Good day, CharterFolk.
As ever, many developments are afoot in CharterLand this week.
We start with encouraging primary results in Illinois. INCS Action reports that 6 of its 7 candidates for the statehouse prevailed.
Of particular note is the victory of Cleopatra Cowley, a former charter school parent and longtime ally of INCS.
Next, we turn to encouraging academic results emerging across the country.
Idaho’s latest statewide rankings show that charter schools are among the state’s strongest performers, consistently earning top spots and demonstrating a leading role in academic excellence statewide.
In California’s Central Valley, charter schools are helping drive a wave of Distinguished School recognitions, reflecting a broader statewide trend where charters represent 12% of public schools but 19% of this year’s honorees.
And in Washington state, early evidence points to the same pattern, with charter graduates more likely to be employed, earn higher salaries, and own homes within seven years of graduation.
In a cruel irony, Washington lawmakers in the same week cut roughly $1,500 per student from many charter schools, erasing a key support that helped partially compensate for persistent funding inequities …
… despite the Washington Association turning out large numbers of CharterFolk at the state capitol on the issue.
Status quo interests are doing what they can to protect their own during a period of financial distress brought about primarily by the actions of the status quo itself.
A month ago in Baltimore, the teachers union lamented impending cuts in district schools.
A couple of weeks later, the school district is attempting to prevent the opening of a new charter school on a technicality.
Miami-Dade is dealing with an unprecedented midyear loss of students, on top of what was described as an unprecedented year-over-year decline.
Across California, financial red flags and pink slips are going out.
There’s no easy way through this. We just have to keep pulling off academic miracles.
Building allies.
Modeling courageous leadership.
While recognizing that the inevitable is on our side.
And, oh yeah, did I mention we’ve got to keep building political strength?
See top of post.
CharterFolk, if we can win in Chicago …
… we can win anywhere.