Charter schools that don't enroll as many kids with disabilities or limited English as do traditional public schools would be shut down under a bill introduced by a top Democrat in the state Senate, The Post has learned.
State Senate Conference leader John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) has quietly introduced legislation that would revoke the state license of charter schools that don't meet a quota for enrolling special-needs kids over two consecutive years.
"A charter school must enroll the same or a greater percentage of students with disabilities and limited-English-proficient students when compared to the enrollment figures for such students in the school district in which the charter school is located," the bill states.
The bill -- which mirrors recommendations made by the United Federation of Teachers in January -- also has the backing of Assemblyman Alan Masiel (D-Brooklyn) and 19 other Assembly Democrats.
Just as charter operators do not want any outside independent oversight of the financing and management of schools, they also are opposed to any regulations regarding the type of students they enroll.
Because they know the advantage they have - enroll who they want, dump them when they no longer want them.
Dumping is also going on in high schools, where younger teachers have more difficult kids removed and those kids are dumped into a senior teacher's class. The department AP can then claim that the younger teacher is better. Nothing like juking the stats!!
ReplyDeleteThe flaw with this bill, it appears, is that they must "enroll" the kids--nothing says they have to retain them. And getting rid of kids with no consequences is one significant way KIPP has been able to juke the stats.
ReplyDeleteMs. Tsouris, I am the recipient of "behavior issues" from other teachers every semester. I have a reputation for working well with students who have 'tudes, so I usually end up with them. The only time I had students moved from my class was a few years ago when two girls had a blood feud and were going to kill each other if they both remained in my class. So one was switched elsewhere. But that had nothing to do with me and actually I liked and worked well with both.
ReplyDeleteGood point, NYC.
As a life-long Democrat I whole heartedly supported O'bama and the democrats. Recently I received a request for a donation which I returned advising that I could no longer support or donate to the party who's leader is anti-teacher and pro-reform at the expense of true educational advancement. I will look for candidates regardless of political party who will fight this corporate take over of public education.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what I just said in this post!
ReplyDeletehttp://perdidostreetschool.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-think-we-just-might-have-to-have.html
You're so right!