One App and the Need for Good Schools

Patrick Dobard is the former leader of the Recovery School District and was once on the BESE. He now is the leader of a charter system in NOLA,  He wrote column via NOLA.com basically stating why he believes  OneApp isn't the problem,  I don't totally disagree with him, but here's what caught my eye.

He says "Our children's futures are not a game of musical chairs." The problem is that It has been just that. it's the fault of both One App and the Charter model.

Check The Screenshot:

Here's why I feel It's both:

Charter Schools are required to use it as a selective process. Thus eliminating the option to attend a school in your neighborhood.

There have always been few Good Schools in New Orleans. The Master Plan was turnaround failing schools by bringing in Charters. Those systems have failed due to how they operated.  Unqualified teachers & faculty lead to unaccredited courses and students being unable to pass classes nor state exams. Those charters have gotten revoked and replaced only for the same cycle to continue.

To my knowledge, The one app selection process allows the parent to choose from a limited number of schools which their children qualify to attend.  GPA's Matter for the Good Schools and seating is limited.  If those schools have reached their capacity,  The lower ranking schools become your only options.  If the student doesn't qualify for any of the schools selected, They're automatically bound for a failing school with open enrollment.

Other factors include special needs accommodations, Extra Curricular Activities, and other academic programs or special interests. When a school isn't equipt with the needs of a student, Parents may not want their child enrolled there. It's possible for One App to choose a school that doesn't appeal to the parents and their kids. The only real hoorah for Charters themselves is to say the Schools before Katrina was worse.

Example: Fortier becoming Lusher wasn't a turnaround, that was a takeover.
It was for a good reason, but still a takeover. Katrina made it easier for Lusher's expansion.  With nobody here, they renovated and restored the building.  They opened up to a limited student body. You had to be in the Lusher system, Qualify with the GPA OR be the child of Tulane University Faculty.  Under this model, no former Fortier students would have been able to attend anyway. That's pretty much what all Successful Charters are doing.

For Failing Chapters, they close, get Rechartered, They get renamed becoming a new school with a new standard.  Whoever doesn't qualify has to attend the next failing school.  The cycle repeats itself continuously.

it just is, what it is!

- Book