Almost half of PA charter schools receive failing grade

[PA Democrat]

Students at almost half of all charter schools in Pennsylvania made significantly lower learning gains in math and reading than their traditional public school counterparts, according to a recent Stanford study.

WTAE in Pittsburgh recently aired an investigative report on Pennsylvania charter schools. Below is a partial transcript along with a link to the full report that was aired on Feb. 9.

Inside Pennsylvania's first charter school, students hustle from class to class. Keystone Education Center CEO James Gentile sounds more like a coach than teacher.

Gentile: "We're on the sidelines cheering you on. In between rounds, we'll sew your cuts and towel you down. But you're in the ring. When the bell rings, it's your game to win or lose."

But the grades here are failing. Keystone has the lowest standardized test scores of any charter or public school in southwestern Pennsylvania. Just 15 percent of students met the benchmarks last year for reading and math skills.

Full video here:
http://www.wtae.com/video/30422452/detail.html

[PA Democrat]

1. James Gentile's Keystone Education Center is a for-profit company

and is getting $3.4 million in tuition from Pennsylvania taxpayers. CEO Gentile is offended that he is accused of nepotism due to the fact that all FOUR of his sons are employed by the charter school.

Gentile sounds like he is more qualified to play the role of "Mick" the boxing coach in Rocky than to run a school.

[leftyohiolib]

2. all these scab schools ought to be flushed

[PA Democrat]

6. PA Governor Tom Corbett's largest campaign contributor

Vahan Gureghian operates the state's largest charter school.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10353/1111963-454.stm#ixzz1me9U7Y7Q

Corbett's actions as governor proves he cares much more deeply about his corporate masters than about the people of PA. The two industries that contributed the most to his campaign are the natural gas industry and for-profit schools. He has rewarded both extremely well.

[WCGreen]

3. I am shocked, I tell you shocked....

[Robb]

4. Link to the transcript:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46332909/ns/local_news-pittsburgh_pa/t/its-your-money-some-charter-schools-get-failing-grades/#.Tz5XqHKXTN4

[Starry Messenger]

5. This free market education hustle was a scam for tax dollars.

They are laughing all the way to the bank. Meanwhile, the kids are suffering from this "grand experiment". Sickening.

[d_r]

7. whoops

this is the crowd who coined the term "evidence-based practice" how's that sciency evidency thing workin for ya?

[MattBaggins]

8. Shut them down

just like they want to do to public schools.

[Dragonfli]

9. But Arnie Duncan says Charters are the way to race to the top

Shouldn't we just close some more public schools and make them ALL charters? That should fix it.

That way PA can race right to the top!!!!