State Senator Lesniak is correct in his criticism of Govenor Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagnoto be out of the State at the same time. Their action makes a farce of the recent5 State Constitutional change creating the Lt.Gov. position to specifically avoids a situation where the President of the State Senate becomes the acting governor.
Whatever other role the Lt. Gov. has in the State Government is immaterial even if that is the slot from which the salary line is derived. Someone elected to a post must fill that role. It is obvious that the change in the Constitution creating the Lt. Governors spot was not for the public benefit but political to permit the ticket with a individual that would pull in a large minority group's votes. Since this was dine when the Democrats controlled both the Administrative and the Legislative branches of government it may have backfired.
If we are going to have a Lt. Gov. instead of that person being a coat hanger flunky a la the Vice President, perhaps we should vote separately for that office to elect the best qualified individual even if he/she belongs to another party. This works in other states.
I know that all who read this blog also read "Maria's". How many like myself are disturbed by the either lack or ignorance of accountability at the public school level and especially with the charter schools. The later require a large sum of public funds which may since I have not done the math for any, cost more per-student's education than public schools. Are we the public getting our dollars worth from each charter school? If not we must have some means to be sure that each charter school program is exceeding minimal standards by a substantial margin.
Individual parental agendas should not be a restrictive or privileged user of resources in the public school or charter school venues. All children should have equal opportunity for quality education. It is up to us to make sure it is available and up to the children's parents to make sure they use it.
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Regarding the per pupil expenditure, as I am sure you are aware, here is the site:
ReplyDeletehttp://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc09/menu/80.html
scroll down to the very bottom on the left for charters.
Most charter schools receive approx 75-80% per pupil expenditure as compared to its resident district. It is HOW that money is being spent that needs to be reviewed.
Also, a warning, do NOT believe everything that is provided in any school's report card. The fiscal and the ASK reports are the most accurate as they come directly from the DOE, but mostly everything else comes directly from the individual schools. This goes for all schools, not just charters.
However, if one were to delve deeper and research NJ DOE Homeroom and go into the public domains of a school's site under, e.g EWEG (which include Title I, IDEA, ARRA and other grant info) or go into the EVVRS system (violence and vandalism reports) one can find out more info.
(I believe Renata (or Maria) has referred to this system in one of her previous blogs regarding the TItle I unified Reports)
Lesniak criticizing while he too is in FL. Never mind that Lesniak sat, as Vice Chair, on a bank that had to be taken over by the FDIC. Please ... Lesniak's words ring hallow. He has done much worse than the Gov. or Lt. Gov., except when it comes to lining his own pocket.
ReplyDeletePolitically, it may have been stupid on Gov.'s part, but in reality, a non-issue.
Please remember that ALL charter schools ARE public schools (in reference to where where you mention the per student's education cost as possibly being "more expensive than public schools".
ReplyDeleteIf the people and families of Plainfield, and the readers of these blogs and forums, do not keep this in mind ... all is for naught.
The very fact that charter schools ARE public schools, is the reason behind this critical need for closer scrutiny, more open accountability, and public disclosure, especially right now when the PPS district has an opportunity to redesign itself and to realize its potential and that of the many dedicated, talented and knowledgeable teachers and adminstrators who have gone unnoticed and unappreciated.
They should have scheduled their vacations for different time. Simple but perhaps too simple.
ReplyDeleteGuadagno is basically arm candy for Christie anyway.
7;45 PM, You are 100% right the charter schools are public schools receiving most of their funding from the public school system. The exact dollar amount I must confess my ignorance ,but at least 20% comes from other sources. The public has no say in how the money is used or if it is even cost effective balanced against results.
ReplyDeleteThe info is available but only those of us with time, priorities and interests will dig it out. That is wrong
It's important to know what one speaks of when one speaks.
ReplyDeleteIt costs the state approx. $11K per student in a PUBLIC charter school, compared with over $16K per student in the traditional public school district. The monies are funneled from the state into the traditional public school system, for which that system receives a 10% administrative fee just to release the funds to the public charter school. Keep in mind the money follows the student. There are no monies expended out of the traditional school district for those students in charters. Out of the public charter students dollars, the monies that gets to the students is about 60% due to the public charters having to pay facility, maintenance, insurance, water, and energy costs. When all is said and done, and with much less money than the traditional public school system, our students all have textbooks, mimeo boards in their classrooms, a computer lab which is utilized by all students, and countless other enrichment programs for them. It is a PUBLIC school - and we have complete transparency. Anyone interested in seeing how our school runs is welcome to attend Board meetings the second Wednesday of every month. We have an electronic system of communication connecting our parents, students, and teachers and every Plainfield family has the opportunity to apply and be entered into a PUBLIC lottery. With The Queen City Academy having an enrollment of only 230 students, we have wait lists for most grades.
There undoubtedly may be charters in this state that have similar if not the same challenges as the traditional school districts. I can't speak for them.
In our school, we continue to raise the bar and set the standard higher...as evidenced in all public information available as mentioned on this blog. Charters are accountable to the state; Board members are required to go to Board trainings through the NJSBA (NJ School Boards Association)just like elected Board members; and the state is in the process of developing QSAC for charters, which we happen to follow anyway just for best practices. QCA was the first charter in Plainfield, and thereby the longest running and successful. We are in the process of Middle States Accreditation, have become a partner in NJ CARES, and an affiliate for the I Have A Dream foundation. All are welcome to look at us closely and see what our great students are doing with top notch educators, administration, and a Board whose dedication and committment has been proven through the growth and successes of our students and school. There are no political agendas played out on our Board or in our school. We are proud of our students' achievements and look forward to continuing to challenge them in preparing to make them global competitors. This at approximately half the cost of educating a student in the traditional public school district.
Thanks for your interest; we welcome it.
Julie A. Jerome
Founder & Board President
The Queen City Academy Charter School
qca.edu
While the CEO of The Queen City Charter School provides some information it is duplicitous. The bottom line is .......Are the charter schools producing better results than the city schools? Do they accept special needs students? Do they have a bi-lingual program? Do they have to provide school suspension data to the public? There are many questions that need to be addressed however, the charter schools are not held to the same level of scrutiny as the city public schools.......Because while the CEO claims the schools are public they (charter schools) do NOT accept all students. IN fact they request copies of the students discipline data before they accept students or expel the students without due process. Where is the transparency?
ReplyDeleteCharter schools receive a payment directly from the school district of residence for each student enrolled equal to 90 percent of the district school’s budget per student for the specific grade level. Charter schools are also eligible to receive federal and state funding. (NJ charter schools.org.
ReplyDeleteEven if the public are invited to attend a charter's board meetings
With all due respect, Dr.emc2' you call me duplicitous and then make your argument by asking questions you do not know the answers to. Yes, we have special Ed students and a special Ed dept whose reputation for success is bringing more district students into our charter school. Contrary to your misinformation, the students who apply to the school for available slots get in. There are no requests made for disciplinary records; only the students transfer record. Those families that apply where there are no open slots go into a public lottery which any member of the public can witness 3x per year (the dates are published in the newspapers). As to whether QCA is producing better results than the traditional district can be seen via our NJASK and NJPASS scores. I welcome you to learn more about charters so that you are not delivering incorrect and false information to the public. You are an intelligent person who I am sure is an excellent educator. We are in the business of educating Plainfield's students. It's vital that we educate ourselves as well.
ReplyDeleteJulie A. Jerome
What makes charters public schools?
ReplyDeleteA public school is defined as a school that is open to the public, funded by the public and accountable to the public. Charter schools meet all three tests. They must be open to all students on a space available basis including students with disabilities or limited English proficiency. Charters cannot select students based on skills, ability or past performance, have a selective admissions policy, charge tuition, and or have a religious focus or affiliation.
Dear olddoc: yes, we receive 90% of funding through the traditional district and out of those dollars come our facility costs (in the case of QCA that translates to $32,000 per month, not including utilities). Traditional schools receive their full 100% per student and do not have to pay for the physical plant they exist in. Plus they get to withhold 10% for each of the 800+ students in the public charters
I so appreciate your keeping the blogosphere informed on facts and your opinions, and your facts should always carry the integrity of your opinions.
Thank you.
Julie A. Jerome
I certainly did not intend to impugn your character or imply that you are not well intentioned but the fact of the matter is Charter schools are NOT held to the same level of scrutiny and accountability as are traditional public schools. I am sure that you are attempting to serve the community as we are but we are not comparing apples to apples here and that is where I feel there is a hint of duplicitousness. I also need a little clarification on one point .....do you accept any student who seeks to attend your school?
ReplyDeleteEvery charter school is open to any child -first-- who is a resident of the district and second if there is an opening in the particular grade.
ReplyDeleteIf there is an opening in a grade, and there is no child within the district on the waiting list, any child from any NJ district may be recruited, or may request admission, and MUST be accepted.
If a child is a resident of Elizabeth or even Toms River, and there is an opening, and the parent wants the child in the school, the district of Elizabeth or Tom's River will send their proportional tuition (according to their per pupil expenditure) to the charter school
Just as with any traditional school, it is illegal for a charter school not to accept a child with a special need or a disability, if the parent requests admission and there is a space available in the grade level.
A parent should not even be asked about an IEP as a criteria for entrance into a charter school.
If a child needs a resource room -- the school must provide such, even if it just for the one child.
These are complicated matters. Even the NJSBA, NJASA, NJDOE and school attorneys have problems with them because of "gray areas". Also, there have been very few, if any, legal challenges in regards to the admission of special education students in charter school settings. Precedents have not yet been set.
Once a child enters a charter school and it is determined that there is a need, there are legalities as to who is responsible for the student's tuition / education if the child were to attend a private special needs school (such as Newmark) or a county educational services school...
who makes the choice as to where a special needs child may attend is another complication....
special education issues are complicated enough in traditional school and in charter schools they are even more complicated.
However, what is not complicated is the fact that no child can (should) be refused acceptance into a charter school for any reasons if there is the appropriate opening for that child.
Regarding discipline... a student's record is now viewable by any public school within NJ on the NJ SMART system. A school must send discipline records to another school when transfer records are requested. Individual students are now named on the NJ Homeroom EVVRS system (violence and vandalism report). Every student in NJ now has a NJ SMART school ID number that follows the student from public school to public school (including charters -- charters have all the exact same system and most of the same required reports to file) until graduation from high school.