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For how long must a charter school fail?
Published on Tuesday, Nov 06, 2007
All of this reflects a disturbing pattern at the school for kindergarten through fifth grade.
A year ago, the school's sponsor, the Richland Academy of the Arts in Mansfield, put Ida B. Wells on probation, giving the school six months to repair glaring financial and administrative problems. The troubles included the Akron Police Department having been called to the school to calm disputes between staff members and Kofi Khemet, the school's educational leader.
The Richland deadline stretched to June, and then July. By August, on the eve of the school year, Richland reported substantial improvement. The finances were no longer ''unauditable.'' The source of the disputes had been addressed. The school moved to an improved location. The sponsor spoke hopefully about 70 students enrolling at Ida B. Wells, far from the peak of 134 yet (according to Richland) enough students to achieve financial stability.
The events of last week suggest the school prone still to troubling ways. It remains in debt, and most telling, it lacks sufficient enrollment, with just 40 students. Charter school advocates often explain to those in charge of public schools the significance of parents and students voting with their feet. According to that standard, Ida B. Wells has been a huge failure, losing 70 percent of its enrollment.
Many charter schools perform effectively. If anything, they should stand front and center urging the state to crack down on those charter schools that do not measure up, or even come close. Ida B. Wells has had time enough. Its students deserve better.
Get the full article here.
