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REGIONAL: Charter schools struggle for more diversity
State data shows enrollment is disproportionately white
By STACY BRANDT - Staff Writer | ∞
From left, ninth graders Nicole Guiltinan, Oxala Da Silva and Niki Beggs prepare to take a quiz during honors English class last week at Guajome Park Academy in Vista. Guajome Park is one of the most racially diverse charter schools in North County, according to state data. (Photo by Bill Wechter - staff photographer) 
Seventh graders hang out together between classes at Guajome Park Academy last week. Guajome Park is one of the most racially diverse charter schools in North County, according to state data. (Photo by Bill Wechter - staff photographer) NORTH COUNTY ---- Enrollment at many local charter schools is disproportionately white when compared with other schools in the region, according to enrollment numbers from the California Department of Education.
Roughly 45 percent of students in North County are white, but at charter schools, white students make up about 60 percent of the population on average, according to an examination of state data by the North County Times.
Charter school officials said their programs are open to everyone and the differences in demographics could be caused by economic, transportation-related or cultural factors. State law doesn't require schools to be racially balanced.
The issue has been a concern since California's first charter schools opened in 1993, said Ken Noonan, former superintendent of Oceanside Unified and a member of the State Board of Education. He said some educators were concerned from the start that charter programs would lead many white parents to move their children out of increasingly nonwhite schools.
At least to a certain extent, that may be happening here, the state numbers show.
On average, Latinos make up 30 percent of charter school students in North County, but 38 percent of students overall, according to the state data. Other races tend to have fairly proportionate representation in the charter schools.
Charter schools are tax-supported public schools, but they operate independently of their chartering school districts. Unlike typical public schools, charter schools don't have attendance boundaries and guaranteed enrollment so they must recruit students to stay in business.
Charter schools should strive to be racially balanced, but parents have the ultimate choice in whether their child attends a charter or a traditional school, Noonan said.
"Parental choice doesn't always lead to equality," he said.
Numbers
According to the state numbers, the differences in enrollment at charter schools and typical public schools are particularly stark in the Escondido and Oceanside school districts, which have the highest percentage of Latino students.
At the Classical Academy charter school in Escondido, the student population is 9 percent Latino and 78 percent white. In the surrounding Escondido Union School District, 65 percent of the students are Latino and 26 percent white.
The percentages at Oceanside's Coastal Academy, the Classical Academy's sister school, were nearly identical.
Other charter schools in the region are a bit more balanced racially, though most of them have a lower percentage of Latino students than their surrounding districts and a higher percentage of whites.
Oceanside's School of Business and Technology has one of the highest percentages of Latinos among charter schools in North County with 51 percent. Still, even that number is slightly below the district's average of 54 percent.
The only real exceptions to this trend are two small charter schools on the Pala and Rincon reservations that cater mostly to American Indians.
Across the state, 49 percent of students are Latino, while only 39 percent of those in charter schools are.
At the same time, the percentage of white students in charter schools across the state is the same as their overall percentage in public schools, 36 percent.
The racial makeup of charter schools isn't something the state keeps an eye on, though the schools agree in their charters to do whatever possible to represent the area in which they're located, said Gary Page, the state Department of Education's liaison with charter schools south of Los Angeles County.
"The expectation is that they will have in their charter a description of how they will go out and recruit," he said.
Finding students
When the Coastal Academy opened in 2003, the organizers tried to bring in students from all walks of life by presenting information in English and Spanish to various community centers and churches, said Cameron Curry, chief business officer for the school and Classical Academy.
"Our door is open to everyone," Curry said. "Obviously, you can't twist arms and say 'Get in the car. You're coming over here.' "
Vista's Guajome Park Academy has helped to bring in a diverse student body in part by hiring diverse educators, said Carla Skaggs, the school's chief business officer.
More than 30 percent of the school's students are Latino, which is relatively high compared with other charter schools in the area. Still, that number is low compared with the Vista Unified School District, which is 52 percent Latino.
School officials consider it a priority to make sure that the students at the school reflect the surrounding community, Skaggs said.
"We work really hard to reach out to the community," she said. "It doesn't matter what their ethnicity is, we're educating kids and that's really what it's all about."
Awareness
If school district would do a better job of letting parents know about all of their scholastic options, there would probably be more Latinos sending their children to charter schools, Curry said.
"There are still those in our community who may not understand who we are, what we do and who we serve," he said.
Robert Rivas, founder of Encuentros Leadership of North County San Diego, said he thinks it's up to the charter schools to reach out to Latinos. The Encuentros group focuses on educational issues with Latino boys.
Transportation can be an issue, as many of the charter campuses are located in remote locations outside of residential areas.
Latinos tend to send their children to whichever school is closest, Rivas said.
"For many families, sending our child to school is just, 'Let's see, which bus picks us up,' " he said.
In recent years, public focus has shifted from wanting diverse schools to wanting schools with stronger ties to their surrounding neighborhoods, which are often not very diverse, Noonan said.
Parental involvement
Many charter schools require more parental involvement than a typical public school and that can make economics a factor in whether parents choose a charter program, said Gary Larson, president of the California Charter School Association.
Several of the area's biggest charter schools serve children who are taught at home at least a few days a week. At those schools ---- including the Classical Academy, Coastal Academy and Eagles Peak Charter School ---- students attend classes at the campus only two days a week.
Half of the students at Classical and Coastal academies were completely home schooled before they enrolled in the charter program, Curry said. The other half attended various public and private schools.
The majority of parents who home school their children are white, said Brian Ray, President of the National Home Education Research Institute.
This is largely a matter of economics, he said. At least one parent needs to be around the house much of the day to home school, which often means working part time or being a stay-at-home parent.
Also, he said, wealthier people tend to be more aware of the educational options that are available.
"I think, overall, people of high socioeconomic status figure out their choices more," he said.
'Each one is unique'
Janet Bledsoe Lacy, president of the Oceanside Unified School District board, said trustees are concerned about the lack of diversity at some of the local charter schools, but that there's not much they can do about it.
School boards provide some oversight of schools chartered through their district, but the schools are almost completely independent and often compete with the districts for many of the same students and the state money attached to them.
"We're in a business that has competition because of charters," Bledsoe Lacy said. "I don't want to go out and increase their enrollment at the sacrifice of our students, in order to cure the diversity issues that they've got."
Because charter schools often have unique focuses, each might draws different types of students, said Page, with the state Department of Education.
Some charter schools focus on preparing students for college, while others may work with more at risk student trying to bring back dropouts or teach vocational skills, he said.
"It's hard to generalize," Page said. "Each one is unique and intended to be innovative."
Contact staff writer Stacy Brandt at (760) 901-4009 or sbrandt@nctimes.com.
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Maybe because wrote on May 23, 2008 1:56 PM:in Charter schools my child doesn't have to waste time sitting around while the teacher tries to translate something in spanish for a child who doesn't know english. We would like our children to graduate at a age prior to retirement if at all possible.
Mary wrote on May 23, 2008 2:03 PM:Anyone shocked at this finding probably believed there was no gambling at Rick's in Casablanca, too.
Ejukated reedur wrote on May 23, 2008 4:00 PM:"Because charter schools often have unique focuses, each might draw different types of students", said Page, with the state Department of Education.
Unlike regular public schools, parents must care enough to research the emphasis of a given charter school, then apply for their child to be enrolled. The demographic make-up is not and should not be relevant.
Guajome Park wrote on May 23, 2008 4:33 PM:is a "project based learning" school.It's 6-12. Kids learn by doing and giving presentations. Parents need to commit to 30 hours of service per year to the school/community. I did research on all options for middle and high school. I found GPA to be the best fit. The focus, location and number of students were my reasons. PLUS there is not a radical adjustment from middle to high school as that's already their school :)
Floyd wrote on May 23, 2008 11:49 PM:Unless there is a finding of racial discrimination in the admission policy of the school, there's no issue here.
COLLUSION wrote on May 24, 2008 12:34 AM:Interviewing Rivas for this article is rather idiotic. Try interviewing Rivas for an article about Ritalin, conflict of interests, California Endowment grants, the firing of cartoonists, using members of the California Legislation to intimidate newspaper reporters, editors etc...
So NCT are you chicken?
TO Guajome Park wrote on May 24, 2008 1:20 AM:It is a good thing you did some serious research, perhaps you should have read the North County Times articles as well.
Guajome Park Academy, Inc. v. Beau DuPerry; David McCulloch District of California Case Number 3:06CV00658
North County Times Articles
Changes at Guajome Academy Ripple onto Web
Guajome Park Academy Seeks to Expand Lawsuit
MLRC's Legal Actions and Developments Involving Blogs
GUAJOME PARK ACADEMY VS. SANFORD SHERMAN
37-2008-00052832-CU-HR-NC North County Filed 04/03/2008
Segregation wrote on May 24, 2008 6:44 AM:is alive and well - it's called private school, where my goes so she doesn't waste time with others who can't assimilate and speak English!
Rocky Road wrote on May 24, 2008 7:37 AM:Rocky Chavez is so busy being a politician his TECH School is barely over the 100 number that is supposed to be met to keep his doors open. The ones who suffer are the kids as much of what goes on is very political. The School Board in Oceanside needs to keep an operational eye on this Tech School.
Amazing how people in Vista can walk around with BLINDERS in their eyes. wrote on May 24, 2008 9:18 AM:Here is another informative article by North County Times:
GUAJOME PARK ACADEMY ENGLISH LEARNERS COMMITTEE MOVING FORWARD
By: STACY BRANDT - Staff Writer
VISTA ---- Growing pains continued this month for Guajome Park Academy's English learners advisory committee, as board members at the school restructured the group and ousted its outspoken leader.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/03/23/news/inland/vista/17_33_133_22_06.txt
Once again here is another example why enlightened parents don’t want to send their kids to these charter schools. Charter schools can lie, make up their own rules, make accusations just about anybody and anything…
WOW! That is scary, if parents had read the North County Times articles they would be informed instead of saying, "project based learning" and “I did good research.”
Sandy wrote on May 24, 2008 9:50 AM:Uh...could it be that some of us send our kids to charter schools to avoid their being beat up by the gangbangers?
GFN wrote on May 24, 2008 9:53 AM:These schools are the way our schools should be. Don't go ruining them with the debris of the do nothing public schools. If a grade performing student wants to go to a charter school and promises to work hard, then it doesn't matter what race they are, nor should it.
whatever wrote on May 24, 2008 9:58 AM:Hello- Guajome Park here. Thank you Sandy. Not only that but how bout a student pop. of nearly 3500 in grades 9-12 at Rancho AND Vista High. No thank you. GPA doesn't even have 2000 in grades 6-12. The teachers KNOW the kids that way. We all know the system is a joke nowdays don't we? I just need my student to get her dipolma so she can get out , bottom line!! You all do what is best for your own kid and stop worrying about what other people choose for theirs!! NCT slants all their articles anyway.....are they gonna print this?
Take a closer look at charter schools wrote on May 24, 2008 10:04 AM:Oh Sandy think twice, there are worst gang bangers in some of these charter school.
Students too get beaten up, you just don't read about it in the newspaper.
Ask your kid to be honest and tell you about what goes on in these charter schools. Who sells, who caries, and where they my space postings are.
Why would any reasonable parent put their kids in a charter school that is sue crazy?
Wake-up wrote on May 24, 2008 10:19 AM:People take their kids out of the traditional school because there are so many English language learners that those who do speak English are presented information at a snail's pace. Perhaps we should have seperate but equal schools. English language learners can be moved from the ESL academy when they have mastered the language and are able to function in an English language school. Information would not have to be transmitted at a remedial pace for everyone.
Sandy wrote on May 24, 2008 10:32 AM:To: Take a closer look at charter schools. Of course there are problems at charter schools but since there are fewer kids, there are fewer problems and issues that are brought to the attention of staff are addressed immediately. At least that is my personal experience. I suspect you also wrote the comment re: "Blinders." If so, the article you reference is from 2006. Why not talk about something current and relevant?
same reason wrote on May 24, 2008 10:53 AM:why would any reasonable person have voted for Prez. Bush TWICE?
Matthew wrote on May 24, 2008 10:56 AM:My god, I am sickened by the racist comments on this article. Such as Sandy's and "Maybe because's." Most minority children here speak English. That has nothing to do with why they aren't in charter schools. And Sandy, to suggest that minorities are all gang bangers is disgusting.
TIP Academy wrote on May 24, 2008 11:02 AM:Look at the charter school TIP Academy in Encinitas. It is made up of mostly white students while the public school Ocean Knoll that it shares campuses with is made up of mostly hispanic students. Oh, also, the people that run this school have a NTR out for them from EUSD - Notice To Remedy for conflict of interest, financial mismanagement and more.
NCT POST IT wrote on May 24, 2008 11:53 AM:Here is another informative article by North County Times:
GUAJOME PARK ACADEMY ENGLISH LEARNERS COMMITTEE MOVING FORWARD
By: STACY BRANDT - Staff Writer
VISTA ---- Growing pains continued this month for Guajome Park Academy's English learners advisory committee, as board members at the school restructured the group and ousted its outspoken leader.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/03/23/news/inland/vista/17_33_133_22_06.txt
Once again here is another example why enlightened parents don’t want to send their kids to these charter schools. …
WOW! That is scary, if parents had read the North County Times articles they would be informed instead of saying, "project based learning" and “I did good research.”
Tired of Diversity wrote on May 24, 2008 12:43 PM: Diversity doesn't work. Go to any high school campus and the kids self segregate themselves. Hispanics feel comfortable among hispanics, blacks feel comfortable among blacks, Asians feel comfortable around asians and white with white, What's the big deal if races prefer to hang with their own kind.
Why do we continue to push diversity on one another! As long as we respect each other do we really need diversity?
Caucasian Caucus wrote on May 24, 2008 5:23 PM:Forced "diversity" has destroyed public education. Asians and Caucasians cherish education and stress its importance to our children. Regular public schools are to concerned with political correctnes and diversity ... That's why you see the differnece. MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS .. better yet .. VOUCHERS !
Hey SANDY wrote on May 24, 2008 6:08 PM:
According to this North County Times article on charter schools “Roughly 45 PERCENT of students in North County are “WHITE,” but at CHARTER SCHOOLS, “WHITE” students make up about 60 PERCENT of the population on average, according to an examination of state data by the North County Times.’
“At Guajome Park 30 PERCENT of the school's students are Latino.”
“The Vista Unified School District is 52 PERCENT Latino.”
So if over 70 PERCENT of students at Guajome Park are “WHITE” and about 30 Percent Latino, how is it that these 70 PERCENT “WHITE” Guajome Park Students scored LOWER than both Rancho Buena Vista and Vista High School which, both Vista and Rancho have a 52 PERENT of Latino population?
Also these scores don’t take into account that as we all know both of Vista High Schools average about 3,300 to 3,500 students.
Any reasonable parent will have to wonder what is going on in this charter school or perhaps these blogs are correct parents don’t care about academics rather about RACIAL SEGREGATION.
This weeks API scores:
Guajome Park Academy scored 718 got a 2 rank for similar schools in the state
Rancho Buena Vista High scored 734 got a 6 rank for similar schools in the state.
Vista High School scored 709 and got a 7 rank for similar schools in the state.
Not a Minutemen wrote on May 24, 2008 6:19 PM:Caucasian Caucus- So if a charter school with over 70 percent CAUCASIANS performs much WORST than a school with 52 percent LATINOS, how are LATINOS bringing down the grades for this charter school if they are the minority and ALL the LATINOS speak ENGLISH?
To Caucasian Caucus wrote on May 24, 2008 7:16 PM:You say "forced 'diversity' has destroyed public education" yet what you are actually referring to is federal civil rights legislation that made it against the law to discriminate against you or your neighbor because of race (or age or gender). You say "regular public schools "are to [sic] concerned with political correctnes {sic] and diversity," yet what you imply is that we should go back to the days when we DID force children of color to stay out of "white" schools. Shame on you! Schools aren't "too concerned," they are following the law! Schools are no different from churches, restaurants, stores, hotels, beaches, parks, shopping malls, and hospitals. They all must follow the law. Segregation is what you are proposing, and it is illegal and immoral (and un-Christian as well!).
There are countries in the world that do sanction racism and forced segregation, but I don't think you would find them very hospitable to visit right now!
Alumniofacharter wrote on May 24, 2008 7:44 PM:Okay, some of you make me sad with everything I'm reading. I had more "caucasian" friends than my own "race" and I had the best four years of my life and education. Not only that but I graduated with a 4.0. So Hispanics can be well educated too not just "ASIANS". I'm glad my "cherokeee" husband doesn't judge.
Think, I can be that nurse taking care of you, will you still judge me?
I am a Nurse by the way with a MA
April wrote on May 24, 2008 8:37 PM:
Well, well the ugly side of separatism is coming out, the revolting face of racism inside these charter schools has peaked its hideous face in these blogs.
Well, well the ugly side of separatism is coming out, the revolting face of racism inside these charter schools has peaked its hideous face in these blogs.
Very sad, what are we teaching these kids? That education is not important but racial division is most important and the only thing that matters?
Dude wrote on May 24, 2008 8:49 PM:Caucasian Caucus is right on. Charter schools are not going to solve the problem. We need vouchers now!! Then all parents can choose to send your kid where ever you want to send them. How can anyone in their right mind say that vouchers is not the best thing for all parents?
Sandy wrote on May 24, 2008 8:58 PM:You can quote all the scores and school comparisons you want to. My personal charter school experience is that my child's classes, grades and test scores are great. I feel she is safe and the teachers are caring and responsive. This is a far cry from a school with 3000+ students. I have no doubt there are those who have a different experience, but for us this is the best option.
Not a Minutemen wrote on May 24, 2008 9:29 PM:Sandy- I am glad this charter school is working for you. You shouldn’t try to convince anyone to justify your choice. Not everyone cherishes EARNED good grades and a college education and as you said before you just want a diploma and get out.
I am confident this charter school hands out diplomas and good grades like hot cakes so there is nothing to worry about.
I am concerned though about the kids that graduate from this city and charter school who don’t have much of a future when and if they graduate.
Tom wrote on May 25, 2008 6:40 AM:It is called freedom of choice. If parents want their children in a charter school they can have them there, if not then not. There is no problem here!! Get off the PC bandwagon!!
GPA mom wrote on May 25, 2008 8:38 AM:Come on now folks, a school is a school is a school. There are great ones and crappy ones. Wherever you choose to send your child is ultimately your decision, not your childs'. My child attends GPA and is an exceptional student. I've instilled in her that her education, volunteering and college are important, luckily she agrees. If you don't like the school, whether public or charter, move your kid to another school!
Jennifer wrote on May 25, 2008 8:41 AM:Desegregate the NFL and the NBA while you're at it! There is not enough diversity in the players.
Guajome Park wrote on May 25, 2008 9:04 AM:Hiya, It was me, not Sandy that mentioned getting the diploma and getting out. The schools today are just like politics..not much to choose from . NONE of them are what you want for your kid!! I feel sorry for people whose children are just entering school now ...it's a failed sysytem today. **THAT was my point about being glad to be getting out SOON. I can't afford private school as I am widowed. Of course I care about my kid's future. But honestly... Life really begins AFTER High School...I see lots of young people with degrees not even working in the career they went to college for or making much money!! Every kid is different, not all work out in the same setting at school. I choose Guajome for my own reasons and for my own kid. My kid is a whiz on computers so I don't worry about her career goals! BY THE WAY... I never even thought about "racial stats" when we enrolled here.
Thanks Tom GPA Mom wrote on May 25, 2008 9:08 AM:perfect..now I can let this go! Guajome Park says have a nice Memorial Day! It's about FREEDOM isn't it?
Sandy wrote on May 25, 2008 9:29 AM:Have a great Memorial Day and let's remember what we are celebrating. Those who gave all so we could agree to disagree. And I believe, as parents, most of us are doing the best we can for our children.
How about teaching wrote on May 25, 2008 11:09 AM:love of America and then teach them to be proud of their heritage. America the melting pot is where American proved its greatest. Yes diversity is nice as all of the American children get to know what their other classmates heriage was. But keep in mind, due to the partents actions the children are now AMERICANS. The Proud, the Brave and the the UNITED!
curiou wrote on May 25, 2008 11:11 AM:I'm curious why the article only focused on the percentages of white and latino students. Last time I checked there are other races in Escondido and Oceanside.
Humm... wrote on May 25, 2008 7:06 PM:
No sorry it is NOT the Forth of July it is Memorial Day.
Memorial Day- is a day to remember all the troops that have died in a foreign war.
Independence Day (forth of July) – Is when we formed a Declaration of Independence we were declaring our separation from England.
In essence FREE from the taxation and control from King George.
I am sure we all have relatives or know someone who died in a foreign war. Therefore this Memorial day is an appropriate day to show our respect for our troops and to remember the dead soldiers who died fighting for America.
Maybe schools should teach some history…. Oh, I forgot it is a charter school.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks wrote on May 25, 2008 7:18 PM:Ok this warrants a response:
“But keep in mind, due to the partents actions the children are now AMERICANS.”
So can we justly say that just about every, “WHITE” person walking in the United States of America is not a Native American and therefore, “due to the parents actions the children are now AMERICANS?”
Or does this comment refer only to Mexican students who reside and attend PUBIC SCHOOLS when their parents are not LEGAL CITIZENS?
What type of charter school is this and what are the students actually learning here.
We know it is not a rigorous curriculum or quality education because the standardized and state API scores are self evident and not important here.
to Hmmmm wrote on May 26, 2008 7:18 AM:haha- I knew there would be that type of " know it all" response. Gotcha! There's always one in every blog...enjoy the HOLIDAY .
White flight wrote on May 27, 2008 8:08 AM:You either get your English speaking child into a charter school or a private school. We will see more of this as time goes by. Smart call by the parents, unless you want your child to get one half and education. Just old fashion white flight. Maybe we can get scholarships for these kids to attends these schools.
not a Minutemen wrote on May 27, 2008 10:12 AM:white flight- you could have used a more fitting screen name like “white power ...
What is the reasoning into getting the “English speaking” child into a private or a charter school? Is it for better educational purpose, a more rigorous curriculum or strictly for racial segregation?
If it is for a more rigorous curriculum the facts are clear that about over 70% of the “White” students at Guajome Park scored far lower than the racially mixed overcrowded schools in the Vista Unified School District High Schools.
Now take into account the overcrowding of about 3,300 to 3,500 students per high school. Now if you were to reverse the overcrowding roles and took the 3,500 in one of these high schools and put them in two separate schools can you imagine how drastic the scores would spiral upward?
What if we only had 20 to 25 students per class in these VUSD high schools?
So the question here is why are the Guajome Park students scoring so LOW in comparison to there racially mixed counterparts?
Guajome Park has a about 1,400 students and about 25 students per classroom with a student populations of over 70% white students and the Hispanic students speak English. So what is the excuse for the Guajome Park students low performance?
Now if the parents were truly smart they would have asked a lot of questions because their children are not even getting half of an education at these charter schools.
To not a minutemen wrote on May 27, 2008 12:21 PM:That is a big lie. You missed the point. Guajome Park is not your typical charter or private school... You are distorting the facts with your smoke screen. Let's get real, diversity is dumbing down our schools and you know it. Try again
Response to To not a minutemen wrote on May 28, 2008 12:56 AM:Que? Habla Ingles?
Good Grief you totally make sense.
CTA watchdog wrote on May 28, 2008 1:48 PM:Listen closely all of you! The most powerful lobby in the state (the California Teacher Association) is gravely threatened by Charter Schools because they are successful Academically and expose the inadequacy that have been created in traditional public schools by the Unions greed. Right now there is a hit out on any and all Charters in this state. Most the Boards of Education in California are dominated by CTA endorsed elected board member and at the CTA’s direction are looking for anything they can to shut down these successful Schools. Look at all the negative articles printed lately about these newer Charter Schools that are still trying to work out the bugs. Administratively they are not as strong as the big Schools because they have less fat. It will take a few years for them to settle down and the CTA knows that so they want them out now before they become too successful. Looks like the CTA’s latest angle for older more successful Charters is to accuse them of hand picking their students. My guess is that this will lead to some new regulation or law that requires these Schools to spend allot of time and money to increase the Latino number. If that’s the case these lean operation that have no bureaucracy will likely fail financially. When you go to the polls in November do not vote for a ex teacher or any Union endorsees candidate. Vote for the Candidate that is most like you and is most likely to look out for you. If you elect a Teacher or Union candidate you only add to the power of the CTA in this state and the continuing erosion of public education in this state.
Go ahead give your children to Moloch wrote on May 29, 2008 8:21 AM:Oh Boy!! CTA Watchdog you are a day late a dollar short. The most powerful lobbyist in Sacramento is the, “California Charter School Association.” The California Legislation membership is largely composed of DEMOCTRATS however the charter school association which is heavily supported and funded by right wing conservatives has the most dough to throw away. Why? Because they believe that charter schools will destroy the teachers unions.
Sad to say the CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PERFORMING WORST and have worst problems than public schools. Look at your own charter school Guajome Park Academy it has a track record since 1994 and still performs worst than VUSD most terrible schools on the state standardized test scores. The only thing they are exposing is the inability and GREED of the RIGHT WING REPUBLICANS. When right-wingers scoop so low as to support a charter school that CONSISTENTLY FAIL ACADEMICALLY and guided by Greek philosophies and ideologies. It is the equivalent of going to a fortuneteller to raise and teach your kids, academics, right from wrong, truth from facts and fantasies. (Lev. 18:21).
I don’t know where you get the information but the CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR has appointed ALL of the Members of the Board in the California State Board of Education and I can assure you that the members are mostly if not ALL REPUBLICANS. No one is going after any charter schools to the contrary have you ever seen or read an “AUDIT” of Guajome Park Academy? That is correct who is pulling the strings here and who is behind the cover up?
In fact the new charter schools that you are refereeing to have their roots in Vista and were the founders of GPA and have a ten-year experience with these SAME problems. Just because in Vista they can get away with murder does not make their actions legit.
So when you go to the polls vote for candidates that will bring charter schools into compliance with state and federal laws; full accountability and transparency.
If in doubt read some of the crazy ignorant comments in this link.
to go ahead wrote on May 29, 2008 11:22 AM:I don't need to read any further than your comments to find crazy ignorant comments. I can understand why you would try so hard to protect your sanctuary. At least the 2 or 3 readers of this blog have seen how fast you guys will can jump to protect your precious CTA.
Are you really trying to convince us into believing that the Republicans are running California and or California Public Education? And that they are a bigger Lobby than the CTA?? Good luck with that effort....
to screenereditor wrote on May 29, 2008 2:11 PM:I noticed you haven't posted my comments responding to "Go ahead give your children to Moloch.
Is there something in my comments you do not personally agree with. Because I am certain they meet all of the requirements as well if not better than the above mentioned post?
to all RE Go ahead give your children to Moloch rd attempt wrote on May 29, 2008 2:19 PM:Hey look another elitist Democrat calling all of us parents idiots because we like to choose what Schools our kids go to. These elitists think they are soo smart and know sooo much more than we do, that they should decide and then mandate what schools we send our kids to (because they know what's best for us all). And if other Schools exist that don't fit into their "what's best for all" mold they should be gotten rid of.
Eventually the truth always comes out.
You did not pot my comment either wrote on May 29, 2008 5:50 PM:Yes, the "CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATION," has a lot of money to spend to destroy PUBLIC EDUCATION. They don't necessarily care how bad these schools have turned out to be for kids. As long as there own kids don’t attend these charter schools. In their mind the end justifies the means.
While all facts point out that these charter schools are just as bad and in most cases worst than PUBLIC EDUCATION they don’t see it that way.
I challenge the North County Times or an AP reporter to track down and search the founders of these charter schools, their political affiliation, clubs, contributors, and ardent supporters. I bet their bank accounts tell an unveiling story. Lets see if they have any CONFLICT of INTERESTS themselves and if they are financially benefiting from these charter schools.
I am willing to bet they are….
Let the light shine wrote on May 29, 2008 5:53 PM:Oh, BOY!! I agree the truth should COME OUT!
If the truth came out a lot of people would be wearing stripes.
John wrote on May 29, 2008 6:48 PM:Lets bring some clarity this article is titled, “Charter schools struggle for more diversity.
It goes on to talk about racial balance, lack of racial diversity within charter schools.
So instead of sticking to the facts, data from CDE, local school districts, Star-9 scores, API scores, some people start blaming the “teachers unions.”
The teachers unions don’t have a bone in this fight and they don’t have to defend themselves because the accusations are simply ludicrous. Subsequently, the issue turns to DEMOCRATS controlling the California State Board of Education and that too plainly is far fetched.
When these deterrents from the issues don’t fly people start posting nasty blogs and getting mad because some are not posted. However, the blogs are purely accusations with no real substance or facts.
Frankly, we are all taxpayers and we all have First Amendment rights, how we choose to advance our rights may become problematic when we engage personal attacks.
It certainly would be much cohesive if people supported their opinions with factual data or refer to some prominent reports or factual test results.
Having said this my opinion is that:
Charter schools were approved as an option to the failing schools in the states. After over 10 years of date there is evidence of serious concern with many (not all) of these charter schools. There is at times absolutely no monitoring by school districts, county or states. So enforcement of the laws that have ALWAYS existed is certainly needed and justified. The above entitles which, failed to monitor and enforce regulations on these charter school should be called into account and perhaps sanctions should be placed on both the school districts and the charter schools.
The facts are that these CHARTER SCHOOLS are PUBLIC SCHOOLS paid for by OUR TAX DOLLARS and as TAXPAYERS we have the right to voice our opinions and concerns.
to john wrote on May 30, 2008 4:12 PM:nice story but all you did was spend a great deal of time criticizing opinions without "substance" only to offer an unsubstantiated opinion.
to You did not pot my comment either wrote on May 30, 2008 4:19 PM:Fair enough, but only if the unions and the district bureaucrats will do the same thing. And while at it bring all of there back door bargaining deals out into the public like they supposed to be? Lets take a look at all the campaign funds that the unions spend on getting local board members elected on schools boards to do there bidding? My guess you will find allot more dirt under those rocks than you will in Charter Schools. But hey to be fair lets turn them all over?
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