Newsletter Update #32, November 15th, 2005 IN THIS EDITION: FRANKLIN CHARTER SCHOOL & NORTH COUNTRY REPORT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT First to open; first to close. State pass-through funds for students weren't passed through. By now, the Franklin Career Academy story is familiar statewide. But here's the story that hasn't been told: superb achievement gains of the 35-40 students grades 7-12 who attended Franklin Career Academy. In this brand new charter school with 3 teachers new to teaching, students increased skills an average of 2.7 grade levels in English language; 1.5 grade levels in math; and 2.3 average years gained in reading. Individual students gained as much as 6 grade levels. Seldom can a public school post these results, especially when not all students are self-motivated at the outset. Click here For more details on Franklin Career Academy's achievements. And the North Country Alternative charter school had similar, excellent outcomes in their drop-out recovery and prevention charter school. Both staff attribute student results to individualization and intensive efforts to prove to students they were smart and could achieve. We interviewed both schools. To hear teachers and director from Franklin Career Academy discuss their program and efforts, click here. To hear Lisa LaVoie discuss the North Country Alternative Charter School's program and efforts, click here. Two high-performing charter schools for at-risk students: North Country with complete support from Superintendents, towns, and school boards, and Franklin with complete support from parents but where elected officials first refused to forward any required state funds and then apparently sought the charter's revocation because the school doesn't have sustainable funding. Despite differing views and levels of support in these communities, charter school staff demonstrated that students could excel through charter school education where mission-driven schools adapt to student learning needs. To read news articles about these schools, see our NEWS archives. DIRECT PAYMENT FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE CHARTER SCHOOLS? “We’ve had the debate. We’re going to have charter schools in New Hampshire. Let’s just fix this law and get on with it,” said one legislator recently, admitting she hadn’t initially voted for charter schools but had changed her mind. And the fixes needed? Direct payment. Equitable funding. Fix local authorization procedures so they work. Representative Claire Clarke of Boscawen is chairing the House Education Committee's subcommittee on retained charter school bills. After the Franklin debacle, Representative Clarke says the subcommittee is recommending direct payment of state funding to independent charter schools. THE SAGA OF SURRY SCHOOL, PART IV: THE COMMUNITY DEFENDS ITS CHILDREN AND SCHOOL Whether Millington, Maryland, pop. 400, or Surry, New Hampshire, population 600, there’s a community quality about small towns that’s unique. So it’s perfectly understandable that the Town of Surry is collectively upset that its elementary school was closed without town involvement. Surry's young children are now being bussed in 2 different directions while their prized community school they built sits empty down the street. Here’s the update for small town aficionados--The Saga of the Surry Village School, Part IV: The Community Defends Its Children and Its School. A SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE New Hampshire may someday have a high school for science, math, and engineering. “We continue to make progress,” says Matora Fiorey, a college chem. teacher working on the school’s design and application. Originally considered for Keene area, the goal now is locating space between Concord and Nashua. To quickly review science high schools in other states, click here. To join the mail list for this school’s progress, click here. Know a building or space that could be used for a science high school program? Please call: 224-0366. FUNDING OF NH STATE-AUTHORIZED CHARTER SCHOOLS A comparison of public education funding for students attending district public schools vs. charter public schools shows great inequities. In New Hampshire, variations among school districts result in one elementary student supported by $5,600 and another $21,000 (using 2 year old data). The average total per pupil cost statewide approximates $10,000. The charter public school student, however, receives $3500/year total in state-authorized schools. Subtract $1,000-$1600 per charter student for facility and transportation expenses, and the result is just too little for an adequate education. NH's funding system for state-authorized charter schools needs adjusting. See our new report. FREE COLLEGE FOR ALL STUDENTS IN KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN In one of the biggest and boldest college sponsor programs in the nation, anonymous benefactors have just announced 4-year scholarships to all Kalamazoo's high school graduates for at least the next 13 years. Students who attend Kalamazoo public schools K-12 will receive 100% tuition to attend a state college or university. Students attending for fewer years receive partial scholarships. Dubbed The Kalamazoo Promise, projected costs are 12 million based on current enrollments of this Western Michigan city of 77,000. "This is truly an economic development and quality of life decision for the city of Kalamazoo. It benefits our whole community," opined Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Janice Brown. Click and listen…that’s all there is to it. Our WKXL SCHOOL TALK radio shows on education are posted on our website. Learn about School Building Aid programs; Theories of Deaf Education; Charter School Programs; New Hampshire colleges, New Hampshire School Law. Click here for current shows and scroll down for options. Suggestions welcome. OUR WEBLOG…is about Surry this week. Click to read. Part
I: The Surprise Vote Former weblogs are archived. Legislation Watch; Meetings and Dates Visit our Legislation Watch web pages and stay informed. We have a section that follows education funding, bills about charter schools, and bills retained from last year. Wed., 11/30/05: Pre-Charter Planning (Vision) Grants, Due at Department of Education. These are small grants ($5-10,000) to help a person or group flush out ideas for a charter school that meets local or regional needs. For assistance and information, contact DOE or susan@nhschoolreform.org. Tues., 12/6/05: Seminar: Understanding the Charter School & Open Enrollment Act. 90-minute review and discussion of key points of the law, materials & inservice certificate provided. $25. Concord. New Hampshire Center for School Reform. To register: deb@nhschoolreform.org. For more information about chartered public schools, click here. To view the complete listing in New Hampshire, click here. Visit our web site. Read up on the basics of charter schools in New Hampshire. We welcome questions and suggestions. So contact us. Know someone who might like our newsletter? Let us know |