantaged high need communities in the Commonwealth
payments have risen dramatically
has risen from 54 to 70: average of 3 per year
hundreds of millions of dollars in public school dollars and facilties funds
she's citing the millions diverted
no new charter schools until you fix the reimbursement
Mary Jo Heztel: have been a critic of public urban education and have sought to transform it for the better
question is if a rapid expansion of charter schools is the answer
depends on our vision of public education:
are they equitable? No
are they democratic and locally accountable? No
do charter schools help bring us together or increase the struggle for private gain? the latter
Donna Givens (?) Boston Busing and Desegregation Project
challenges to learn about the history of busing and the current struggles around community education
"have led me to believe me that more charter schools are not the answer for black children and other children of color"
questions that were asked around desegregation
until we address patterns of systemic racism, we'll come up with new schemes that fail to address
Lisa Guisbond, Citizens for Public Schools
in McDuffy enforce upon the Commonwealth the duty to educate ALL children
the record shows that this isn't what charter schools are doing
don't blame parents looking for the best for their children or young idealistic teachers
hold elected leaders accountable for setting policy that equitably serves all children
Ruth Rodriguez: member of the Governor's Readiness Task
"I wonder if you think about this...it's all about the test!'
intent was to continue desegregation; our schools are more segregated than before busing
business has choices, instead of putting the money into those schools
"isn't there a problem when legislators are asking, 'Don't you want to go to a good school?'"
"The choice should be between a great school and another great school."
particularly appeal to my people, Latinos, ELL's not being in charter schools
being returned in large numbers to public schools in large numbers before MCAS

Parent of a son in Roxbury public school:
we wanted to give our son the best chance at an A+ education
"we moved here and we love it, best decision ever"
we researched all the option when it was time to sign up son
"best school for the budding genius that we have"
applied to quite a few schools in the area
"we were offered a feast and we were given crumbs"
"it's a fantastic school but it doesn't have what my son needs"
if all the schools were up to par, we wouldn't be having this fight
another parent: closure of part of her son's school
father "always believed high quality education was a right, not a privilege"
parent asking why some children are being bused two hours via METCO to get a better education
cites Dover's per pupil funding vs Boston's
and this is why it's deceptive to do that...Boston's needs are higher than Dover. I would sure HOPE that Boston's per pupil is higher than Dover's!

Peisch just called to limit testimony to two minutes to major protest from the crowd

Black Educators' Alliance for Massachusetts
speaking in opposition to raising cap on charter schools
"has stood steadfast in its advocacy for equity"
Prince Hall petitioned Legislature for access to public schools and was denied (in 1700s)
today we appeal to seriously consider if this state is educationally sound
both schools are not positioned to reach all students and get them to their full potential
charter schools exacerbate this inequity
"charter schools have to do work on attrition and retention" but get a pass
here to dispel the perception among some legislators that all communities of color support the expansion of charter schools
cannot have choice on back of public schools that serve all children
charters have admitted they aren't equipted to serve all children
publicly we hear about the need for more seats in charters, but hear very little about all the empty seats in charters
"where is the fairness in all of this?"
citing Bump that the waiting list is undependable
"no mention is made that Boston Public Schools and other schools also have waiting lists"
support S 326 for moratorium
"if our mayor was here calling for the lift of the cap, shame on him! ...What he should be doing is being up here calling for support for Boston Public School students"

Brendan Walsh, Salem School Committee
experienced educator (35 years? I think?)
"let me speak to you as an old social studies teacher here...occasionally when you're campaigning for your seats, you speak of needing to have your communities' needs represented"
Governor is more distant from your constituents than you are
there is no check on the power of the unelected Board of Education to create charter schools at their whim
peculiar to Massachusetts and only a few other states
note that S485 does not limit the number of charter schools
should be judged on its own merits; "not on this cap, no cap stuff"
perhaps charter advocates could win approval by town meeting or the city council...or by ballot...
"Perhaps the Commissioner believes he knows better than the local communities" about what is right on education
"those who vote for H485 will be doing just what you told us you were going to do when you ran for your seats: represent those of us who put us there"

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights: look at discipline records
when kids are kicked out, pushed out, shamed out of schools
disparities in school discipline in Boston: BPS: 6.6% Charter schools: 17.3%
most were out of school, not in school
"strong and robust public system that can serve all of children"
support a cap that provides essential funds that allow our districts to succeed particularly for the children who have not been able to do succeed in our charter schools
represent parents of ELL students across the Commonwealth
2010 law was very clear that charters were supposed to represent their communities
talking about a range of kids (in ELL and sped)
most not taking their ELL kids overall, taking virtually NO kids who need the most help and cost the most money
Brooke Charter had 2% year before last year; 0% last year
Mystic Valley claims to have none: got a call from a parent whose child is at that school; can't even get them tested
Mystic Valley considering that they don't want ELL classes; if they do "those people in Everett might hear about it"
parent told that they can quietly withdraw their child from a charter without a record...or they'd kick her out with a record


occupational...I think
Healthy Schools inititave
air quality and teaching and learning conditions in schools
"we still face an uphill climb to properly maintain and rebuild our schools"
slashing budget with not enough resources
charters "only worsen the problems for maintenance" and resources
"safe and healthy for all"

former Mystic Valley Charter teacher (?) : school has an inherit conflict of interest
students held back, parents get frustrated and pull their kids out
teachers dedicated but without training
many students spent every year with a new teacher, most of which had never taught before
"I've become increasingly frustrated with an educational system" that makes it more disparate
certainly don't need more, and those we have need a close examination
"unleash the power of our public schools"
parent of a Boston charter school senior and former charter school teacher herself here to implore cap to get cap
until there is more accountability...elimination of the school to prison pipeline
"expanding the experimental charter school model is not the panacea"
"many parents can't afford to lose a day's pay" to come testify
cites private funding of those here today to lobby for cap lift
many charter school teachers are young white teachers
remembering her own time as a teacher in a charter leads to feelings of nausea
need to focus on educational equity nationally
"we don't get a do-over with our children"
"black children matter; black parents matter; black teachers matter"
Chang-Diaz: wouldn't support a cap lift until changes?
would you rather that we craft a bill that lifts the cap addresses the funding formula OR we do nothing?
response: so many issues need for accountability and transparency
when you have a set of schools that can push out students, that's the system
retention rates are low, but your graduation rates and test rates are higher
think that charter chools have critically failed black and brown teachers
"can't voice their opinion and there's no one protecting them"
kids who were threatening suicide, they were so broken down by the way they were treated
"you don't know until you get there, and then one you're there you feel like you have no other option"

Pioneer Valley charter: supporting innovation in charter schools
was intent in orginal law
speaking Mandarin

Springfield and Worcester teachers' union president
Len Zalauskas: has a son in Worcester Public Schools
"I think Governor Baker doesn't know that much about education"
"if you go into a charter school and you leave, you go into another charter school, you don't go back to the public schools"
Washington case that charters were found unconstitutional
"we have to do something about it"
several technical deficiencies in how we work charter schools
one is foundation budget
Tim Collins: very concerned about us going to a two tiered school district
a district that doesn't deal with the needs of all the children and one that doesn't have the resources that are needed to deal with their students
hat off to parents of charter schools who were here today: "there isn't a single public schools that has every single parent as involved as that"
"shame on charter schools for counseling their kids out"
if a child is in public schools and develops a problem, it's up to us to deal with it
pushing kids out because they may jeopardize your graduation rate or your test rates "is unconscionable"
"usually I hear it's the civil rights issue of our time...but how could they say that when they don't want to deal with every child?"
kids facing these challenges "are resiliant"
"give us the resources and we can lift these kids up"
"that foundation budget you all are looking at is the key"
"these are OUR children; they're ALL our children"
"we're number one...and we're the highest density of unionized educators in the nation"
"we haven't kept up the safety net"
"we have to pony up the money that THEY need to survive and thrive"

parent: support for S326, moratorium
have had children in about every option out there
third and fourth generation to live in Roxbury
generational poverty and parent involvement
leave of required parental involvement in charters was enormous
pressure on parents to host monthly teacher appreciation brunches
hard sell to lobby for charter schools
"I'd really like to know how much they spend on lobbying"
moratorium to "really see what's going on"
warning from Louisiana: we've had charter advocates get everything they wanted and needed
mother of two public school graduates, one before the conversion, one after
charter schools were supposed to help the demographic that my son falls in
"the focus here may be on expanding charter schools rather than monitoring and oversight"
"we have had children pushed out"
"have had a federal complaint and a federal lawsuit" around children with high needs
"have displaced over 5000 children in New Orleans"
"the Commonwealth is a high performing state as it is; you DON'T need to follow anything of what's going on in Louisiana"
state has lowered the cut rate on test score passage
crime rate has gone up

Karen Kast-McBride and Tabi Kast-McBride
Tabi: current student at Tech Boston Academy: impact of charter schools on my education as a student with a disability or a mental illness
public schools offer testing, diagonosis, programs
"currently I go to a school that offers a program for students who are emotionally fragile"
"We're not dumb either...
charter school students say don't have programs for students like me
ignore issues or punish them for their disability
"will not make it better or go away"
Eventually, they tell them they can't go there anymore
"and no one punishes these schools for that they do to students, and that's really wrong"
"I was really upset to hear that the Governor wants to have more charter schools"
asking you to keep the cap on charter schools
"charter should have to follow the same laws and get the same amount of money"
Karen: true choice...is it really choice if it's only for those who do well on tests or don't have special needs?
"This isn't a choice; it's segregation"
"our public schools are bleeding"
would be happy to explain how charter schools are getting 3 to 4 times the amount of funding per pupil than regular BPS
"I was told to not put in an application for my daughter when I told them she might have a disability"
selective enrollment, pushout, before we even think of lifting the cap
"asking that we address issues before we even think of this"
"last year, your colleagues promised to address all of these issues before even thinking of lifting the cap; I'm asking you to keep this promise."
need to go further than just an active education model

BPS parents! Mary Pierce, BPS parent, talking about charter school wait list
years and years, I was on a charter school list and no one asked if I wanted to stay on it
"Applying to a school is not a political act"
charter sector is constantly pushing for a greater and greater market share
attrition as resources are lost
"I don't know if you know what it's like to be in a district that's in a constant state of destruction"
parent of BPS for 25 years"sick and tired"
opposed to lift in cap on charter schools
BPS budget is similar to all our own budgets: "rob Peter to pay Paul, someone loses"
"I am my child's primary teacher. One thing I know has to stop is segregation."
"the children that they can't service are then sent back to public schools"
this process has caused citywide IEPs
students in daughter's class were being disruptive; students brought back from charter schools
domino effect: "Boston has always held to this standard of teaching all children"
"my main concern is for their (her children's) future"
money leaving public schools
"everybody should be concerned...those children are going to take care of all of us in nursing homes"
Beth Nolan: BPS graduate, son in BPS
awaken our advocacy "now we are called the opposition, and they monopolize the money"
"our own Governor, a graduate of public schools, could not articulate what practices were happening" that were innovative
I served on a site council and were held as a high standard of transparency
have to ask parent who testified earlier: who provides the services to all the students? the public schools do, not the pseudo-private schools
Kenny Jervis: many gains of charter schools come at expense of public schools
harsh economic situations in the homes and looking for renewed economic opportunity
charters will not bridge divide
provide universal early education, provide excellent curriculum (that includes everything), support staff, after school programs, and libraries
response to Chang-Diaz's question early: a moratorium is not doing nothing; time to deal with issues
were here fifteen months ago when you defeated the cap lift; I am grateful
you said then that you'd deal with issues before going back
you asked then "what is the end game?"
I see now the end game of public education and it petrifies me

testimony now being read for someone who has left:
student who was a new immigrant..."teachers were amazing and invested a lot of time in me"
work for city planning and engineering and facilities department
here to defend public education for all
punish kids whose parents are not as involved
solutions are more teachers and classroom supplies
challenge people to organize for our poor communities

Heshan Weeramuni: support moratorium
parent of two BPS students
"one of those often-invoked immigrant parents whose children are trapped in failing schools"
his line is better than that...I missed something in there

@TracyNovick :) pic.twitter.com/CVsRI9un7d

— Heshan Weeramuni (@wheresmyporsche) October 13, 2015

Let me clear: my choice is the Boston Public Schools
I'm not alone
strong demand for BPS seats
"public school system..is being made to fail"
present inequities in funding are so marked that even Governor Baker invoked it
quoting former superintendent can envision a day when all chapter 70 funding goes to charters
need to stabilize our public schools
need a moratorium until we can find an equitable system that doesn't undermine choice of majority of parents who choose public schools

BPS students: very serious topic, so ask that all technology not be used while I am speaking
speaking on behalf of another student
went to charter for middle school: got in trouble even if you dropped your pencil
for punishment, had to copy entire 100 page code of conduct
keep students in school helps stop the school to prison pipeline
should be accountable to the same standards of every other school in Massachusetts
majority pushouts are young black and Latino men
senior at Boston Latin Academy: was counseled out of my charter school in 6th grade
stayed but eventually made it back into public schools
have been shaped positively by public schools
will be a first generation college student: "and it's because of Boston Public Schools" that she is where she is
senior in BPS, was at a charter in Cambridge
got demerits for minor things like dropping a pencil, asking to go to the bathroom
suspended for two days for slamming a door
with no people here, the fans are LOUD...sorry for what I'm missing
cites chapter 222 for keeping kids in schools and learning
"places kids actually want to go to rather than a prison"
Peisch comments that chapter 222 also applies to charter schools
students point out that they are not held accountable for that

AND HEY! then I got to testify!
and we're getting some testimony here regarding a report coming out from the Annenburg Foundation, which I will look up.
And EIGHT HOURS after we started, that's a wrap. 

Testimony before the Joint Committee on Education: charter schools

Good morning, Madame Chairs. My name is Tracy O’Connell Novick and I am a six-year member of the Worcester School Committee. I am here today on behalf of my fellow members from Worcester, who unanimously support Senator Michael Moore’s bill S321, requiring local authorization of charter schools that use local funding. This is also reflects years of advocacy by the Mass Association of School Committees.

S321 requires local authorization for charter schools that will receive local funding. If a charter is instead authorized by the state, the state pays for it.

I suspect the first response is that this would be impossible. I would respectfully point out that this is just how Mass Academy of Math and Science’s budget works. Mass Academy is state-chartered, working with WPI, and their budget is a line-item allocation in the state budget. So it is not only possible; you’re doing it currently.

This is in marked contrast to Worcester’s experience with Spirit of Knowledge Charter School. In 2010, a delegation from Worcester testified before the Board of Education regarding Spirit of Knowledge’s application for a charter. We laid out, in detail, the issues with the proposal: the founder’s troubling history with regard to management; the substantial lacks in the administration and facilities plans; the holes in recruiting a student body that reflected Worcester’s population; and, most telling, a fiscal plan that simply did not work. At the time, our CFO testified:

This proposed school will spend 1 out of every 3 dollars on non-instructional expenses.  The school will have 13.5 non-instructional and administrative staff for a school with less than 600 students...there are items in the application which seriously question the financial viability of the school.  In fact, the proposed spending plan is out-of-balance during the three year period submitted...The Board should reject this recommendation from the Commissioner.  Although mathematics appears to be a core focus of this school...the financial plan just simply does not add up!  

The charter was granted.

In 2013, the school closed in October, for all of the reasons listed above, with the finances finally clobbering the school for good.

And 150 students were back on the doorstep of the Worcester Public Schools in the first week of November.

We told you so. And we were ignored.

Madame Chairs, the current system is questionable in its Constitutionality. The partnership laid out by John Adams in Chapter 5, Section II is for education to be “the duty of legislatures and magistrates.” That is you, yes, at the state level, but it is also, we--Adams’ “magistrates”--at the local level.

As the current chartering system stands, it is only legislatures--not magistrates--that are overseeing education within charter schools. As a result, there is no local accountability (budgetary or otherwise) for charter schools within our communities. They are free to spend money without local transparency, to make decisions without community input, to counsel students with extra needs that they would be better off elsewhere,  to suspend eye-popping numbers of students...and then when they fail, to return all of those students to the public school system.

What is the goal, here, Madame Chairs?

If, as we are Constitutionally charged, it is “spreading the opportunities and advantages of education in the various parts of the country, and among the different orders of the people,” the system you’ve created isn’t doing that. You’ve made it okay for some schools to pick their kids, throw out those that won’t work on data charts, and then be held up as unmitigated successes, while other schools teach all kids, and somehow fail by contrast.

We on the local level endeavor to educate every child, every day. We invite you to join us in this effort by passing this bill, and other reform bills before you today.

LIVEBLOG from the Joint Committee on Education: charter school bills PART I

This may get too unwieldy as a single post; if so, I'll break it up into I, II, and so forth.

Not as many students here as past years. As we've been very vocal about the charters taking their kids out of class for a glorified photo op, maybe they're understanding that's backfired. Plenty of charter school parents in school tee shirts: "My child is thriving at..." "FAMILY" "College Bound Since 1999" etc. Amusing myself by adding asterisks: "*...and no one else's kid matters" "*...right up until they're suspended or need an IEP" "*...except for the kids who attritioned out." Hearing most parents aren't signed up to testify, just the "expert panels." Oh, and the Governor.

Updating as we go
It apparently is pouring rain outside and there's a line to get through security. Rep. Peisch has just arrived. And we're starting
Rep Gregoire and Day also here. Peisch reminds 3 minute limit on testimony, recording allowed if not disruptive. Will alternate electeds and public

Peisch: testifying in support on H464
result of "all stakeholders"
bill provides for "additional flexibilities for low performing schools"
for districts to develop own turnaround plan before being declared underperforming
developed w/ MASC, MASS, both teachers' unions
limited increase in lowest 10% of districts: would allow 1% increase per year for limited years to 23%
other bills allow for far greater expansion of charter cap
only proven providers or to serve those at risk
low attrition and collaborative with districts
"perfection is rarely if every achieved"
contains many compromises
state "constitutionally charged with education"

Senator Chang-Diaz has arrived, as has Rep. Forry
Rep DiNatale on his H3735 on regional charter schools
that charter schools go into underperforming
Fitchburg schools have come out of underperforming: innovative,
$8-11M cut from budget
$77,000 per bus
"this would be a burden that would be overwhelming"
relationship with Sizer school and public schools is outstanding
can't host another one

HEY, the Auditor is here! And her office posted her full remarks
by now you all have read our audit
know that many aspects of audit are dealt with in bills before you
"what we tried to learn but could not in our audit"
"to get meaningful, unbiased, and complete data...so that you and the public would have access to more facts"
wanted to know if the charter schools reflect sending districts
if there are measurable difference in outcomes
found real issues in this data being available
"DESE dimissed this finding..saying our concerns about data relability were really about data security"
DESE doesn't not ensure relability of data submitted
decisions driven by politics, not by real data
"if evidence were driving this debate, there would be widespread adoption" of successful practices
"let's based decisions...on facts"
"it's my role as the chief accountability officer of the Commonwealth to speak up if I see large sums of taxpayer dollars put into private hands" without reliable data
do you have enough information?
"make accountability and best practices" focus of today

Baker (who is on crutches)
look forward to working with you as we continue to strengthen
ed reform law "that has more than stood the test of time"
three main features: foundation budget, statewide curriculum and assessment, charter schools
"this combination...has succeed"
NAEP scores
"charter schools are the envy of the nation"
nearly all in disadvantaged communities in underperforming school districts
some of the highest performing schools in the state
AND THERE'S THE MISUSED STAT!
charter school lottery: "Everybody cries over charter school lotteries"
"modest annual increase in the charter cap"
greatest need for high quality school options
maximum of 12 charter schools annually
"rigorous evaluation process" only highly qualified will get through
"put preference around high need students...and other at risk populations"
note that they CAN put preference
thinks that charters being called out is "unfair"
Phoenix: kids who will drop out, graduate and go onto two and four year colleges
easier for charters to turnaround underperforming
"I understand not everyone sees this the way we do; there's much to discuss"
"not mistake an interest in dialogue with a willingness to let the clock tick"
AND ROUND TWO ON THE MISUSE OF THE LIST
"i know that we can get this done during this legislative session"
sorry, I missed that Secretary Peyser is siting with Baker
Q from Day: Ed reform act listed five reasons behind charters: innovations, to provide greater options, "strikes me as a bit of a political compromise that occured back then as I think they're inconcurent policies"
think it's important to come up with an answer to that
Baker: think it can be both, extended length of school day
Phoenix knocks on your door if you don't show up
can't ignore parental choice
vocational schools are "an out of district choice"
provide both innovation and opportunity for kids
Q from Jehlen: resist "low performing"
correlation between MCAS achievement and income is 88%
second correlation is districts that are right at or below the foundation budget
"to say that these schools are low performing also suggests that they education low income children"
and also that they are underfunded
question is that what is the affect on other kids in those districts?
Baker: looking forward to seeing report on Foundation Budget
open to discussion on foundation: hasn't been updated in twenty years
would say "one of the things that have been most important to me is ability to succeed districts that are at foundation"
done within the math of foundation
"deserve same shot as kids in the suburb"
Peyser: open to discussion of reimbursement of charter
"looking at making it more equitable and more fundable"
Chang-Diaz: sensitive to not letting clock tick
provision on at risk populations: how can Phoenix do its work?
factor kids into their classroom based on where you are (after testing kids)
"very aggressive about staying with them"
idea is to get everyone to a level that if they choose to they can get to a two year or four year degree
find a way to wrap support services around you, particularly young moms
golly, you know, sounds like a whole lot of alternative programs quietly running in districts, like Creamer in Worcester
"like the catcher in the rye...they just don't quit"
back and forth here about how kids get into Phoenix...lottery...self-selected
Gregoire: What would say to auditor about data accuracy, INCLUDING THE WAIT LIST?
(sorry, caps added)
Peyser: department working in schools to be sure it's as throughly scrubbed as can be
lot of work that's gone since the auditor's report
"lot of work that's gone in to be sure that we're scrubbing that wait list"
Senator Pacheco on S326: seeks to do two things: requires teachers be certified in charter schools as they are in Commonwealth schools
seeks to put in place a moratorium on future charter schools until we find out what is happening relative to financing of these schools in the Commonwealth
voted for Ed reform in 1993: 25 charter schools for experimentation
in some cases it hasn't worked, schools have closed, has been great destruction over the years
where it has worked: take curriculum and take ideas and have those applied to all the charter schools in the Commonwealth
have seen places where that can't happen, as work was propriatary
costs money to put in place a longer school day or a longer school year
1 million students have seen millions diverted from existing chapter 70 formula, as no longer have 25 charters, have 71
every time that we open a new charter school, we divert additional resources away from traditional schools in Massachusetts
offer opportunity to ALL students
25 was a compromise: others wanted a voucher system: some wanted "an absolute privatization of education in Massachusetts"
Pacheco served on a local school board: dealing with taxpayers' children
when you look at the $420 million being diverted away from schools in the Commonwealth
"and every year we get the calls--don't we--that it isn't enough"
"that would not have happened if we had kept the cap at 25 and if we really had done what we said we were going to do" and added programs as experimented
"can you imagine if we took $420 million and invested them in the public schools?"
"we have the best schools in the nation here in Masssachusetts"
"put a hold on any additional charter schools in Massachusetts until we can find a way to pay for them in a way that doesn't help some students without hurting all the rest"

Councilor Tito Jackson, Boston Council chair on education:
asking for support of the moratorium!
cites suspension rates for Boston charter schools, way out of proportion to population, particularly for young black men
out of proportion funding
lift of charter caps increase in transportation: 10% of BPS budget
"let's look at real data"
BPS students enter college at a 51% rate; charter schools enter at 47%
without exam schools and vocational schools, BPS is 45%
"question here is one of equity and one of true opportunity"
"should not be widening the democracy gap and the power gap, which is what I believe is going on right now"
"we have people before who are asking for money only for a specific group of students"
"we all lose when young people in public or charter schools fail"
"hit the pause button and look at the dollars and see if those dollars actually make sense"
can't be taking the money from one type of school and moving it to another type of school
great things happening at many school districts across Massachusetts
BPS losing $125M this year to charters
"Deficit in education means a deficit in the state of Massachusetts as we continue on"

Mayor Walsh, Boston:
"first time to come before you to testify on a policy matter as Mayor of the City of Boston"
25% of charter schools in the state are in Boston
"I support all schools"
committed to success of BPS
also committed to Boston charter schools
bright spots and success stories
comprehensive success in urban education
urgency of families is very real, must address challenges head on
stop pitting schools against each other
great, Mr. Mayor: then change the funding and accountability systems
sustain equitable growth (?)
supports Peisch's bill on "greater turnaround" authority
five years out from turnaround bill "proven success"
"waiting for schools to fail and then waiting to get them the tools they needs"
lowest 10% to apply Level 4's to Level 3's
remain turnaround plans after exiting Level 4's
fire teachers who don't have a job after two years of no job
asks that the cap be lifted to 23% at 1/2 of 1% for next several years
hears that others are calling for larger lifts
build on proven success, thoughtful growth
propose that charter schools be eligible for Mass School Building Authority
charter schools are concentrated in urban districts
golly gee, yes, Mayor Walsh, the growth in charters IS in Boston. I wonder why?
charter reimbursement not fully funded
"in Boston, we are serious about right-sizing...our school district"
propose Commonwealth should have transitional funding to charter schools
while community still funds current seats
(I didn't entirely understand what he was proposing here with the funding; it sounded like reimbursement going straight to charters somehow?)
"eliminating the needless pass-through model" to cities and towns
"we can't continue to see education as a battlefield"
"let's climb out of the trenches and come together"
"gives me great hope that we will find a solution"
"let's go forward together now"
Tucker Q: how much
replacement of existing reimbursement model to a three year transition model
total cost less that $4M additional dollars
major benefit to districts that spend more than 9% on charters
some would lose if their funding has stabilized
Jehlen: would you favor a local ability to raise the cap for those who want it?
Walsh: seen success of charters...not actually in favor of local authorities raising cap
Chang-Diaz: your proposal would take place of reimbursement?
generally case, yes
100% first year, 50% second year, 25% third year
after three years would be chapter 70 plus local contribution?
specific amount per pupil wouldn't change in first year: (so just chapter 70)
Chang-Diaz: on what basis would dollars flow? when is count?
wouldn't change that
long tail being very expensive
Forry...just said some things, but no question really
Walsh: not wanting to only advocate for Boston
"it's really complicated, but there's a way to do it, there's a way to do it"
Q from L'Italien: would like more information about why no longer authority
Walsh: said no because it becomes political at that point
"adding more politics isn't the way to go"
"only ones who lose out here are the kids"
fascinating to see a local politician disparge local politics regarding education
back from L'Italien: having served on a local school committee, she disputes his contention

MASC: panel testifying next on a report that they've sponsored
concerns on H464 (from Peisch) hope bill will be strengthen
tremendous work on teachers and students throughout the Commonwealth and not less than 1/2 than 1 percent of students
"it appears a significant number of schools have not letter and spirit of law"
there are some charter schools that flagrantly flout laws
"failing to enroll a diverse student body will not be tolerated"
recommend you impose significant reforms before you consider expansion
Skinner
look at impact of 2010 act on students at risk
urban charters are doing a pretty good job of enrolling students with same levels of poverty as sending districts, suburban are not
"They're just not serving the same population"
slight increase in serving ELL students: "not really enrolling in the same numbers as sending school districts"
charter schools "mild special needs"
"It's a really different student with disability population"
Did anything surprise me?
Females are enrolled much more than males, and they stay enrolled in charters
chair of Barnstable SC: Cape and Islands hit hard, particularly as those districts have out of proporotion enrollment of children in poverty
require local approval
reform the lottery system so double and triple counting is eliminated
special study of sped and actual numbers of students and actual needs
adjust ch 70 aid to reflect unenrollment of high needs (uh, it does)
higher risk students being returned before school tests
(tie MCAS schools to early school year)
Oliveria from Ludlow: have local school committees have conversations
have local represenation on charter boards
urge local authority for granting charters
require local governing boards of charters to have local representation
require an impact study of charters
"not only my responsibility to oversee students" in Ludlow public schools but all students that are in my district

Rep Smizik
"private schools with taxpayers' dollars"
failing to educate students in poverty, ELL, special ed needs
"not representative of the population from which they draw their students"
"this is unacceptable"
"unimaginable that we are thinking of increasing the number of charter schools in our state without increasing accountability"
his bills "will begin to make charter schools more accountable and more representative"
asset managers who do not live in the communities in which charter schools are
increase transparency, accountability to community they serve
"finally, I would like to fully support" the bills that call for a moratorium
"educating the few at the cost of the many"

Mass Superintendent panel
Fitchburg superintendent Andre Ravenelle : must shift focus of this issue, move to collaboration
offering choice
Fitchburg offers a broad array of choices (and has been targeted for charter schools for third year in a row)
"already provide a menu of choice"
"I propose that we first raise the cap on the many resources"
raise the cap on funding for transporation
raise the cap on promised funding for special education
raise the cap on promised funding for students in advanced learning
raise the cap on funding for homeless students
raise the cap on funding for immigrant students
raise the cap on funding for growing mental health needs
raise the cap on funding for Gateway cities who educate greatest number of neediest students
This is what holds us back...
"then and only then should we consider raising the cap on charter schools"

superintendent of Whitman-Hanson
reimbursement doesn't fund needs
parents who choose charter schools...not part of the equation in the community
playing field is not equitable
"as a traditional public school, we are charged to education ALL students"
"choice does not mean a dual system of public education...that charges them to operate under a different set of regulations"

Norton superintendent raises questions of civil rights regulations
"simply put the rules, regulations, and the like must be the same for all students"
he himself arrived in this country at the age of five, product of public schools

Revere superintendent emeritius:
doubling the number of students in charter schools is short-sighted
"short-sighted and small-thinking"
really need some time to think out those issues of what we can improve public education
"is moving the number of children from 3 to 6% really big thinking?"
"what about the 94% of the other children that aren't using that?"

Superintendent of Chelsea:
"I believe there is a place for charter schools in Massachusetts"
system of schools
fortunate to collaborate with Phoenix charters in her district
doesn't have same relationship with other charters in Chelsea
comparing her district to the charter schools in Chelsea via data
increasing a high need district "this work comes at an increased costs"
"the state needs to do a deeper analysis" of demographics
"to simply endorse the cap lift...is irresponsible"

Superintendent of Medford
"Inflategate" of charter wait lists
"you must insist on an accurate assessment...especially since demand seems to drive the issue"
"Mystic Valley Charter serves ZERO charter school students"
demography "must be an issue" particularly if we are going to compare results
many other issues that need to be dealt with
"cost of improving the foundation budget...projected to be $800M for a fix"
(and that's not enough)
"many other investments for educational improvement" that would have a greater impact

Superintendent of Ludlow
before we consider raise the cap on charter schools, the state needs to meet the financial commitments they have already made
"when we receive our $434,000 bill for charter schools from the state, our community has absolutely no say over how those are funded"
"now is the time to raise all of our schools"
disappointed to hear language from Governor "these students deserve more...I would argue ALL of our students deserve more"
Chang-Diaz: for or against H464?
qualified cap lift

THE SUITS: Grogan from the Boston Foundation
cites his support for the Boston Public Schools
"don't believe that our support for charter schools as a diversion from our support for public schools"
"demonstration of the possible"
"tyranny of low expectations"
and I'm totally missing names here....Ah, someone from the Boston Chamber of Commerce
jobs going unfilled in some sectors of economy
"state's most important competitive resource: talent"
"effective tool in elevating student achievement"
AND ANOTHER CITATION OF THE WAIT LIST!
Roxbury pastor, Boston Educational Resource Center
more students of color enroll in and complete a higher education
need for higher ed to succeed in job market
"require a systemic shift"
"simply because it is right and because it is good"
Q from Jehlen: if your data is all from Boston, studies that look outside of Boston have NOT found that
"now that could be because those schools don't focus on MCAS prep"
"we need to ask ourselves: is this Boston question, or is this a state question?"
stop thinking "that what happens to Boston should apply to all those districts"
Grogan now citing Stanford study "certainly supports expansion of charters in the Gateway cities"
Chang-Diaz: do you support Walsh's proposal about funding change?
Grogan: we heard it for the first time this morning
Day: charters in Boston aren't sending kids to schools in same numbers as BPS: do you have employment data on charter grads v public grads?
...basically no...
parent panel which I am missing...

MEL KING!
thank you for giving me this opportunity to express my opinion about this legislation
as a former member of this committee...aware of what you have to do
all children get access to skills and knowledge
have developed a technology center where we provide young people with a technology center
a maker center: work with over 700 children so they get the skills that they need
"but I come today to ask you not to buy into the hypocrisy that is reflected in this legislation"
boo'ed the Pledge of Allegiance when he was in 10th grade
"the meaning of the Pledge is being undermined"
"with liberty and justice for all"
"this legislation does not set forth justice for all...it's justice for some folks and not for all folks"
"amazed that the Governor could sit here and push for legislation that is not in keeping with his mandate for all people"
"not for some of the children but for ALL of the children"

Youth worker from Lawrence: son is at a Lawrence charter school
"would not be able to provide him with a private school education"
concerned about sending him to a regular public school, because his sister has had trouble there
as parents, it's our job to make sure that great options are available to all our children
parent in Boston: daughter is on a wait list for a charter school
also went to a charter school herself
"want to make that choice for my children, but there aren't enough seats"
parent in Boston: Boston community experiences many inequalities
"quality education cannot be sustained without increased investment"
"we should not have to choose between quality" and....?
"while budgets may be a balance sheet for you, you need to realize" that they're a reality for us
METCO graduate and charter parent
"work hard and volunteer at church"
speaks of her son being valued as part of the community, not targeted or suspended
committee has the capacity to raise the value of the education of all of our children

Final panel on H464 (which is the first bill)
ah, founder of the Holyoke Charter School wants to add a high school
she's the one who totally sold out the Holyoke Public Schools before the Board of ed!
"we do not use our demographics as an excuse"
"these are the students that in other schools are labelled as ELL students"
whoa...no, they are still ELL students. You just aren't giving them the services they're supposed to have
calls for change in funding
"never at the expense of our children"
KIPP director: "our success is measure in their adult lives in independence and impact"
stories about kids...power of great schools, partnerships with families
director at a Lawrence charter school
700 kids in K-8
praise for receiver Riley "using every tool in his kit to turnaround the public schools"
charter schools have played a vital role in that effort
"forced by the takeover of schools"
"Lawrence is a great example of" charters and public schools collaborating
cites Boston

STARTING  A NEW POST

Live from Gardner Auditorium

Posting live from the State House today

The Joint Committee on Education is hearing testimony regarding the charter school bills this morning. The Governor is scheduled to testify at 10:15. 

I have an electrical outlet, snacks, and wifi, so I'm here for the duration. And I'll post my own testimony separately. 

You may have heard we're having a meeting this week

The Worcester School Committee meets in public session this week at 7 (or so). We have an executive session scheduled for 6. You can find our agenda here.

We will be taking up two items in Executive Session:

• Executive session pursuant to Mass. G.L. c. 30A, Section 21(a)(2) to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel and contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, Superintendent’s Employment Contract.
• Executive session pursuant to Mass. G.L. c. 30A, Section 21(a)(2) to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel and contract negotiations with nonunion personnel, Interim Superintendent Employment Contract.

We have several groups coming in to be recognized (including the wonderfully named Spiritually Fabulous Ministries).
The section of the policy manual regarding the work of the School Committee, now on its second hold, is again on the agenda.
The report of the superintendent this week is on our alternative education programs, which has had a grant-funded outside evaluation. Should you have any interest in our programs, it's definitely worth a read.
The EAW is requesting that we open negotiations for successor contracts with Bus Drivers (Aids to the Physically Handicapped), Bus Monitors, Units A &B, Instructional Assistants, Parent Liaisons, ESL Tutors, abd OT/PT Assistants.
We're being informed a few personnel items.
The North High Alumni Association raised money for a van for the school, and so we're planning to thank them for that.
Mr. Monfredo would like to recognize the South High AP Pep Rally.
There's a conference later this month on "Human Rights and Social Studies" that some may be interested in.
We're being asked to accept a donation from Shaw's to McGrath Elementary of $400.
Mr. Monfredo is recommending that schools share best practices to improve school climate and parent involvement.
Mr. Monfredo is looking to schedule meetings with the delegation.
We're being asked to accept a donation of $250 from JVE for Tatncuk Magnet.
Mr. Foley is calling to our attention the work of the Unified Theater.
Yes, I've been selected for the 2015 the All-State School Committee...
Mr. O'Connell is requesting any update on the school security audit (which we got on Friday).
We're being asked to accept an anonymous donation of $5000 and a $100 donation from Kate Toomey to Tatnuck Magnet.
We're being asked to approve prior fiscal year payments to psychologists of $77.63 and $39.68, respectively.
Miss Biancheria would like a report on the Recovery High School.
Mr. Monfredo wants to talk about Family Literacy Month.

Finally, there are three from Mayor Petty:

• Request that the Administration ask the purchasing agent to prepare documents for a Request for Proposal for a search firm for the selection of the next Superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools.
• To consider selection of Dr. Marco Rodrigues as Interim Superintendent of Schools.
• To approve the timeline for the selection of the new Superintendent of Schools.

Executive session at 6; public session scheduled for 7, at City Hall or livestreaming online.

Meetings this week

I'll post on this week's agenda in a minute, but first: meetings this week!

• On Tuesday at 10 am, the Joint Committee on Education will be conducting a hearing on charter school-related bills before them. Baker's bill is HD 4191, and I'm told he'll be testifying at 10 am. I'm going in myself to testify on Senator Moore's S321 on local authorization, and I'll be blogging.
• The Worcester School Committee meets on Thursday at 7.
• The Foundation Budget Review Commission meets on Friday from 2 to 5 pm (no word yet on where). I'll be there and blogging.
• The Research Bureau is hosting a presentation on the International Baccalaureate program, also on Friday, at 7 am at WPI's Higgins House. Assuming the FBRC ends on time, I plan to be at this as well.

U.S. Department of Justice weighs in on school resource officers

If school personnel can handle it, they shouldn't be involved:

The Justice Department's interest statement, which was filed Oct. 2, says that the lawsuit "implicates the rights of children in schools to be free from unconstitutional police seizures, the rights of children with disabilities to be free from disability-based discrimination, and the rights of children to be free from civil rights violations that lead to the cycle of harsh school discipline and law enforcement involvement known as the school-to-prison pipeline."

This is in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of two Kentucky elementary schoolchildren who were handcuffed by a school resource officer.