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As Americans celebrate 245 years of freedom, two groups working against freedom for millions of school kids and their parents have been holding conventions. We highlight both in this “ease back into the workweek” edition of Newswire. 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ESPINOZA V. MONTANA DEPT OF REVENUE.  Overturning a precedent set 146 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court on June 30, 2020 validated a parent’s right to direct their child’s education. At issue was the infamous “Blaine Amendments,” arising out of bigotry against immigrants in 1875 and protected to this day by those who believe only one system should work for kids. (Where are the righteous when you need them?)  Learn all about the case from CER’s central repository of info, including a background and summary of the case from two great champions of education freedom for all, the Institute for Justice and the Becket Fund. Also, read how you can take advantage of this landmark decision in a special whitepaper developed by foremost constitutional experts, called Making the Most of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Education to Advance Education Opportunity.

HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY TO CHARTER SCHOOLS! Minnesota launched in 1991 the law inaugurating what has become the most significant public education innovation since its inception. The first charter opened in 1992 in Minneapolis, and from that small acorn has grown a diverse network of over 7,500 schools serving more than 3,300,000 students.  Follow the year-long celebration and learn about more charter milestones that we’re proud to have helped play a role in making happen:
THE BIRTHDAYS:

• District of Columbia charter schools are celebrating 25 years of serving a largely minority, economically challenged community. Check out the honor roll!
• North Carolina’s charter school law turned 25 on June 12th.
• Maine is celebrating 20 years of chartering….
• South Carolina and Illinois are celebrating 15 years, their ‘crystal’ anniversaries.

BLUE RIBBONS at ACADEMICA.  Speaking of anniversaries, this marks the tenth year in a row that an Academica charter school was named a National Blue Ribbon school. Congrats to Somerset Academy Miramar and Somerset Academy South Miami for keeping the excellence going and to all Academica schools for building such an impressive record of excellence.


GOOD FRIENDS TELL THE TRUTHto each other, and the truth is not all state charter school laws are created equal. When state laws authorizing the creation of charter schools are done right, they maximize choice for parents as well as opportunity and achievement for kids.  When done wrong they can be worse than no law at all.  Find out where your state stands, and equally important why, with the 25th-anniversary edition of CER’s National Charter Laws Ranking and Scorecard, newly updated for 2021.  Knowing these laws is the first step toward keeping your charters strong or making them better.

THE ANTIDOTE TO URBAN HOPELESSNESS is the same as it is for so many maladies – freedom to make choices. As this  “must-read” column in the Chicago Tribune by John Kass powerfully points out, “there is one policy that could end habitual urban hopelessness that leads to violent crime. It would give motivated parents a fighting chance to help their children. Real school choice.”

Memo to Parents
From: The Center for Education Reform
RE: Your children deserve a great education…

We know that you’re relieved. It was, as Alexander might say, a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad year. You are worried about your child. You’re concerned about your school.

Maybe, if you’re like the millions of parents demanding more, especially since Covid, you even have a new idea of what education should be.

Well, you’re in luck. What you want, and what you need are now increasingly available to you, in your state, for the choosing.  Now, you may not know this. You won’t always hear this from your school district (if your kids are still in one of those old-fashioned things!) You might not hear it from your friends… because most parents simply don’t know. But as we’ve said since 1993, information is power, and parents, having power is closer than you think!

It might be easier to get if, say, you’re in Arizona, Florida or West Virginia than if you live in Kansas, South Dakota or Iowa, but now, getting every child a great education is only a few clicks away.

So before you throw away those post-its and evernote school reminders, there’s one more task for you;

It’s time to find out exactly what kind of power you have, and if you don’t, what you need to know to get it!

In the last 6 months, more than a dozen states have improved power for parents, recognizing that you and you alone know your child best. You have, as the US Supreme Court declared just a year ago this week, the constitutionally protected right to direct the education of your children!

In spite of that, parents still do not have the ability to do so! This is unjust, inequitable and just plain “very bad.” So whatever fortunes befall us now or in the future, let’s be sure you know your power, how to use your power and how to advocate for your power so that your children can have the kind of education they deserve.


Help your child get what they deserve.  Use the 2021 Parent Power! Index, now online!  No matter where you are, take time now to get informed. It’s the first step to having real Parent Power!

Graduation “mortarboards” are thrown in the air to celebrate the end of the accomplishment.  Given the challenges of the past year, they deserve to be thrown extra high.  Our special graduation Newswire salutes those who made it through, with a  sampling of ceremonies of all kinds of schools across the country. Enjoy – and join us in wishing all graduates at all levels Godspeed and much future success.

HOPE ON THE HORIZON. Those were the words used to describe the outcomes for thousands who finally crossed the stage to graduate in Nashville, Tennessee. The obstacles for all students is, like a new word in the dictionary, now fixed in time.  As the Tennessean reported:

“The class of 2021 went against all odds and proved the ones who didn’t believe in us wrong. but today, we graduate. If there’s anything you take from today, remember this…we’ve all experienced how quickly life can change within days and how our normal life can take so long to return,” said senior class president Zara Vanegas during Antioch High School’s graduation. 

OUR TIME.  If they could have returned, they would have, but California treated all schools the same, requiring all schools to keep their kids virtual until otherwise directed. But the students at Granada Hills Charter High School (CA), one of the oldest in the Golden State, prevailed, with the best in class virtual learning. Founder/leader Brian Bauer communicated often and well, ensuring that every family and student had the information needed and that teachers were engaged directly and live with students more than most, and definitely more than traditional LA public schools whose unions restricted their “live” hours. The two days of graduation held on the John Elway field featured, as per tradition, a bagpiper.

Watch this video by Granada Hills students. “We’ve overcome the trials…it’s our time.” Yes it is.

AN EDUCATION EARTHQUAKE. 30 years ago, the education establishment’s world was rocked when the first charter school law was enacted in Minnesota, June 4, 1991. The idea began not with Al Shanker from the AFT as some argue, but with Ray Budde, an educator whose 1974 paper, Education By Charter, which talked about restructuring school districts, got the attention (after its publication in 1988) of the truly progressive (by the real definition – to progress, not stay stuck) union leader, who along with others, started talking about the notion of teachers being empowered, and parents having the chance to choose from the offerings created by educators. And that is precisely the origins – as Ted Kolderie has argued – diversity AND choice – divorced from the “exclusive franchise” of school boards.

REVISIONIST HISTORY. There are those who will have you believe it was an experiment. It was not. It was intended to upset all of the traditional boundaries and bureaucracies. There are those who will have you believe it was about creating new programs and innovations only. They ignore the fact that sometimes innovation is just doing something differently and having a better outcome. There are all sorts of myths that circulate, precisely because the movement started and did what it intended — so take this occasion to get educated. Here are some handy dandy links from the mouths of those who were there, not those who claim to know otherwise:

WATCH: 

• “How Charter School Laws Really Got Started” – Long before there was a DFER, a SFER, a STAND, a CAN or New Schools, individuals launched a movement with strategy and resolve. Who were they? CER in 2013 brought together pioneers from CA, NY, PA, MA, DC, NJ and of course MN to share the real stories of how charters came to be.

• “Charter Schools Are A Form Of Self-Determination” – Civil Rights advocate and education choice pioneer, Dr. Howard Fuller speaks truth to power.

READ: 

• “The States Will Have To Withdraw The Exclusive Franchise – ‘Public Services Redesign Project’” – July 1990 – Ted Kolderie, godfather of charters and founding partner at Education Evolving.

• HIT THE DRUM: An Insider’s Account of How the Charter School Idea Became a National Movement (2019), by Sarah Tantillo, New Jersey charter pioneer.

 

• Charter Schools: Creating Hope and Opportunity for American Education (1999) by Joe Nathan, one of the mighty few who made Minnesota and so many other laws happen, wrote this semi-autobiography.

 

• A Light Shines In Harlem: New York’s First Charter School & the Movement It Led (2016) shows the story and courage of a diverse coalition of activists, parents, teachers, students who teamed up with a Civil Rights hero and a Wall Street star to launch the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem.

 
JOIN: ​

• Meet some of the pioneers highlighted above THIS THURSDAY when the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture hosts a conversation with charters’ founding generation, including Michigan’s  Jim Goenner and Minnesota’s own Ember Reichgott Junge on June 10, 3:15 EST.

A BI-PARTISAN SUCCESS. If you’re younger than 35, it might be hard to imagine that there was unity across the aisles on any issue, once upon a time, or that one party could praise another for its good works. But it has happened (and continues to, in education, despite detractors’ efforts). In 2001, on the 20th Anniversary of the birth of charters, the MN Legislature issued this proclamation praising the diverse cadre of supporters whose efforts together over the years led to the quake. They included not only Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson, a Republican who signed the law, but his predecessor, Rudy Perpich, a Democrat, who worked for years to advance public school choice in the land of 10,000 lakes, which would spread like a tsunami nationwide as they talked to their colleagues around the country at various gatherings of governors. From Bill Clinton to George W. Bush, from Pete Wilson to Tom Carper, Ds and Rs were in agreement then – as they are now if you look below the predictable press and social media haters – united in their belief that all children deserve the best education – no matter what.

Congratulations to all who have worked to achieve this incredible milestone. You number in the thousands – tens of thousands – and like the lakes, you have created a watershed for improving lives that will continue to spread for generations, as long as you work to protect it.

GO TO THE LIBRARY. The National Charter Schools Founders Library, created in partnership with the National Charter Schools Institute and led by former state representative and charter pioneer Ember Reichott-Junge, is collecting and capturing the history of the charter schools movement for future generations to enjoy and learn from, and the Institute is spearheading the next 15 months of education and celebration about the movement that changed public education for good.

EDREFORM U. More history awaits you at CER’s own “university.” Life-long learners may want to understand the good, the bad and the ugly. Almost 30 years of work and observations are stored at EdReformU. For the unfiltered record of the work behind education reform, and about what it takes to make schools work better for all children, you’ll want to bookmark this section of staging.edreform.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS. Join CER for another edition of its acclaimed ACTION Series Webinars on June 16 at 12:00pm (EST), where we’ll talk with legal experts and issue analysts about the most recent upsides and challenges arising from the Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue Supreme Court decision, which marked an unprecedented, historic milestone for education opportunity everywhere. Register here.

That’s a wrap for us this week. Grab a piece of cake or glass of champagne and start your celebration of 30 years of innovation, excellence and opportunity!

Much has been written and documented about the widespread frustration of parents, this year in particular, many of whom discovered for the first time that education is unequally distributed, a harsh reality that was only magnified by Covid-19.  Thanks to some bold lawmakers, that reality is beginning to change. To wit:

FLORIDA IS #1.  Florida has toppled Arizona to take the #1 spot on the national Parent Power! Index, an interactive tool which measures states on the degree to which they give parents the power to exercise fundamental decisions regarding how their children are educated. The Sunshine State is brighter than the rest because parents not only have more opportunity to select an education for their children – among public, private and charter – than all other states, but it has improved laws that will encourage more equity and access for the least advantaged. More on how is just a click away.

SORRY ARIZONA. The Grand Canyon state lost its #1 spot because it has stood in place while others moved head rapidly. While the southwest hot spot still has achieved enormous strides, as State Rep. Shawnna Bolick put it “It makes me sad for Arizona’s families knowing our state is no longer #1… Other states have been more successful passing #schoolchoice legislation.

A MOUNTAINEER MODEL.  In a well-deserved ascent, West Virginia climbed mole hills and mountains to go from 49th overall to #4 on the Index, making the Mountaineer State a model for other states who similarly have encountered challenges in safeguarding parents’ rights.  Kudos to the Cardinal Institute for keeping the information flowing and pressure up, to Governor Jim Justice,  Speaker Hanshaw, Senate Education Committee chair Patricia Rucker and House of Delegates Education Committee Vice Chair Joshua Higginbotham.

COMING SOON. Another 10 states are likely to rise in the coming days as states, like Montana, expanded its now famous and US Supreme Court-sanctioned tax credit program, Arkansas expanded its tax credit scholarship program and Kentucky established and strengthened their a new education savings account program (ESA).

As we have argued, it shouldn’t take a pandemic to trigger a demand for more and better educational opportunities for our kids, but little did we know that the dramatic failure of the system to support students would lead to states heeding the call to change so rapidly

JOIN US!   Follow us on Twitter and join us in spreading the news about the tsunami of education change flooding the nation.  Learn more about what it takes to have real parent power and make it happen in your state!

MINDS VS MATTER. A video is causing a national stir, and calling into question whether Black Lives Matter is at odds with ensuring that Black Minds Matter, which happens to be the group founded by a woman who should have the same national recognition as Amanda Gorman. Like Gorman, Denisha Merriweather also credits education opportunity for ensuring her successful path. Her recent tweet of this video featuring Rashad Turner, founder of the Minnesota Parents’ Union questions why if we support black lives don’t we also support giving them the power to drive their own education, especially in light of how many students of color are denied equal access to great education on a daily basis.

On that note, we give the last word to Phila. activist, educator and founder of Boys Latin Charter School and a member of the CER Board David Hardy:

“…alarming and criminal…” is how @CMThomasPHL described the Phila School District treatment of Black-led public charter schools. We can’t let them get away with it! #alleyesonphilly #FCCS @edreform @PACharter @edchoice

— david p. hardy (@davidphardy) May 28, 2021

Amen. See you next week. Visit staging.edreform.com and get informed about #FundFamilies, the necessary demise of the Blaine Amendments and more!

NATION AT RISK…AGAIN. Despite a need for mastery of science which leads to growth in tech and innovation, US public school student achievement has remained relatively flat at a failing score for 8th and 12th graders and lower for students in 4th grade. (Hmmm… didn’t science used to be robust, and fun? When it’s taught well…) The results of this science NAEP from 2019, aka the Nation’s Report Card, found 36% of 4th graders, 35% of 8th graders and 22% of 8th graders are at or above proficient.  The scores were not significantly different in math or reading.  This level of mediocrity has been steady for at least a decade. In the meantime, the unions fight over desk distancing in classrooms.



CATHOLIC SCHOOLS SOAR, THOUGH.  NAEP scores have also shown that parochial students consistently outscore their public school peers. Whether math, reading or now science, Catholic schools do better, even with disadvantaged students. Overall, their 4th-grade proficiency was 47%, a full 12 points higher than the public school average, 48% for 8th graders. Time to bury bigotry in the form of Blaine Amendments and open the door to opportunity for all.

PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALL. Just look at Yuma Aztec Charter High School which offers its students a “second chance”, and they say it’s the only one of its kind in the country operated by a County Juvenile Court system. The school not only emphasizes academics but also helps students get jobs in summer and upon graduation.   Also smart – Pensacola State College is working to open a new charter school targeted at high school students who are from military families or are considered at-risk.  The school will provide students an opportunity to earn college credits and graduate high school with an associate degree. El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills, CA  just captured the school’s FIFTH academic decathlon crown in an online competition. Students at the Philadelphia Performing Arts String Theory Charter School created a book aimed at kids in Rwanda. Putting “theory” into practice, their book ‘Under One Sky: Baskets of Fun, Under One Sun,’ is 36 pages of beautiful imagery and poetry to help preschoolers in Rwanda learn English.

CDC NEEDS THIS CHILD-CENTRIC ADVICE.  NOW. Millions of parents are still confused about school return plans in summer and fall, not to mention the vast majority of less advantaged families who naturally have trepidation about sending their kids back to schools that have been a mess historically. Brown University’s Emily Oster, who has been a voice of reason – and science – throughout the pandemic and has tracked school openings asks and answers the critical question  and begs the CDC to do the same  – “What’s safe for kids now?”  

RANDI & FRIENDS WILL COST US A TRILLION $. Aside from the social and academic costs, the heavy economic costs are now even more clear in this new study from the Wharton School of Economics, which estimates the cost for America to be over a trillion dollars. That is just the GDP of lost future earnings – estimated to be millions more – as kids are continuously kept out of classrooms.  Return kids to their schools, give them opportunities to learn over the summer and the loss goes down.

IT’S NOT ABOUT BBQs.  It’s a time to remember and honor those brave men and women who died in battle defending this extraordinary place we call America.   We are talking about Memorial Day, and a good occasion to teach your children well about the nation that continues to move “toward a more perfect union” (Quiz your kids – where is that written). So have that burger and beer but engage your friends and neighbors on what it is really about. And be safe!

CHARTERS HELP KIDS AND DISTRICTS. Most of you won’t ever hear those words, so we’ll help you to say them. Charters – Help – Kids – AND – Districts.  This in-depth study of charters’ effects on local districts makes. the unambiguous conclusion that charters improved their host districts’ finances in total revenue per pupil, total spending per pupil, local revenue per pupil, and per-pupil spending on support services.  So there.





THANK YOU, RANDI. More and more states are buoyed by both the freedom imparted by Espinoza  (not to mention Randi Weingarten’s deceitful actions) to empower families and kids. Florida expanded private school scholarships and vouchers by $200 million.  Kitty-corner on the map, Montana just expanded the tax credit for donations to fund public-school “innovative educational” programs,  the national picture shows the largest expansion of school choice in U.S. history.  At least 50 school choice bills have been introduced in 30 states so far, designed to create or expand vouchers, tax-credit scholarships and education savings accounts, among other measures.  Follow the bouncing ball for regular updates at Edreform.com’s Parent Power Index!

In other news, a new survey found that  71% of California Black registered voters surveyed support charters. “Nearly all of California’s top majority Black public schools are actually charter schools led or founded by Black people who have used chartering to specifically create schools that are open to all and aimed at educating Black children to a level of excellence.” The power of choice.

All this progress doesn’t happen by accident. Education Opportunity and Innovation is just pure common sense, good policy and good for families. Keep speaking out, be active, challenge those who stand in the way and start your own schools or efforts. We’ve seen these head-winds before. They are not changing course.  Let us know how we can help you!

ON PRESIDENTS AND PROCLAMATIONS. It appears that the best-kept secret this #CharterSchoolsWeek is that sadly, our President is conspicuously absent from issuing the traditional celebratory proclamation honoring charter schools. Bill Clinton did, George Bush did, Barack Obama did and Donald Trump did. Say it ain’t so Joe… and that you are just late not absent from the party. Please?

RICH HISTORY OF DIVERSE VOICES. Charters have always enjoyed support from every corner, demographic, region and beyond with one exception – The Blob. Unions, school boards associations (most), other establishment groups and even the NAACP have taken positions against, while their rank and file members or those they work to represent support and even send their kids to charter schools. CER put that history together a year ago this week and should help you and those you think need a little history lesson to learn the who, what and why behind these great institutions.



THE NOT-SO-NEW-ANYMORE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. Speaking of which, it never hurts to give those doing the real work the floor for a bit. We’re grateful 9 amazing leaders from across the US will take a little time with us tomorrow at noon. Join us for a special edition of CER’s Action Series, Charter School Profiles In Courage on Wednesday, May 12th, at noon EDT AND GET INVOLVED THIS WEEK, TOO!

COMMON SENSE IN THE BIG APPLE.  Merryl Tisch, Chairwoman of the State University of New York (SUNY) is, according to Manhattan Institute’s Ray Domenico,  “calling on the state Legislature to lift the cap that prevents more charter schools from opening in New York City.” Her reasoning is unassailable, as before the pandemic, more than 1 in 5 Black students in the city were enrolled in charters, as were close to 1 in 10 Hispanic students. Combined, Black and Hispanic students formed more than 90 percent of the students enrolled in city charters. Parents know what’s best, evidenced by their exceptionally strong demand for seats in charter schools.  

 KUDOS. Just a few of the more than 7,500 china-breakers show what transforming education looks like. Wise leaders in Fort Worth Texas are looking to rescue a failing public school by turning it over to Phalen Leadership Academies.  In Philadelphia, Mastery Charter Schools has invited all its students back, while the “regular” public schools currently have 3% attendance.  Lots of proud kids, teachers and parents at International Leadership Charter High School in the Bronx as every senior was accepted to college.

VISIT A CHARTER SCHOOL. There’s nothing better than seeing it for yourself to understand how and why charter schools defy the odds – especially when there is a monopoly working overtime to convince you otherwise. You can call your local charter association if you’re interested in learning which schools are most able to accommodate visits – when Covid 19 is less of a threat, of course. You could also follow the schools on Twitter, or @edreform, and we’ll show you the way.

AMERICA LOST A VISIONARY LEADER YESTERDAY, with the passing of Pete du Pont. Usually described simply as a former Governor of Delaware, he was so much more. Eschewing what would have been a very comfortable perch in the family business, he devoted his life to public service, eventually serving three terms in Congress and two as Governor and always championed education opportunity amidst his fellow Governors. He will always be near to our hearts as a founding board member of CER, where we quickly grew to admire his rare combination of being whip-smart and incredibly charming. The final lines of Hamlet come to mind, “Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince, may choirs of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

STRONG LAWS MATTER. This June 2021 is 30 years since the first charter school law was enacted, in Minnesota. It’s a great time to be reminded (or educated) that great schools require strong laws, that not only foster a friendly environment for applications and schools but ensure they get what they need. But it’s still the case that most charter laws are only fair to middling. That needs to change. Head to CER’s National Charter School Rankings to understand what it takes to ensure your state has the environment for really great charter schools (Hint — it starts with independent, multiple authorizers and equity as necessary preconditions). Every advocate needs to be an expert!

FLORIDA SHINES. Speaking of strong charter states — and we just were — a big hat tip to Florida for adding colleges and universities to the list of charter school authorizers which expands charter opportunities throughout the state, particularly when some jurisdictions and school boards still think they should be the only ones in control.

JERSEY FIGHTS. Charters in the Garden State demanding that Congress fully fund the federal charter program. “Now, at a time when we should all be coming together to support all of our children, Congress is considering cuts to the Charter Schools Program that funds new, high-quality public charter schools who so often support those most in-need.” But there’s more. The state’s charter association is also supporting charters in a lawsuit that mischaracterizes charters as contributing to segregation, it’s completely the opposite. “New Jersey public charter schools are part of the solution, not the problem. They are actually providing a remedy to school segregation.” Exactly.

JOIN US FOR PROFILES IN COURAGE.  Charter schools in many states were serving children well when traditional public school systems were closed, or just doing a poor job at remote education. In honor of National Charter Schools Week (May 9-15), CER will profile some of the stand-out examples of education that came from among the nation’s innovative charter school world, as well as some of the craziness they had to contend with. Join us Wednesday, May 12th, at noon EDT featuring leaders of online, on-ground and diverse schools! Information here.

BY THE NUMBERS: Charters drive up student achievement, particularly in low-income communities — check out Arizona’s rise over the past 10 plus years — among both charter and district schools. The reason? Competition.

WHY CAP OPPORTUNITY? The results in Arizona have been replicated many times around the country. The unions however are still in denial, seeking to cap opportunity where kids need it most — in this case in Queens, N.Y. — where a proposed charter school aimed at struggling high school students can’t open — because the state Legislature won’t raise the charter school cap. States with charter caps — which are always negotiated into law as a devil’s bargain — punish the kids that need help the most.  Shame on them.