Opposition to Online Charters Heats Up State BOE Meeting
Innovation chief approved as BOE seems unlikely to slow down charter push
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The State Board of Education yesterday got an earful on the Christie administration’s push for charter schools and other so-called innovations, both pro and con, some quite public and some a bit quieter.
The public part was further deliberation and a crowded public hearing on the administration’s controversial regulations proposed for charter schools, including some new powers for the commissioner and new language that will codify online charter schools.
Forty people signed up to speak, a far bigger crowd than usual and voicing a host of concerns about the new rules, from the philosophical to the logistic. Nevertheless, while the state board members listened intently, few of them seemed all that intent to slow down the changes.
The quieter part was the state board’s quick approval earlier in the day of a new assistant commissioner to oversee charter schools and other non-traditional programs as acting Commissioner Chris Cerf’s new “Innovation Officer.”
After considerable discussion in closed session, the board unanimously approved for the job Evo Popoff, a former senior vice president of EdisonLearning, a for-profit education company where Cerf once worked.
Popoff, who attended the meeting but wasn’t made available to reporters, has held a host of positions at EdisonLearning, the New York-based corporation that was an early pioneer in private school management companies. Popoff, a lawyer, joined Edison in 2004, and his resume includes work with local districts in the company’s school improvement, extended learning and online programs.
Cerf spoke briefly afterward about the hire, the last of his major appointments since taking office 16 months ago.
“Evo has extensive experience working with and improving public schools, and also someone who impressed me for the breadth of his vision and his capacity to execute that vision,” Cerf said, adding they did not know each other at Edison and may not have even overlapped.
Starting this week, Popoff will earn $138,000, just shy of Cerf’s $141,200 salary, officials said.
Popoff will have plenty to ponder as Cerf’s push on the innovation front has been among his more controversial, especially around charter schools. And that was on full display yesterday, as the usually sleepy board meetings grew crowded by afternoon as advocates and those who signed up as “concerned citizens” filled two small hearing rooms to object to the charter regulation changes.
Those testifying came mostly from suburbia, communities like Princeton, Westfield, South Brunswick and Cherry Hill, where the growth of charter schools under Christie have seen their stiffest resistance.
Some said the new charter regulations were an outright threat to public education, contending among many complaints that they violate existing state law and could potentially cost local taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
“The destabilizing impact of these measures cannot be overstated, and you can be very sure that the destabilization will be dramatic and immediate,” said Andrea Spalla, a member of the Princeton Regional Schools board of education.
Also testifying were familiar groups such as the New Jersey Education Association, the Garden State Coalition of Schools, the Education Law Center and New Jersey School Boards Association. The Education Law Center called for the regulations to be rejected, the school boards group called for a moratorium on new virtual charters.
The proposed regulations actually say little explicitly about online schooling, but make the intent clear. They would remove a requirement that charter schools serve contiguous districts, language that were seen as a block to statewide online schools.
Still, even without the change, the state has already given preliminary approval to two online statewide charter schools, both seeking to open next fall and already accepting students for enrollment.
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Save Our Schools NJ
5:34 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
The Board of Education also heard from twenty New Jersey residents from all over the State, including Teaneck, who testified about the destructive proposed changes to charter school regulations, the unilateral power they grant the Commissioner, and the danger of virtual charter schools .
These proposed changes are illegal and strongly violate the will of New Jersey voters.
If the Board of Education ignores the law and the will of the people and approves Mr. Cerf's changes anyway, the next step would be legal challenges and a push to have them overturned, which the Legislature can do unilaterally, without approval from the Governor.
Senator Weinberg also is leading the charge in the Senate to pass a moratorium on virtual charter schools, along with Assemblyman Diegnan in the Assembly.
Acting Commissioner Cerf is already operating outside the law. These regulations are his attempt to get permission for his illegal actions from a politically appointed Board of Education.
The people of New Jersey will not allow Mr. Cerf to destroy our public schools.
zizi
12:49 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2012
I don't think charter and other private schools are a threat to the quality of education our kids get. They are obviously a threat to unions and administration officals that use this sensitive issue to fill their pockets in the name of education.
I say let these school open and we should fund them on the same basis as the public schools. A little competition for the students is good for all schools. This will make our public school aware of the fact they don't have a monoply and have to compete and get better to attract students.
Let the parents make the decision to pick a public school or a private school..... they will know which option is better for them... not some teacher union or adminstration officials or any politician for that matter. Let the tax payer save some money that we are wasting in the public school system across the state. Let our kids get a quality education at a better cost.
change yourmind
8:55 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
Before you jump on this ban wagon you should at least do some research. I am sure with some due diligence you will find that the majority of charter schools do not perform better than public schools. Also note that charter and private schools can turn away any student that will make them "look bad". They can turn away students with learning and behavioral problems. They can turn away students that do not live up to their standards. The public school system has to take and try to educate each and every student regardless of race, creed, economic status or family difficulties. Many people who are against public schools do not seem to have a problem sending their special needs child to the public school system in order to get the "free" services that their private or charter institution will not or can not provide. It always amazes me to hear people complain about public or government services even when they willingly choose to benefit from those services. There is a "nasty" game being played here. Corporate interests see the potential money making opportunities in private, virtual and charter schools. They don't have student welfare in mind, they are looking to further line their pockets. They have all of us distracted and fighting against each other while they work on getting the money. The "little" people need to stop the infighting and work to help each other. See next comment for continuation.
change yourmind
8:58 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
continued:
Anyway, I've said enough, PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH, don't let others tell you the so-called truth, find your own truth. Hey, spend some time in the public schools, pay a visit, talk to some of the teachers, ask them about a typical day. Ask them how they try to make sure their students feel safe, valued and encouraged. Try subbing, volunteer, I am sure that you would be welcome with open arms. Then you can see for yourself how the money being spent.