See the letter to Governor Deval Patrick from CPS’s co-chairs asking that he use his powers to rescind the charter granted under “indefensible circumstances in Gloucester. → Read More
Save March 4 for CPS Annual Meeting
February 9, 2010 by
SAVE THE DATE – March 4, 2010
Please join us for our annual meeting, an event to honor community leaders and elect officers.
Citizens for Public Schools: Promoting Excellence and Equity in Education
Thursday, March 4, 2010, 5 – 7 p.m.
Refreshments will be served.
Location: Unitarian-Universalist Headquarters, 25 Beacon St., Boston
Activists for Public Schools Awards to be presented.
Click the “Donate Now” button to register and buy tickets. → Read More
“Closing Schools Solves Nothing,” by Diane Ravitch
February 3, 2010 by
[Posted with permission from Diane Ravitch.]
Although Diane Ravitch writes about school closings and charter conversions in NYC, her observations are relevant to Massachusetts and all states that have “raced to the trough” and lifted charter caps to get a short-term federal grant.
The headline “Closing Schools Solves Nothing,” expresses a profound problem with this process. If you have any doubt that this is relevant to us here in Massachusetts, talk to someone who’s been at recent Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meetings, where the consequences of the charter school experiment are written on the faces of parents confronted with a huge disruption in their children’s lives. Personally, I’ve never understood why it’s presented as a positive that charters can be shut down if they’re failing. Then what?
Diane points out who wins and who loses in this brave new world
This essay is part of an excellent ongoing dialogue between Diane Ravitch and Deborah Meier called “Building Bridges” and published regularly on the Education Week web site. → Read More
What’s New?
January 28, 2010 by
Go to our Charter Schools page to read two newly posted articles: “Charter lobby group details contributions” and “Charters: Students with Disabilities Need Not Apply?” → Read More
Deeply Flawed Education Bill Signed into Law
January 20, 2010 by
Dear CPS members:
The Governor signed the new education bill into law on Monday, January 18. Below is a summary of the bill from AFTMA (and a link to statements from the MTA). These comments are followed by a notice from the Pioneer Institute. As you will note, Pioneer Institute is concerned about charter schools having to fill empty seats with students on waiting lists or advertise their availability when there is no waiting list. CPS has fought for that provision. It may discourage them from pushing out students and sending them back to district schools. Public schools have to take students during the school year, charter schools should also have to also.
Marilyn Segal, Executive Director
Summary of Ed Reform Legislation, Prepared by the AFT-MASS
AN ACT TO REDUCE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP
THE EDUCATION LEGISLATION, KNOWN AS AN ACT TO REDUCE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, HAS PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE. → Read More
