We're still Waiting for Superman here in Charterland: A charter parent speaks out

[Hannah Bell]

In the film “Waiting for Superman,” charters are held out as the potential saviors of our public school system, despite the fact that nationally, they do no better and often worse than district public schools... My family’s experience with Ross Global Academy (RGA) charter school is indicative of the problems that often hide behind the smoke and mirrors in Charterland...

Ross Global was founded by Courtney Ross in 2006. Ms. Ross is the wealthy widow of the Steve Ross, former head of Time Warner... On the school’s board sit many powerful and influential people. The walls of the school are covered with paintings and glossy nature photos, and the children are served gourmet meals with organic vegetables. They take music, dance and Chinese, and start the day with either yoga or t’ai chi. Michael Duffy, the former head of charter schools is quoted in the Forbes article as saying about Courtney Ross, “What she has done is remarkable.”

Yet the reality is quite different. There have been numerous problems with this school...Ms. Ross’ imperious and impulsive leadership style... a scandal linked to test tampering... 20 percent student attrition rate for each of the first three years of its operation... During 2009-2010... 91 out of 410 students had left RGA by February of 2010, because of bullying and the counseling out of special education students.

There has also been extremely high turnover of teachers... RGA is currently on its 7th principal in four years! Other teachers and top administrators have vanished, including the assistant principals from the middle and lower schools. Last June, my daughter was on her sixth English teacher of the year...Why should teachers leave in such high numbers if the charters create such ideal environments for teaching and learning...? My daughter’s 6th grade class performed horrifically. Only 9% of her class scored at grade level in ELA (the state average is 81%) and only 11% at grade level in math ( the state average is 61%)... I have since placed her in a district public school...

– Mariama Sanoh, Vice President of the NY Charter Parents Association

[rpannier]

1. K&R

I see the deformers are out already

[Hannah Bell]

2. always.

[dkf]

3. If it isn't successful it can be closed down.

Maybe this woman isn't suited to run a school. So be it.

[Starry Messenger]

4. k & r

[maryf]

5. K&R

Thank you!