Friday, March 05, 2010
Today's New York Post has an op-ed article (here) by me that discusses New York State's federal Race to the Top application being named among the sixteen "finalists."
The state Board of Regents and Education Commissioner did all they could to effectively position New York for a federal grant from this $4.35 billion competitive grant fund. But they cannot legislate. Today's Post op-ed urges the state legislature to adopt genuine education reforms now to break out of this pack send a message to Washington that New York will carry out its promised reforms.
There is nothing to lose and everything to gain by the legislature moving with alacrity. Either we increase our chances for the maximum grant now; or we better position the state competitively for resubmitting a grant for Round 2 applications in June.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
Twitter.com/PeterMurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
The state Board of Regents and Education Commissioner did all they could to effectively position New York for a federal grant from this $4.35 billion competitive grant fund. But they cannot legislate. Today's Post op-ed urges the state legislature to adopt genuine education reforms now to break out of this pack send a message to Washington that New York will carry out its promised reforms.
There is nothing to lose and everything to gain by the legislature moving with alacrity. Either we increase our chances for the maximum grant now; or we better position the state competitively for resubmitting a grant for Round 2 applications in June.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
Twitter.com/PeterMurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Charter School Teachers and UFT "Spin"
The charter school teachers pictured above were "applauded" by fellow teachers at a United Federation of Teachers delegate meeting on February 24, as reported in New York Teacher (here).
And what were these charter school teachers being applauded for by their colleagues? Why, for "backing the UFT's effort to reform" state law to supposedly bring more transparency to charter schools and make them more accessible to students at risk.
A respectful suggestion to these charter school teachers: if you haven't actually read this legislation, I suggest you do so before believing the UFT's spin. A fair reading of this bill will reveal that it not only stops virtually any new charter schools from being approved, but would saddle existing schools, including probably your own, from remaining fiscally viable to stay open and employ you and your colleagues.
In other words, this bill (A.9558), which had the backing of the teacher unions and the School Boards Association (which opposes charters) had a variety of "poison pills" that by design would be detrimental to charter schools - all the while cloaked in this phony veneer of "transparency and accountability."
If transparency and serving more special education students is the real objective of the UFT, those measures would have been approved since the charter school community had no objections to a variety of proposals, most of which codified existing administrative requirements on charter schools. For example, the Governor's revised Race to the Top bill (S.6470) and other pro-charter legislation contained these very provisions. These bills also included a real charter cap lift and other pro-charter measures designed to help the New York win $700 million in Race to the Top funding from the Obama administration, which supports charter schools.
Charter Teachers Should Know: UFT Cut Your School's Funding
Do these charter school teachers standing at this meeting agree with the UFT's successful effort-to freeze charter school funding this year? That UFT proposal adopted by the legislature denied charter schools -- and teachers' paychecks -- the formula funding increase that was due from the portion of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity funding that already was spent by New York City district schools, but not charters.
With the proposed state budget on the UFT's agenda, has the union come out against the Governor's proposal to continue this funding freeze on charter schools--at last year's levels--for next year? I've seen no evidence the UFT opposes this funding freeze, which would be consistent with its position to impose it in the first place.
This whole discussion led by UFT head Michael Mulgrew on chartering is so deceptive and fraudulent, it is difficult to actually resolve issues and arrive at consensus. But, we're all adults here, and you can research the facts of this charter school legislation backed by the UFT - or believe his lyin' eyes.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
Twitter.com/PeterMurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
And what were these charter school teachers being applauded for by their colleagues? Why, for "backing the UFT's effort to reform" state law to supposedly bring more transparency to charter schools and make them more accessible to students at risk.
A respectful suggestion to these charter school teachers: if you haven't actually read this legislation, I suggest you do so before believing the UFT's spin. A fair reading of this bill will reveal that it not only stops virtually any new charter schools from being approved, but would saddle existing schools, including probably your own, from remaining fiscally viable to stay open and employ you and your colleagues.
In other words, this bill (A.9558), which had the backing of the teacher unions and the School Boards Association (which opposes charters) had a variety of "poison pills" that by design would be detrimental to charter schools - all the while cloaked in this phony veneer of "transparency and accountability."
If transparency and serving more special education students is the real objective of the UFT, those measures would have been approved since the charter school community had no objections to a variety of proposals, most of which codified existing administrative requirements on charter schools. For example, the Governor's revised Race to the Top bill (S.6470) and other pro-charter legislation contained these very provisions. These bills also included a real charter cap lift and other pro-charter measures designed to help the New York win $700 million in Race to the Top funding from the Obama administration, which supports charter schools.
Charter Teachers Should Know: UFT Cut Your School's Funding
Do these charter school teachers standing at this meeting agree with the UFT's successful effort-to freeze charter school funding this year? That UFT proposal adopted by the legislature denied charter schools -- and teachers' paychecks -- the formula funding increase that was due from the portion of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity funding that already was spent by New York City district schools, but not charters.
With the proposed state budget on the UFT's agenda, has the union come out against the Governor's proposal to continue this funding freeze on charter schools--at last year's levels--for next year? I've seen no evidence the UFT opposes this funding freeze, which would be consistent with its position to impose it in the first place.
This whole discussion led by UFT head Michael Mulgrew on chartering is so deceptive and fraudulent, it is difficult to actually resolve issues and arrive at consensus. But, we're all adults here, and you can research the facts of this charter school legislation backed by the UFT - or believe his lyin' eyes.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
Twitter.com/PeterMurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
New York in the "Sweet Sixteen" Race to the Top - Who Knew!?
The U.S. Department of Education today announced the "finalists" for Round 1 of the Race to the Top competition for its $4 billion pot of money. New York is one of 16 finalists (15 states and D.C.).
Now, it's better to be in the running than not -- or is it?
Today's announcement awards no money; that's still five weeks away, in mid-April. Since there were 40 states and D.C. in the competition, a little more than half the states were lopped off and have a chance to reapply for Round 2 by June 1st.
New York's Race to the Top application reflected extensive policy changes by the Regents, adopted during its November and December meetings. The Regents' recommendations for legislative changes, however, went nowhere as the legislature--the Senate, actually--was stalemated. Considering the sham, anti-charter legislation that was on track for approval by the Assembly, the stalemate was the best outcome at the time.
In effect, New York's Race to the Top application is half a loaf, but enough to make the "sweet 16" of finalists.
The worst of outcomes would be if New York won a Round 1 award of some paltry sum since winning in Round 1 makes a state ineligible for a second try for a higher grant in Round 2. If New York cannot win the maximum $700 million award now--which is highly unlikely--the state is better off forgoing a smaller grant for the time being, enacting substantive education reforms, and reapplying for the maximum award in June.
The best outcome? Adopt legislative reforms now. The Race to the Top criteria technically does not consider changes after submission of Round 1 applications during their review process. Yet there is everything to be gained by enacting reforms sooner rather than later since the Obama administration will surely notice the legislature finally taking its comprehensive education reform agenda seriously.
In a tight competition among the final 16, anything helps. Oh, and did I say New York State needs every cent of that $700 million - like, right now?
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
Twitter.com/PeterMurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
Now, it's better to be in the running than not -- or is it?
Today's announcement awards no money; that's still five weeks away, in mid-April. Since there were 40 states and D.C. in the competition, a little more than half the states were lopped off and have a chance to reapply for Round 2 by June 1st.
New York's Race to the Top application reflected extensive policy changes by the Regents, adopted during its November and December meetings. The Regents' recommendations for legislative changes, however, went nowhere as the legislature--the Senate, actually--was stalemated. Considering the sham, anti-charter legislation that was on track for approval by the Assembly, the stalemate was the best outcome at the time.
In effect, New York's Race to the Top application is half a loaf, but enough to make the "sweet 16" of finalists.
The worst of outcomes would be if New York won a Round 1 award of some paltry sum since winning in Round 1 makes a state ineligible for a second try for a higher grant in Round 2. If New York cannot win the maximum $700 million award now--which is highly unlikely--the state is better off forgoing a smaller grant for the time being, enacting substantive education reforms, and reapplying for the maximum award in June.
The best outcome? Adopt legislative reforms now. The Race to the Top criteria technically does not consider changes after submission of Round 1 applications during their review process. Yet there is everything to be gained by enacting reforms sooner rather than later since the Obama administration will surely notice the legislature finally taking its comprehensive education reform agenda seriously.
In a tight competition among the final 16, anything helps. Oh, and did I say New York State needs every cent of that $700 million - like, right now?
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
Twitter.com/PeterMurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
New York Times Magazine Profile on Quality Teaching with NYCSA Trustee, Doug Lemov
This Sunday's New York Times Magazine includes a lengthy article entitled "Building a Better Teacher," by Elizabeth Green, the editor of GothamSchools.org. It's previewed on-line here and features Doug Lemov, the head of the True North Public Schools Network, a division of Uncommon Schools, which operates high-performing charter middle schools in Rochester and Troy.
This also is Ms. Green's first article in the Times magazine, so congratulations to her.
Doug Lemov also is a board member of the New York Charter Schools Association, so it's especially delightful to see his talent and accomplishments discussed in such a major publication as the Times magazine. He also has provided valuable presentations on teaching and classroom management to charter school operators at the annual charter schools conference sponsored by the Association.
Impressive Background & Accomplishments
Mr. Lemov has an impressive biography. My first contact with him came when he was the founding principal of the Academy of the Pacific Rim, a high-performing charter school in Boston which, among other unique qualities, teaches Mandarin Chinese. In 1999, when I worked at the State University Charter Schools Institute, Mr. Lemov assisted us as an outside reviewer of charter school applications that had poured into SUNY in those days. Charter schools were brand new to SUNY and its fledgling Charter Schools Institute recruited several successful charter school operators to assist in evaluating applications for new charters. In 2000, he was hired by the Institute as its Vice President overseeing charter schools' academic accountability.
Subsequently, Mr. Lemov got his MBA at Harvard, then returned to the Albany area as the first director of School Performance, Inc., which provided assessment and other technical assistance to most of the charter schools in Albany that are supported by the Brighter Choice Foundation.
Educational Excellence for Upstate
I believe that True North Charter Schools has a great vision to bring public educational excellence to upstate urban school districts, which desperately need it but often fall below the radar of highly visible areas of New York City and the Albany state capital. Upstate should be so fortunate.
If you haven't visited a charter school operated by the True North Public Schools Network, you should. You are guaranteed to learn something new and impressive.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
Twitter.com/PeterMurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
This also is Ms. Green's first article in the Times magazine, so congratulations to her.
Doug Lemov also is a board member of the New York Charter Schools Association, so it's especially delightful to see his talent and accomplishments discussed in such a major publication as the Times magazine. He also has provided valuable presentations on teaching and classroom management to charter school operators at the annual charter schools conference sponsored by the Association.
Impressive Background & Accomplishments
Mr. Lemov has an impressive biography. My first contact with him came when he was the founding principal of the Academy of the Pacific Rim, a high-performing charter school in Boston which, among other unique qualities, teaches Mandarin Chinese. In 1999, when I worked at the State University Charter Schools Institute, Mr. Lemov assisted us as an outside reviewer of charter school applications that had poured into SUNY in those days. Charter schools were brand new to SUNY and its fledgling Charter Schools Institute recruited several successful charter school operators to assist in evaluating applications for new charters. In 2000, he was hired by the Institute as its Vice President overseeing charter schools' academic accountability.
Subsequently, Mr. Lemov got his MBA at Harvard, then returned to the Albany area as the first director of School Performance, Inc., which provided assessment and other technical assistance to most of the charter schools in Albany that are supported by the Brighter Choice Foundation.
Educational Excellence for Upstate
I believe that True North Charter Schools has a great vision to bring public educational excellence to upstate urban school districts, which desperately need it but often fall below the radar of highly visible areas of New York City and the Albany state capital. Upstate should be so fortunate.
If you haven't visited a charter school operated by the True North Public Schools Network, you should. You are guaranteed to learn something new and impressive.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
Twitter.com/PeterMurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
Monday, March 01, 2010
So Conventional: "Law & Order" Attacks Charter Schools
Charter schools have truly arrived.
The teacher unions attack them.
Elected officials attack them.
Now, the television series, "Law & Order," in its twentieth year, attacks charters during the new episode aired Monday evening.
Law & Order's executive producer, Dick Wolf, is getting more shrill with each season, using his show for political attacks and cementing stereotypes. Charter schools are now in his cross-hairs, with claims aired last night that charter schools take the smart kids, have more resources, and leave the "stupid" kids in the district schools. And, yes, the bullying prosecutor threatens a district school principal (portrayed by actress Debra Winger, whose career peaked in the early 1980s) that if she didn't cooperate, the mayor and chancellor will (paraphrasing) "break up your school into six charter schools."
In fact, charter schools are so bad, so unfair, that Law & Order portrays a bunch of district school students killing a charter school student. Imagine that, those poor district kids were treated so unfairly; why, they were provoked to murder!
Too bad Dick Wolf falls for such establishment nonsense, and spreads it on the airwaves. He used to be more subtle, and clever. Oh, for the Law & Order days of Jerry Orbach and Steven Hill - I'm sticking to the reruns.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
Twitter.com/PeterMurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
More Wine! (For the Children) - Ed Reform? Nah.
Should the Captain be let into the grocery, too?
For the Ed Blob, it probably beats real reform.
For the Ed Blob, it probably beats real reform.
For most of New York's education establishment, wine trumps reform.
In an impressive display of letterhead from the state's education blob, the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and it's largest chapter, the UFT of New York City; together with their press release partners, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and the Alliance for Quality Education, announced their collective support for Governor Paterson's proposal to allow wine to be sold in grocery stores (here).
What, might you ask, does making wine more convenient to purchase have to do with education? The answer is the same to the question, 'what makes the world go 'round?'
Cash.
Funding Cuts Loom for Education
After years of large spending increases, education funding for school districts is likely to take a once in a generation whack at the state level. District schools, at least, will get another chunk of federal ARRA funds (aka, "Stimulus") and can tax more locally, if they choose. By contrast, charter schools, which already get less funding, took a hit this year thanks to these same education groups. Charters only get a trickle of ARRA funds and cannot tax locally. The upshot is that charter schools will be forced to live on 2008-09 funding levels, which is demanded of no school district.
But, back to wine. The education blob is so desperate for more cash, and cannot bear to live on charter funding levels from two years prior, they've now come out for more wine consumption from a greater availability in grocery stores. How much of the projected $300 million in basically one-time franchise fees from grocers selling wine find its way for education? Certainly not all of it since cuts were made in all state programs.
Education Reform Gets More $ Than New Wine Sales
It's also rather twisted that NYSUT et.al. would rather shill for wine in grocery stores than for real education reforms that would result in more than twice the revenue for the state from the Race to the Top program -- and all for education.
With the likely loss of federal RttT funding, it's a wonder the education blob stopped with just wine, and isn't also demanding vodka, gin, scotch, whiskey, triple sec, Kahlua, rum, Bailey's, grain alcohol and every other liquor and spirits be sold in grocery stores.
In an impressive display of letterhead from the state's education blob, the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and it's largest chapter, the UFT of New York City; together with their press release partners, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and the Alliance for Quality Education, announced their collective support for Governor Paterson's proposal to allow wine to be sold in grocery stores (here).
What, might you ask, does making wine more convenient to purchase have to do with education? The answer is the same to the question, 'what makes the world go 'round?'
Cash.
Funding Cuts Loom for Education
After years of large spending increases, education funding for school districts is likely to take a once in a generation whack at the state level. District schools, at least, will get another chunk of federal ARRA funds (aka, "Stimulus") and can tax more locally, if they choose. By contrast, charter schools, which already get less funding, took a hit this year thanks to these same education groups. Charters only get a trickle of ARRA funds and cannot tax locally. The upshot is that charter schools will be forced to live on 2008-09 funding levels, which is demanded of no school district.
But, back to wine. The education blob is so desperate for more cash, and cannot bear to live on charter funding levels from two years prior, they've now come out for more wine consumption from a greater availability in grocery stores. How much of the projected $300 million in basically one-time franchise fees from grocers selling wine find its way for education? Certainly not all of it since cuts were made in all state programs.
Education Reform Gets More $ Than New Wine Sales
It's also rather twisted that NYSUT et.al. would rather shill for wine in grocery stores than for real education reforms that would result in more than twice the revenue for the state from the Race to the Top program -- and all for education.
With the likely loss of federal RttT funding, it's a wonder the education blob stopped with just wine, and isn't also demanding vodka, gin, scotch, whiskey, triple sec, Kahlua, rum, Bailey's, grain alcohol and every other liquor and spirits be sold in grocery stores.
Let's keep it to wine. Having shopped in 49 states in the union, lots of them (35, to be exact) sell wine in grocery stores. It's reasonable for New York to allow for this and, as the Psalmist says, "wine maketh glad the heart of man" (104:15).
Still, count me as sardonic at the visual of New York's education establishment caring more about wine on grocery store shelves than for education reforms to benefit students and generate a lot more revenue for the state's education budget.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
Twitter.com/PeterMurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Prospective State Finalists for Race to the Top Grants
The U.S. Department of Education this coming week is expected to announce which states are finalists for the first round of federal Race to the Top grants.
Tom Carroll of the New York Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability reviewed each of the 40 state applications and predicts what he believes will be seven states likely to get awards. Hint: New York is not among them.
Mr. Carroll's analysis was published in the City Journal here.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
twitter.com/petermurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
Tom Carroll of the New York Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability reviewed each of the 40 state applications and predicts what he believes will be seven states likely to get awards. Hint: New York is not among them.
Mr. Carroll's analysis was published in the City Journal here.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
twitter.com/petermurphy26
Facebook: "Chalkboard Nycsa"
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Anti-Charter Columnist's Eva Obsession Continues
Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez is obsessed with Eva Moskowitz, a former member of the New York City Council and now charter school founder and operator.
This obsession predates my postings on The Chalkboard, the first of which discussed this very topic in early March of last year (here). Mr. Gonzalez's problem then was that private sector folk chose to pay Ms. Moskowitz well for creating and operating a network of successful public schools. I'm not sure what price one puts on inner-city minority children learning and achieving better than they would have otherwise, but that joyful outcome is thankfully worth the investment to those who support the Success Charter Network.
I'm not aware of any establishment figure ever criticizing Bill Gates or the late Walter Annenberg for pouring millions of dollars into traditional public education, regardless of the outcome. But, invest in charter schools governed by a performance contract to improve student learning and achievement, and you'll receive unhealthy envy and scorn from the likes of Mr. Gonzalez, UFT boss Michael Mulgrew (here), and Harlem state Senator Bill Perkins, to name three - the consumate defenders of what Ms. Moskowitz describes as the "union-political-educational complex."
Mr. Gonzalez's latest column this week (here) pretends to have a smoking gun from email exchanges between Eva Moskowitz and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein regarding Ms. Moskowitz's efforts to secure more district space for the charter schools she operates through the Success Charter Network. The city last year unsuccessfully sought to close Public Schools 194 and 241 in Harlem due to the political pushback from the Chancellor's plan to locate charter schools in those spaces.
City Provides Buildings Becuase of No Charter Facilities Aid
Mr. Gonzalez mentions that New York City is "one of the few" that provide free space to--egads!-- public charter schools. But he fails to acknowledge the reason; that is, charter schools do not get facilities aid. This amounts to a funding inequity of between $3,017 (IBO) to $3,432 (DOE) per student based on separate analyses released this week respectively by the Independent Budget Office and the city Department of Education. For those charters located in district space, still there is a funding gap of between $305 (IBO) and $877 (DOE) less per charter student.
Dealing with Charters Co-locations and District School Closures
As for closing public schools, charter schools understand it's part of the bargain and the risk of operating. If charters do not fulfill their contractual and statutory obligations, they risk closure. District schools are not used to such accountability, with the latest DOE effort provoking a lawsuit by that bastion of no accountability, the United Federation of Teachers. So, here's two suggestions respectively to minimize district school closures and charter co-locations in DOE space:
1) Empower the Chancellor to directly remove the existing staff at a school slated for closure and and hire new staff for the school to operate outside the existing UFT collective bargaining agreement. The employee contacts should be replaced with with brand new ones from scratch; or, not exist at all so the school operates like most of the country: at-will employment. That way, parents attached to the neighborhood, zoned school will still have it to send their children but under new management and staff working in a new accountability structure conducive to a genuine and rapid improvment.
2) Charter schools should receive state facilities aid of at least $3,000 per student to invest in getting space privately or, if using DOE space, pay this facilities aid to the school district treasury as lease payments.
As long as neither of these approaches is in place, conflicts will continue and students will lose out in the current arrangements where chronically low-performing district schools remain and successful charters cannot expand.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
(see me Twitter @ PeterMurphy26 &
get "Chalkboard Nycsa" on Facebook)
This obsession predates my postings on The Chalkboard, the first of which discussed this very topic in early March of last year (here). Mr. Gonzalez's problem then was that private sector folk chose to pay Ms. Moskowitz well for creating and operating a network of successful public schools. I'm not sure what price one puts on inner-city minority children learning and achieving better than they would have otherwise, but that joyful outcome is thankfully worth the investment to those who support the Success Charter Network.
I'm not aware of any establishment figure ever criticizing Bill Gates or the late Walter Annenberg for pouring millions of dollars into traditional public education, regardless of the outcome. But, invest in charter schools governed by a performance contract to improve student learning and achievement, and you'll receive unhealthy envy and scorn from the likes of Mr. Gonzalez, UFT boss Michael Mulgrew (here), and Harlem state Senator Bill Perkins, to name three - the consumate defenders of what Ms. Moskowitz describes as the "union-political-educational complex."
Mr. Gonzalez's latest column this week (here) pretends to have a smoking gun from email exchanges between Eva Moskowitz and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein regarding Ms. Moskowitz's efforts to secure more district space for the charter schools she operates through the Success Charter Network. The city last year unsuccessfully sought to close Public Schools 194 and 241 in Harlem due to the political pushback from the Chancellor's plan to locate charter schools in those spaces.
City Provides Buildings Becuase of No Charter Facilities Aid
Mr. Gonzalez mentions that New York City is "one of the few" that provide free space to--egads!-- public charter schools. But he fails to acknowledge the reason; that is, charter schools do not get facilities aid. This amounts to a funding inequity of between $3,017 (IBO) to $3,432 (DOE) per student based on separate analyses released this week respectively by the Independent Budget Office and the city Department of Education. For those charters located in district space, still there is a funding gap of between $305 (IBO) and $877 (DOE) less per charter student.
Dealing with Charters Co-locations and District School Closures
As for closing public schools, charter schools understand it's part of the bargain and the risk of operating. If charters do not fulfill their contractual and statutory obligations, they risk closure. District schools are not used to such accountability, with the latest DOE effort provoking a lawsuit by that bastion of no accountability, the United Federation of Teachers. So, here's two suggestions respectively to minimize district school closures and charter co-locations in DOE space:
1) Empower the Chancellor to directly remove the existing staff at a school slated for closure and and hire new staff for the school to operate outside the existing UFT collective bargaining agreement. The employee contacts should be replaced with with brand new ones from scratch; or, not exist at all so the school operates like most of the country: at-will employment. That way, parents attached to the neighborhood, zoned school will still have it to send their children but under new management and staff working in a new accountability structure conducive to a genuine and rapid improvment.
2) Charter schools should receive state facilities aid of at least $3,000 per student to invest in getting space privately or, if using DOE space, pay this facilities aid to the school district treasury as lease payments.
As long as neither of these approaches is in place, conflicts will continue and students will lose out in the current arrangements where chronically low-performing district schools remain and successful charters cannot expand.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
(see me Twitter @ PeterMurphy26 &
get "Chalkboard Nycsa" on Facebook)
Friday, February 26, 2010
Gov. Paterson is Not Running for Governor
Governor David Paterson will announce today that he is not running for Governor this year. It's everywhere in the news.
The Governor's administration is engulfed in a scandal involving allegations of interference in a domestic violence dispute involving a top aide to the Governor. This bombshell story was reported in the New York Times this week (here). The interference allegations involve the State Police and the Governor himself.
Speculation abounds whether the Governor will resign from office. If he does, the appointed Lieutenant Governor, Richard Ravitch, will assume office. My own view is that such speculation is very premature and that a Paterson resignation is highly unlikely, at least in the near term.
The matter involving interference in this domestic violence dispute will be under investigation by the state Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo (who also is widely expected to run for Governor). Barring clear and convincing evidence of wrongdoing by the Governor (which likely would not be know for weeks or months), he will serve out his term of office which expires this December 31st.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
The Governor's administration is engulfed in a scandal involving allegations of interference in a domestic violence dispute involving a top aide to the Governor. This bombshell story was reported in the New York Times this week (here). The interference allegations involve the State Police and the Governor himself.
Speculation abounds whether the Governor will resign from office. If he does, the appointed Lieutenant Governor, Richard Ravitch, will assume office. My own view is that such speculation is very premature and that a Paterson resignation is highly unlikely, at least in the near term.
The matter involving interference in this domestic violence dispute will be under investigation by the state Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo (who also is widely expected to run for Governor). Barring clear and convincing evidence of wrongdoing by the Governor (which likely would not be know for weeks or months), he will serve out his term of office which expires this December 31st.
Peter Murphy
for The Chalkboard
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- Charter School Teachers and UFT "Spin"
- New York in the "Sweet Sixteen" Race to the Top - ...
- New York Times Magazine Profile on Quality Teachin...
- So Conventional: "Law & Order" Attacks Charter Sc...
- More Wine! (For the Children) - Ed Reform? Nah.
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- Anti-Charter Columnist's Eva Obsession Continues
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Disclaimer: The Chalkboard is hosted by the New York Charter Schools Association (NYCSA) as a place where members, public education advocates and others can view and respond to informed commentary on timely public education and charter school issues. The views expressed here are not necessarily the official views of the NYCSA, its board, or of any of its individual charter school members. Anyone who claims otherwise is violating the spirit and purpose of this blog. To comment on anything you read here, or to offer tips, advice, comments, or complaints. please contact TheChalkboard.