The Charter Schools Act of 1992 states that:

*It is the intent of the Legislature…to provide opportunities for teachers,
parents, pupils, and community members to establish and maintain schools
that operate independently from the existing school district structure, as a
method to accomplish all of the following:*

*(a) Improve pupil learning.*

*(b) Increase learning opportunities for all pupils, with special emphasis
on expanded learning experiences for pupils who are identified as
academically low achievement. Encourage the use of different and innovative
teaching methods.*

*(d) Create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the
opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site.*

*(e) Provide parents and pupils with expanded choices in the types of
educational opportunities that are available within the public school
system.*

*(f) Hold the schools established under this part accountable for meeting
measurable pupil outcomes, and provide the schools with a method to change
from rule-based to performance-based accountability systems.*

*(g) Provide vigorous competition within the public school system to
stimulate continual improvements in all public schools. Ed. Code
§47601(a)-(g).*

I can say with firm conviction that Washington is otherwise as good if not better than other schools in the district. However, I and those of us who have know the staff behind NCLB, who have had educational relationships with these educators prior to NCLB, who have invested real time and energy into exploring NCLB have come to the conclusion that a traditional school in this district is not in the best interests of our children.

Is NCLB going to be perfect? Of course not. Is it closer to the type of learning environment/model we desire? Yes. Why isn’t it okay to not accept the status quo? Must we all buy into the traditional school model?

Frankly I do not give a damn about STAR test scores and feel they do a disservice to our children , our teachers and our schools. You CAN and all should opt out of having your child tested in protest to this sham. The State and the District will not tell you but it is your right as a parent to do so.

Formula answers? How is this, is this a formula answer?

“Student achievement among educationally and economically disadvantaged students in California public charter schools is improving faster than in non-charter public schools, according to the studies from the Hoover Institute at Stanford University (2003), and the School of Education at California State University, Los Angeles.”

- California Department of Education
Last Reviewed: Thursday, October 18, 2007

You question how I can ask why we need a full time communications and public relations type person for the school district? In my five years of experience this position has done NOTHING to talk about dispelling the public’s ill-advised perception of Washington, nor have they promoted Washington as being as good a school as it is. So neighborhood parents continue to send their kids elsewhere in droves. Why would anyone want to continue with something or someone as ineffectual as that? If that isn’t mediocrity and failure then I guess I don’t know what is.

Furthermore, you have some cojones preaching to me when your kid isn’t even in school yet! You have not walked in my shoes. You have know idea. YOU. HAVE. NO. IDEA. You offer us nothing but excuses and platitudes. The educators of NCLB have given us real answers and options.

Good luck to the energized people at Ruby Bridges. You remind me of all of us four or five years ago.