Debunking Reformy Logic One Tweet At A Time-Part 1

My blog was mostly quiet this summer. I made a conscious decision to dial back and re-charge my batteries after several years of non-stop work. But as if on cue, on the second day of school, this happened on Twitter and we were off to the races:

The exchange between Laura Waters, Derrell Bradford, Ryan Hill and I turned into an all-day affair with Save Our Schools NJ, Jersey Jazzman and a few other pro-public education advocates chiming in. It was a 3-pronged discussion focusing on:

1. Waters' continuous, illogical reasoning 
2. Hill's assertions that:
   - charter schools are underfunded compared to district schools
   - every child should have choice but only when that choice is a charter school
3. Bradford's assertions that:
   - I'm a teacher, therefore I am not an expert on public education
   - I'm a white, suburban woman so I should "say nothing"

Part 1: Laura Waters' Illogical Reasoning

Waters, a 'reformer', blogger and Lawrence Twp BOE member frequently posts at NJ Spotlight and is frequently excoriated in the comments for her illogical reasoning and inability to grasp basic public education facts, policy and research. See here, here, here. See Mother Crusader here, here; Jersey Jazzman here, here, here; Bob Braun here. 

Here's an example from her latest post that started all this (linked in the tweet above):

Notice she doesn't deny any of this. But in her world, calling out the district and Hill's charter schools for possibly violating both state and federal laws in numerous ways, including segregating students who are most in need of these 'miracle' schools, is defending "the status-quo". 

As for the "lobbying groups" comment? This is news? If Waters is so concerned about lobbyists pressuring legislators, perhaps she should look in her own backyard. The NJ Charter Schools Association (which stayed mum during the whole exchange) is one of many education 'reform' (*ahem*) non-profits including Students First (Michelle Rhee), NYCAN (Derrell Bradford is ED), The Foundation for Excellence in Education (Jeb!s baby), The Gates, Walton, Broad and Koch Foundations, ALEC and a zillion other pro-charter/pro-ed 'reform' organizations that spend a lot of time and money lobbying legislators. And yes, so do ELC, NJEA and SOSNJ. Unfortunately, that's the business of government, made worse by Citizens United. 

But what does New Jersey have to show for all that lobbying, and other stuff, by ELC, NJEA and SOSNJ (which is a volunteer organization)? Plenty! The list of accolades for NJ's public schools is long. We consistently rank as one of the top three in the nation, we outperform many countries, and our school funding forumla (at least what's left of it after Christie has hacked away at it) which the Education Law Center originally litigated and continues to fight for, is a national model for school funding. NJEA provides one of the largest educator professional development conferences in the country (that pesky convention in November that Gov. Christie hates), and despite his best efforts to weed out all those "bad teachers", over 97% of us were rated effective or better last year. All of this didn't happen by magic. It happened because of the continued efforts of organizations such as these. Don't believe me? Check out their mission statements, then tell me about the status quo. 

But... we are also home to one of the poorest, most dangerous cities in the country: Camden, with a staggering 52% of children living below the poverty level. And while poverty numbers in the rest of the country have declined, NJ's have risen. So, it defies all logic and reasoning—not to mention research—to think that slashing funding, closing public schools and opening charter schools will magically cure all the ills in our poorest communities. But pesky facts never stop 'reformers' from spouting stuff like this:

Speaking of reality checks: where's the link to the research that backs that claim? Which students? Special ed? ELL? Disabled? Free lunch? Free and reduced price lunch? Do better at what? Which schools? What about attrition rates? So many questions, no answers from someone who refers to herself as “one of the premier analysts of New Jersey education policy”. I would think that if she really wanted to make her case, she would have posted a link to some research or at least the NJDOE website. C'mon, throw us a bone... a scrap... something... anything?

And as for that question I asked? Yup, never got an answer. I have never seen nor heard a charter advocate admit that most serve a different population than traditional public schools even though recent research confirms this. And therein lies the rub.

In Part 2 I take on Ryan Hill and his "All you need is [choice]" mantra.

UPDATE: @NJCSA hires Darth Vader to suppress charter school study

The Empire Strikes Back

Last week I reported that, in what many feel is a blatant attempt to suppress first amendment rights, the New Jersey Charter Schools Association filed state ethics charges against Rutgers Professor Julia Sass Rubin after she and Rutgers doctoral student Mark Weber (aka. ed blogger Jersey Jazzman) released a study showing the glaring disparities in student populations between the state's charter and traditional public schools. 

Who did the NJCSA hire to file these charges and run the spin? Darth Vader. 

That's what the Center for Media and Democracy called Michael Turner, the ex-Bush and Christie PR hired gun that the NJ Charter Schools Association paid to attack Julia and Mark's research. They profile Turner's career as an employee of the MWW Group, a PR firm that brainstorms how to "discredit opposition" such as the Interfaith Community Organization, the Meadowlands Conservation Trust and the Hackensack Riverkeeper." 

Turner founded Burton Public Affairs in 2010. This is how he advertises his services:

"A lot of the clients who retain my services recognize its a must win situation and they are willing to compensate me well for my more aggressive practice of the art." (emphasis mine)

Because it's all about the some children, right?

@NJCSA Attacks 1st Amendment Rights

When the facts aren't on your side...

When you're up against the wall...

When you've been caught with your hand in the cookie jar...

You take the cheap shot. 

That's what the New Jersey Charter Schools Association did last week when they filed ethics charges against Rutgers Professor Julia Sass Rubin who, along with doctoral student Mark Weber (aka. Jersey Jazzman) published this study on the segregationist practices of the state's charter schools which concludes what we already knew (from JJ's post):

New Jersey's charter schools do not serve nearly as many children in economic disadvantage, who have special education needs, or who are English language learners as their host districts' schools. 

Here's the crux of the NJCSA's complaint:

As an association of educators [more on this below], the NJCSA embraces the right of all educators to speak on matters of public debate. But the NJCSA and its members will not stand by as Dr. Sass Rubin devalues the reputation of our State University, a reputation that has been earned over years of excellence in research and academic achievement, to endorse her personal opinions and advance her personal advocacy interests. Because Dr. Sass Rubin has promised two further ‘studies,’ the NJCSA has filed this complaint today to ensure appropriate corrective action is taken before Dr. Sass Rubin releases her personal views as Rutgers research and creates further embarrassment for Rutgers University. (emphasis mine)

Does anyone besides me find it interesting that this press release is not on the NJCSA's website? I mean c'mon, this is big 'reformy' news! Sadly, I found it on the uber-'reformy' and always entertaining (for its sheer lack of veracity) NJ Left Behind blog. 

Why? Maybe because the NJCSA knows it got caught red handed. Maybe because they know these are not Julia and JJ's personal opinions. The data they presented is right out there for the whole world to see on the NJ DOE website—data that the charter schools themselves reported. There was nothing to OPRA. Any 5th grader who knows how to do a simple web search can easily find it. 

Ooops. 

They're backed into a corner and have nothing left to do but pull a trick out of the bag of their biggest cheerleader: Gov Christie. They launched a personal attack. They skirted the real issues and went for the low-blow. Educator/blogger Peter Greene reports

The NJCSA is behaving like a punk, and like a weak punk at that who lacks the tools or the skills to come at Rubin and Weber directly. And they have more work to do, because as Weber points out on his own blog, the conclusions have already been acknowledged as the truth by ['reformy' Newark Superintendent] Cami Anderson and ['reformy' Camden Superintendent] Paymon Rouhanifard, so NJCSA better start ginning up a full scale job-threatening division for the entire state.

Retired Star Ledger reporter turned investigative blogger extraordinaire, Bob Braun reports on his Facebook page:

(My note: In the press release NJCSA calls itself an "association of educators". In addition to what Bob Braun lists below, I added what is also known about the board members, charter schools and other organizations with which they are associated, including links to other posts and information, and indicated in green or red whether or not they are actual educators. In some instances I was not able to find conclusive evidence whether or not the individual has a degree in education. If anyone does find evidence, please let me know. I do want to be accurate. There is a big difference between someone who works in education vs someone who is actually trained as an educator and has K-12 teaching experience.)

Back to Braun's post:

HERE ARE THE BOARD MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATION. CONTACT THEM AND DEMAND THEY WITHDRAW STATE ETHICS CHARGES AGAINST JULIA SASS RUBIN. I think it's a hoot that Dawood Farahi, the president of Kean, and Ryan Hill, executive director of TEAM Academy, are on the board. Farahi and his odd resume and his $210,000 executive piece of office furniture--and Ryan Hill and his involvement in "Pink Hula Hoop." They have the nerve to file ethics charges against anyone? And, hey, look–a Rutgers administrator is on the board–does she issue a disclaimer every time she speaks? Does her presence on the board mean Rutgers is in favor of charter schools, and defends their abuses in Newark, Jersey City, Camden and other cities? This is just the beginning, guys. The Ledger and philly.com will tire of using your press releases but you started something. (emphasis mine)

Mr. Carlos Perez, (former) NJCSA President and CEO No 

Mr. Rick Pressler, Interim President and CEO No

Mr. Carlos Lejnieks, Board Chair, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties. Jersey Jazzman wrote about the dubious connection between the Hoboken (Hudson Co.) Boys and Girls Club and HoLa Charter School. No

Mr. Ryan Hill, Secretary, Founder and CEO, TEAM Charter Schools, a KIPP region Yes—less than 5 years actual teaching experience, including 2 with TFA.

Mr. Timothy White, Chair, Advocacy Committee, Vice President, Public Affairs, Beckerman Public Relations No

Ms. Meredith Pennotti, Chair, Members Council, School Leader and Principal, Red Bank Charter School, one of the most segregated in the state. Unable to determine her college degree(s). The fact that she is a principal sways me to say Yes.

Ms. Mashea M. Ashton, CEO, Newark Charter School Fund Yes

Mr. Ronald Brady, Regional Director, Democracy Prep Charter Schools No

Ms. Sharon Brennan, Program Analyst, Robert Treat Academy Charter School, one of the most segregated charters in Newark. I'm saying No. I was only able to find the college she attended, not her college degree(s). She does not list teaching in her Linkedin profile. She was endorsed for teacher training by 1 person.

Dr. Dawood Farahi, President, Kean University Yes

Ms. Wanda Garcia, Associate Director, Rutgers-Camden Community Leadership Center which is run by Gloria Bonilla-Santiago who also runs LEAP Charter School about which Jersey Jazzman has written extensively. No. She is listed as having an MSW. Although she works at Rutgers, I cannot find any information that lists her as an instructor. 

Mr. Paul P. Josephson, Partner, Duane Morris, LLP, Board Chair Princeton Charter School, one of the most segregated charter schools in the state. No

Ms. Shelley Skinner, Executive Director, Better Education Institute, Inc. aka. B4K of Derrell Bradford, David Tepper and Alan Fournier fame. No 

The following is a list of NJCSA staff and their 'education credentials':  

Marcy Bostwick, Manager New School Development No 

Jennifer M. Bredehoft, Director of Growth and Development No 

Brian Diamante, School Quality Analyst No 

Donna Siminski, Director of Policy and Advocacy No 

Amanda Vega, Manager of Communications and Marketing No 

Carrie Wetherby, Manager of Membership and Events No

There you have it, folks. Out of 19 people who run this organization, a grand total of four are actually trained educators. However, if you're talking 'reformy' educators, well now, that's a completely different story. In 'reform land' pesky little details like that don't matter. But money... biiiiig, juuuuuuicy, corporate and philanthropic money? That means a lot! And NJCSA has a lot to lose if too many state legislators, and concerned parents and citizens start making a big to-do about Rubin and Weber's research. We're talking at least $2.16 million. That's how much The Walton Family Foundation has given NJCSA from 2009-2013. So they are scrambling to spin the blame away from them and onto Julia .

It's perfectly okay for them to spew half-truths and outright misinformation on charter school successes. It's perfectly okay for them to do nothing about the segregation taking place in their schools. But boy-oh-boy, don't you dare call them out on it or they will do everything in their power to take away your right to free speech! They will attack you personally, and completely avoid the facts as presented. Check out Julia's defense on Twitter:

These are thug tactics, but I know Julia and Mark are not intimidated in the least. We all need to be very concerned about the outcome of this intimidation. Suppression of free speech and the elimination of public education are the beginning of the end of democracy.