Author Archives: Stan Jester

AJC Plays Dueling Charter Cluster Banjos

Posted on October 18, 2013 | 1 comment

Maureen Downey, Get Schooled blog at the AJC, is directing the Druid Hills Charter Cluster version of dueling banjos today.
On Banjo #1, Jim Bostic and Brad Bryant write,

The charter cluster is not an attempt to secede from DeKalb Schools; instead, it puts the schoolhouse in the driver’s seat and arms it with resources while moving the central office appropriately to a support role.
Principals will be given the autonomy to hire and fire and determine resource use.
Teachers will be entrusted to undertake curriculum, instruction, assessment, and discipline decisions based on the specific needs of their students.
And both will receive pay raises for the first time in years (thanks to lower overhead costs).

You can read the entire pro charter story and comment on Maureen’s blog at DeKalb Schools: Two education leaders urge approval of Druid Hills charter cluster
On Banjo #2, College professor Cindy Lutenbacher writes,

At long last, I have been able to attain information about this conversion charter petition, and I am quite honestly appalled at its brazen attempt to create a privately-run school that is funded with taxpayer dollars.

You can read the entire condemnation of the charter petition and comment on Maureen’s blog at Druid Hills Charter Cluster: Dig deep and it’s a “sieve of loopholes” that will exclude and harm some kids.

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Posted in DeKalb County School District

Common Core – Where Do We Stand?

Posted on October 18, 2013 | Comments Off on Common Core – Where Do We Stand?

What is Common Core?
Supporters assert it is a high-quality, voluntarily adopted set of national mathematics and language arts standards that will help transform American education by aiming all students at uniform, lofty goals. Opponents argue  adoption of the Core was federally coerced, the standards are of dubious quality, and one size simply cannot fit all. Meanwhile, a large majority of Americans know nothing about the Common Core standards, despite the fact they are being implemented in 46 states. In July 2010 the Georgia State Board of Education voted to have Georgia adhere to the Common Core standards.
Where does State Superintendent Barge stand?
During his tenure as the state’s schools chief, Barge supported and has presided over the implementation of the Common Core standards telling the AJC, “As we move to the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards, students will get the high-level skills in algebra and geometry necessary to be successful in college and careers“. However, Barge now says on his website “I wish Georgia would have followed the state of Virginia and realized our then-current Georgia Performance Standards were at the college and career-ready level. We should have remained with those standards rather than changing them for the second time in a few short years.”
Where does Governor Deal stand?
Gov. Nathan Deal has ordered a sweeping review of the Common Core national guidelines and asked the State Board of Education to “formally un-adopt” a part of the program.
Where does Nancy Jester stand?
In an article appearing in the Marietta Daily Journal, Nancy writes, “The same Georgia Department of Education asks us to trust them on adopting Common Core standards. The Georgia DOE that has been at the helm as we performed so poorly as a state on most education metrics. When some of our elected officials say they are being informed about Common Core by the experts from our DOE, I’m concerned about the advice they are receiving … Georgia has a long road ahead but Common Core is not a path to prosperity.”
So, where do we stand?
In dire need of federal funding, Georgia welcomed the RTTT (Race To The Trough) money in exchange for adopting the Common Core. The back peddling from the top since then has kicked up a lot of dust and it’s hard to tell what’s going on. Nevertheless, I hear the stop Common Core drums beat louder every day.

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Posted in Common Core, Nancy Jester