While charter school rules provide only a fraction of the points that count toward winning, Kentucky is likely behind the other states on that part of the competition. An e-mail question today led me to go check on charters in the other fifteen states who have gotten this far. The answer I found was that all the other finalists have charter schools, though the numbers reported (here) vary pretty dramatically:
- 416 charter schools in Florida
- 328 in Ohio
- 157 in Colorado
- 144 in New York
- 135 in Pennsylvania
- 96 in North Carolina
- 85 in Georgia
- 77 in Louisiana
- 62 in Massachusetts
- 57 in the District of Columbia
- 39 in Illinois
- 39 in South Carolina
- 22 in Tennessee
- 18 in Delaware
- 13 in Rhode Island
I'd be more concerned about this issue if the Charter school component of the Obama administration didn't seem to be losing momentum. What many of us are concerned about is the disconnect that our elected officials in Frankfort seem to have with the children of the Commonwealth. In the House, legislation passes to provide preschoolers with books, In the senate they plan to balance the budget by eliminating two days out of the calendar. Right hand/left hand. No balance.
ReplyDeleteI interviewed Terry Holliday recently and my takeaway from our conversation was that Kentucky's strength was it's longtime college-preparedness focus. Also, Dr. Holliday seems to advocate higher level administration accountability for teacher and student success.
ReplyDeleteMr. Holliday should ask his superindents 'how often they spend a full day in 6 schools in their jurisdiction?'.
ReplyDeleteAnd how is the organization developed to bring innovative thinking in teaching, and student comfortness; top down or bottom up.
Why is it bringing new creative ways to engage students, not promoted, or expanded..when there is found success?