In
This Edition:
Update
on Surry School Closing
Update on Franklin Charter School
Closing
Update on Sample Policies
A Learning Disabilities Prevention
School
Early College High Schools:
A New School Model
Retirement Plan Options for
Charter Schools
Our
Weblog: Surry Closing & Multiage Teaching
Update on Surry School Closing
The closing of Surry’s small village school isn’t so unusual, but the way Surry’s
village school closed raises eyebrows. We’ve read Surry’s historic records
to create The
Saga of the Surry Village School. Please "Have Your Say" on
our Weblog. Residents have asked
the courts to intervene since the multi-town School Board seems detached
from its own commitments to parents/taxpayers. Townspeople seem to be in
the dark. One third of the town has signed a petition of concern.
Update on Franklin Charter School Closing
Franklin
Career Academy’s Board members will not operate
unless their funding source is guaranteed. Student
records have been transferred to their next-year
schools. Newly-appointed Commissioner Tracy certainly
isn’t at fault. Franklin City’s refusal to forward
state funding took place before the new commissioner
was in office. New Hampshire’s legislature will
likely fix the situation. Legislators now see how
their charter school initiative can be foiled.
Charter schools are highly important to states
so this statutory
funding wrinkle needs ironing out…soon.
Updates on Our Site: Policies
Updated sample policies are now available (go to Technical
Assistance). The Lottery
Policy has definitions and suggestions for potential lottery problems.
New Hampshire requires a lottery policy with charter school applications. Student
selection by lottery is required by state and federal charter school law. Check
out sample Board Governance and Financial Operations policies, too. Overwhelmed
new boards can easily adapt these for prompt, structured governance.
A Learning Disabilities Prevention School
Imagine a school where all young students have reading
programs designed by learning disability specialists
and students do not need extensive future special
education. No more $50-80/hour reading tutors because
the $50-80/hour tutors are the classroom instructors.
A New Hampshire charter school will soon be proposed
with this mission and design.
Check out Strong
Foundations Charter School. If approved, Strong
Foundations will specialize in early identification
of learning disabilities. For warning signs of
early learning disabilities, click
here .
Early College High Schools: A New School
Model
The newest school reform model is a high school/college
hybrid called the Early College High School (see California's
DOE definition) In 2004 there were 46 early
college high schools in the nation, accelerating
the high school experience by moving motivated students
into the more rigorous college content. Last year
8,030 students were enrolled in Early College High
Schools; many more early college high schools are
predicted to open by 2008 with 30% predicted to open
as public
charter schools. The first Early College High
School in New York is at Bard College. This new school
signals "...a
transition between the past and the future for Bard
College and education as a whole."
"Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) was
established in June 2001 by the New York City Department
of Education and Bard College, as the first early
college high school in New York State. BHSEC prepares
students to finish their high school courses and
the required New York State Regents exams in two
years and then enter into college-level studies.
As Leon Botstein, president of Bard College, notes
in his book Jefferson's Children, schools can be
restructured to reflect the realities of modern childhood,
interjecting intellectual vigor and inquiry that
is often missing in the latter years of high school.
About Bard High School, Botstein often muses, "Why
not challenge high school students to begin thinking
like college students, and begin college after tenth
grade with two years of high school and six years
of college?"
Bard High School Early College is part of a growing
number of hybrid schools that accelerate the high
school experience. For more info about the Bard College
school, go to Genius
Denied and the US Department of Education's Education
Innovator. Also, the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation has information
about this model and philanthropic partners.
Retirement Plan Options for Charter Schools
“Take advantage of tax-deferred savings plans,“ writes Randall Bingham for
National Charter School Clearinghouse. His article compares
details of retirement plans. Useful info for schools interested in unique
benefit programs
UPCOMING SCHOOL TALK RADIO
SHOWS
August 8th: Jose Afonso, Sabis International, Charter School expert, New Hampshire
resident
Topic: What’s Happening with Charter Schools Around the Country?
August 17th: Peter Majoy, Teacher, Charter School Founder.
Topic: The Winchester/Ashuelot Valley Charter School Project.
August 31st: Susan Brule, Expert in Deaf Education & Interpreter.
Topic: Issues in Deaf Education & New Hampshire's new Laurent Clerc Academy
in Concord.
Call us and join the discussion, Wednesdays at 1:07 p.m. Call in:
603-224-1450. WKXL1450
AM with worldwide streaming. Listen to replay, Saturdays at 1:07
p.m.
To be more informed on school reform topics, visit
our web
site. Read up on the basics
of charter schools in New Hampshire. See the complete
listing of schools and projects; check out our publications.
We provide start-up
resources and helpful information in newsletter archives,
e.g. reports on charter
school funding, what's new in other states,
and progress of new schools in New Hampshire.
We welcome your questions and suggestions. So contact
us. Can we help you? We offer free seminars and/or assistance with grants
or proposals.
Know someone who might like our newsletter? Let
us know!