Charter Schools, Future of Public Education to be Discussed at Forum
Two planned charter schools have sparked debate in Teaneck
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The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley will host a forum on charter schools and the future of public education tonight at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.
Stan Karp, director of the Secondary Reform Project at the Education Law Center, will speak on current issues in education, the impact of charter schools on public education, and the history of charter and voucher proposals, a LWV press release said.
The free event starts at 7:30 p.m. in the medical center’s auditorium. Guests should enter through the main entrance.
The Christie Administration has made charter schools a key component of the state’s education reform plan, but the schools have sparked controversy locally.
Shalom Academy Charter School, a planned Hebrew immersion school for students in Teaneck and Englewood, was met with opposition and had its opening delayed a year. Opponents questioned if the school would attract a diverse range of students and said the money should stay with local districts.
Last week, the state Department of Education told Teaneck public school officials that the proposed Garden State Virtual Charter School could cost the district more than $15 million. School officials were shocked by the potential price tag, but state officials said the amount was only a guide. The virtual school’s founder has also said he didn’t anticipate most students would come from Teaneck.
The Teaneck situation renewed calls for reforms to charter school laws and state Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-Essex) has questioned if virtual schools should be funded the same way as brick-and-mortar charters.
Charter schools are independently run but receive public funds based on the amount of students who attend from each local school district.
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Teaneck Board of Education Central Administration Offices
1 Merrison St, Teaneck, NJ
Louann
7:05 am on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
To all public school parents... Please attend this meeting!
zizi
9:53 am on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I amazes me that the parents of public school kids never show as much passion for increasing test scores for their kids as they show for things that matter less. It is just like voting against your own interests...... Parents in Teaneck are just pawns at the hands of the school teachers and administrators and the board of education. If I were a parent my only concern would be to do whatever it takes to increase test scores..... the only thing that matters......
Amy Yepez
11:55 am on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
These business/charter schools are taking funds that could be put back into the classroom to help increase test scores. And as a parent, I must say, test scores are not the only thing that matter.
LaVerne
1:50 pm on Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Well said Amy. The parents and schools could focus on test scores and educating our children if we didn't have to spend so much time on this political madness in regards to the education in this town. It's amazes me that people are constantly working against children receiving a quality education. I urge everyone to go to the meeting on Charter Schools, Choice and the Future of Public Education tonight.
When: Wednesday, November 16th (TONIGHT) Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Englewood Hospital & Medical Centers, Auditorium, 350 Engle Street, Englewood (use main entrance) Free and open to the public
Charelle Wilson Hanley
5:17 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2011
Let's worry about the quality of the education provided to today's school children- not how they perform on standardized tests. We should be concerned that the students are sound in receiving the educational basics before moving them on to the next grade. Social promotions are not working. Today’s students know that they do not have to pass to be promoted which lessens the value of their education. Students learn early on that there are no real requirements for them to pass on to the next grade and that being in a "grade" really has nothing to do with what you have learned or how proficient you are in the subject matter.
I think some parents are missing the point because they see their children going on to the next grade and believe that their children are doing well enough to continue on. Many parents are not aware of how poorly their children are doing because they remember that when they were in school, students were left back if they failed. Some students need to repeat their grade to get a better understanding of the curriculum and mature emotionally. Perhaps some students would avoid social embarrassment and do better in school if the threat of being left behind their class existed. Reverse psychology does work in some cases and peer pressure is alive and well. We have to do what works. Automatic social advancement is not working!