Charter School: Knowledge Without Understanding Is Misleading
Watching the application process for the charter school Sacramento School of Engineering and Science (SSES) is like watching sausage being made. It becomes easy to mislead our community without an understanding of the required processes, requirements for establishing the school, and the imprecise guidance presented by the state agencies involved. That being said, let’s discuss what the charter school operations will probably look like.
Charter School Operations
Because a charter school is a public school, placing it under the umbrella of state education entities, it must follow all of the education requirements – required classes for graduation – in English, History, and Science. The charter school must also follow all health and safety requirements that all public-school districts must adhere to. As far as personnel is concerned, all human resource laws and union agreements must be included. Special Education laws are part of the mix as well. There is NOTHING that is allowed to be dismissed.
ANY high school student may enter the lottery for admission. There are no admission tests or disqualifiers for entering a student in the lottery to gain the opportunity to attend the school. The admission requirements are the same for all public schools; the standards are no different than when the student is enrolled in the Alamogordo Public Schools. Any year the number of applicants exceeds openings, a designated date is set for a transparent drawing. If any parent or student has changed the intent to attend, the next student drawn will be announced.
Alamogordo is being given an enormous opportunity for high school students to have a new choice for a quality education focused on science and technology.
Why is this charter school different from attending APS?
First, fewer students per teacher allow teachers to help students individually grasp the needed skills and understanding, which remains elusive in traditional districts.
The curriculum encompasses additional confidence-building skills essential in any professional, technical, or vocational job. No student is required to be an engineer or even want to be one.
Many times, students are bored and then give up because they are not challenged in their classes. This can often cause students to lose interest in their education, and some act out because of it. The charter school will be a challenging educational environment, encouraging those students wanting to dig deeper for the rewards of knowledge and understanding. ANYONE can succeed in this educational atmosphere. The bar is set higher. Without placing expectations and accountability on students, less effort is shown.
Now, the Sausage Making Part
The application process is sometimes straightforward about deadlines but needs to be clearer about the exact requirements for required information.
The budget has concerned a few, who have relentlessly portrayed insufficient data as “exposing” the lack of finances. These Town-Cryer-Liars shouting as Chicken Little: The Sky is Falling; IT WILL FAIL. This is because of the lack of understanding by those spouting their statements with supposed information to support that claim. The hearing did not adequately clarify that the preliminary budget was developed by an outside professional entity and contained all information available. The bottom line is that until the charter school has been approved, no grants can be received, agreements remain incomplete, and building acquisition is stymied. So, that leaves a vague direction regarding transportation, meals, and other essential services. That is the REALITY! Charter schools must depend on the 2+ million dollars in grants from the United States Department of Education and wait for approval. No charter school is guaranteed funding during the application process; therefore, no agreements can be secured before the application has been approved. Only then can a solid budget be prepared and service contracts be secured. At this point, only assumptions can be discussed, which can appear problematic without the public understanding. Also, other finances are available from many sources but remain unstated because nothing can be solid and secured at that point. This is sausage making, which is not pleasant or appetizing. Not the final product.
Because of the massive disinformation being disseminated, reality is obscured. It is knowledge without understanding on many levels. Why? Jealousy, special interests, misguided protection of APS? What needs to be kept in focus is that the charter school offers parents and students the opportunity to choose to attend a school that has the highest education standards at no charge to all enrolled students. AN EXCEPTIONAL LEVEL OF EDUCATION! FREE!
Yes, APS has a STEM program and is not faulted. However, charter school leaders are uniquely offering year-round classes, four-period days, longer class sessions, project-based learning, and internships. Founding Committee members and supports are involved in science and technology nationally and internationally and hold extensive knowledge and understanding of the industry and the expectations needed for successful early careers. That type of experience and recognition is rare, yet Alamogordo has it with this charter school.
All of the fear-mongering is wasteful. What is needed is everybody working to understand the facts and to improve education. There has never been a charter school that has destroyed a public school district. It could encourage the existing school district to step up to the challenge and get stronger. Perhaps the APS budgeting will cut out excessive expenditures and become “lean and mean” in its financial and educational approach. Having a charter school in Alamogordo is all positive. There will be adjustments in both scenarios, but failure is not an option for either APS or the charter school.
Admittedly, more might have been done. More can always be done. Important to understand is that work continues, and perhaps LULAC will make a positive impact by joining the community effort to improve outreach by noting the lottery by default allows diversity and matches the demographics at APS, producing flyers in both English and Spanish, conducting scripted phone bank outreach by bi-lingual educators, hold MainGate and LULAC special events, hire a financial consultant to review budget numbers, and continue the broad search for a building.
A massive point—there will also be parental involvement on the Governing Board, up to two current student parents. Remember, the leaders involved in this charter school are dedicated to the education and success of the charter school, helping each student acquire the knowledge and skills needed to help them decide between college, vocational schooling, or immediate employment.
Crabs In A Bucket
Crab mentality is a metaphor for crabs’ behavior, which, when caught and kept in a bucket, would not allow any other crabs to escape. When any tried to escape, the rest pulled it down (shared joy in misery). Similar behavior has been observed in humans, although in varied circumstances. Psychology Today
Crab mentality is a phenomenon where people react negatively, in terms of their thoughts, statements, or actions, to those who get ahead of them, even though they don’t expect direct benefits from doing so. For example, crab mentality can cause someone to discourage or sabotage their friend who is starting to do well at school simply because they’re bitter about struggling with their studies. Effectiviology.com
Crab mentality is self-sabotaging behavior best described as ‘If I can’t have it, neither can you.’ Crab mentality is not only counter-productive but also destructive. Learning Mind.com
Everyone should have the best opportunities to succeed. Let’s not sabotage our community’s efforts to provide a free, success-oriented education.
Time is short to provide feedback to the PEC Commissioners on the application and need for a charter school. Please email charter.schools@ped.nm.gov and express your support.
