Update: Catherine Ferguson Academy to stay open, continue as charter school

[warrior1]

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/06/16/6874186-update-catherine-ferguson-academy-to-stay-open-continue-as-charter-school

[Parker CA]

1. Great news! Good on Maddow for bringing so much attention to this story! She should be very proud

today! The videos clips from the students last night were great, and true testaments to the value of their school and environment there.

[aquart]

2. Charter? Who's going to be making the profit?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. My eyebrows are flying upwards -

Sounds good on the surface, but the devil is ALWAYS in the details.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Most charter schools are not for profit

[aquart]

10. Uh....Charter schools are privatized schools, aren't they?

Why do it if not for money?

[Dragonfli]

11. Pure altruism of course, didn't you get the memo? Just like with the medical insurance companies /nt

[TheWraith]

12. Why does the Red Cross operate? Why does any nonprofit group operate?

For the sake of operating.

[aquart]

14. And Santa gives out toys for the love of giving.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

[TheWraith]

20. Are you asserting nonprofit groups operate on a for-profit basis? nt

[aquart]

21. You haven't kept up with the American Red Cross, have you?

Or some of its fine local chapters?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. Not entirely, depends on the state/jurisdiction

The charter school movement started with educators wanting the freedom to explore/use different approaches to address needs not currently being met by the one size fits all oriented public system. They were single school efforts run by dedicated educators. Some of that has changed, but the last set of stats I saw had the majority of charter schools still singletons and not being run for profit by corps.

Take a close look at this case. The EFM decreed it would close. The staff who pioneered the unique environment to meet unique needs is electing to take it charter to preserve its mission. They are walking away from their seniority and benefits to do so. Does not sound like they are in it for the $$$. Rachel does not have a track record of support for profit education either.

Not all charters are bad or evil...and originally none of them were.

[knitter4democracy]

18. The charter I teach in is managed by the local school district.

There's no money, especially with the governor getting his cut of $477/pupil so he can hand out billions in tax breaks to his buddies. We're having to massively expand just to try to stay afloat.

The only way to make money in charter schools is to screw the teachers (we're union, though the state says we don't have tenure any more), screw the students, and cook the books. Some unscrupulous groups do that, and the corporations that run many definitely do that, but not all charters are run like that. Mine isn't.

[SoCalDem]

3. Yay.. When I first saw the story, I wondered why no one had come to the rescue

This sounds like a school that should have been "adopted" by Oprah or a bunch of people.. I'm glad they saved it

[Scuba]

5. The school absolutely deserves to be saved. The word "charter" bothers me though.....

....I really like "public".

[Brickbat]

6. Sad it's not staying public. I hope it continues to provide a haven for these young women.

[Tx4obama]

7. Very happy to hear it will stay open, but not happy about the 'charter' part. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. That was the plan all along. This is not news.

It's also not great.

[Raine]

13. My first thought was "Yaaaaah" ... but Charter? Makes me worry it's not a good thing

I hope I'm wrong. :yoiks:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. It is charter or lose the unique mission it serves

Blame the EFM for this one. It appears the staff is willing to take the cuts to maintain what they have built. That should speak volumes.

It is not clear that it will survive as it was...time and budget will tell. However this is not a case of a for profit educorp moving in and displacing a functional public school.

[malaise]

17. Great news

Rec

[AtomicKitten]

19. Wonderful. Kudos to Rachel for pressing this most worthy cause.