Monday, November 29, 2010

Council for District One On Ross Global Academy charter school DoE authorized charter renewal hearing

 Council for District One
On Ross Global Academy charter school
DoE authorized charter renewal hearing
11/22/20120

The CEC for District One has a history of challenging DoE’s practice of parachuting and shoehorning charter schools into our community school buildings, with no prior community needs assessment, consultation or involvement of any kind.

 Yet in the spring of 2006, the CEC for District One issued a resolution supporting the DoE’s placement of the RGACS into JHS 22 as a way of increasing utilization of that building by District One children. Our support was largely based on RGA’s commitment to engaging our community and community schools by recruiting District One students and working with parents, teachers, and school leaders to improve all of the District schools.
 Too we were favorably impressed by the promise of RGACS’s stated mission to provide our local students w/ 21st century skills by means of an interdisciplinary curriculum based on cultural understanding, multiple intelligence, globalization, communications, technology and well being.

When representatives from Ross began canvassing our district’s day care centers and Laundromats, effectively doing outreach exactly as promised, our support felt justified, as the first of many promises by RGACS appeared to be genuinely fulfilled.

Three years later, in early 2009 RGACS underwent a charter revision hearing to reflect the move to the ESCHS building here in District One. I again testified on behalf of the CEC in support of the school and move, which took place in the Fall 2009 at ESCHS.
 At that time I welcomed the school community to District One, offered our support, yet cautioned the school community that RGA would have to overcome many issues that had troubled the schools first 3 years.

Issues:

The following statements are all culled directly from DoE/SED official reports, including annual Quality Review reports, Progress Reports, Charter School annual reports, Site visit reports, financial statements, etc

School Instability: high turnover/ low demand

High turnover of leadership:
Since opening in 2006, Ross Global Academy Charter School has had 7 principals in just 5 years, losing 4 in the first year alone.
Salaries/length of stay
FM 60 days/$53,704
JD 47 days/$24,923 (left before school started)
ME 4months/$22000

These changes were NOT communicated clearly to parents, creating confusion and uncertainty among the families that had chosen RGACS.

High teacher turnover:
2006-07=  92%, or 13/14
2007-08 = 75%, or 18/24
2008-09 = 42%, or14/33
During RGACS’s first year (2006-07), teachers reported chaotic working conditions; many quit/were fired in the middle of the year (8 before the middle of the year) and only 1/14 returned in 2007-08.

During the school’s second year, there were documented reports from staff of fear of retribution and exclusion from secret meetings; other complaints ranged from  inconsistent instruction, to lack of data/benchmarks/measures of accountability; from there being  no plan aligning RGA curriculum to NYS standards, to the failure to monitor that curriculum was progressively developing through the grades.

Comparing RGACS with national teacher attrition rates
Leaving profession, including retirement)
Regular publics: 7.9 percent
Charters: 12.5

Moving (switching schools):
Regular publics: 7.5
Charters: 11.4

High student attrition:
 According to the Department of Education, by February 2010, the middle of the 2009-10 school year 91 of the 410 students enrolled at Ross Global had left, at a rate of more than 22%. (Note- total enrollment was reported as 420 on 1/12/10 by Forbes).

 In 2009-10 more than 100 students transferred out from a total enrollment of 415 students (24%)
 In 2008-2009, the self reported attrition rate = 20.1% (80/399 students).
In 2007-08 = 24% (64/268)
And 2006-07= 20.5% (39/190)
At that time parents cited as reasons for pulling their kids out of RGA: violence/disorder/ curriculum too test focused, and not as elaborate as described in brochures/Summer school cancelled.
Not only it is important to note that these students attrition rate numbers are higher than average attrition rates for other schools, but we must keep in mind the documented positive correlation of student performance and attrition. The more a school counsels out  troubled or hard to reach students, students with high needs, English language learners, etc, the more likely the school is to show high performance.


 Board related issues:
According to the 2006-07 QRA, the board is run by founder, Ms. Ross, and was not operating credibly, failing to offer oversight, and awarding large compensation packages to former execs.

The reviewers note that there were no job descriptions, no strategic plan, and parents were not empowered

The QRA from 2007-08 again stated that the board was run by the founder.
Furthermore, teachers feared Board dismissal for minor dissent
There were reports of conflicting adult agendas among Board/Principal/Teachers, as well as confusion over roles, and lack of benchmarks for instruction and learning.

Reports from SED note that classroom management is a concern in many classrooms- there are no posted rules, many students are off task, and students’ misbehavior attributed to teacher inexperience.
Furthermore it was noted that curriculum lacks differentiation.
Teachers in middle school reported feeling isolated, and are not supported.
During year 3, DoE’s Charter School Office Director Michael Duffy raised the possibility of sanctions ranging from probation to shut down in June 2008 based on what was termed serious concerns and substantial issues with regard to performance.

Failure to comply with charter mandates/terms and goals for progress/achievement

Moving enrollment targets:
The RGA Charter was established in January 2006 for grades K-12 (500 students).
The charter was revised in October 2008 to scale back the school to K-8th grades (414 total) retroactively, because, as the school leadership expressed it, the school “needed to stabilize the K-8th grades before starting a 9-12 HS grades”. This was the first year that RGACS was host to its first 8th grade class, the soon to be rising 9th graders..

As RGACS was only serving 318 students as opposed to the 440 total approved in the charter, the enrollment plan was revised down again in May 2009 to mirror the school’s actual enrollment- in other words, changing targets to meet reality:

2007-08 from old target of 320 to new target of180
2008-09 from old target of 440 to new target of 322
2009-10 from old target of 500 to new target of 414
2010-11 from old target of 500 to new target of 414

Actual enrollment is down again this year (2010 – 2011) by 9% as compared with last year.





Elimination of key program offerings:
The school administration decided to eliminate all after-school and Saturday programs due to a significant decline in participation in the Saturday school program and a difficulty in securing a qualified teaching staff committed to working in the weekday after school program (beginning at 3:45)


 Chinese language instruction has not been offered consistently across all grade levels, as approved in the charter.

No structured athletics are offered.

Progress towards goals

RGCAS  sets the bar too low:

For performance
2006-07 stated charter goal=
50% students will meet proficiency (levels 3 or 4) on ELA/Math exams after 1 year
2008-09 stated goal =
65% students will meet proficiency (levels 3 or 4) on ELA/Math exams after 3 years
Citywide scores those same years far surpassed the modest RGACS goals:
   NYC public schools student achievement for this same period.
2006-07
51% reached levels 3 or 4 in ELA
65% reached levels 3 or 4 in Math
2007-08
58% reached levels 3 or 4 in ELA
 75% reached levels 3 or 4 in Math
2008-09
 70% reached levels 3 or 4 in ELA
 82% reached levels 3 or 4 in Math

For attendance
RGA’s attendance goals are set at 90% average school wide, while in District One the attendance has exceeded that level, every year despite a much more high needs demographic district wide.

Yet, RGACS still missed many of its own goals:
On the NYS 2010 Assessment for 3rd grade, only 30% of students met or exceeded standards in English Language Arts and 36% met or exceeded standards in math, far from the not- yet published 5th year goal (that had to at least exceed the 2008 third year goal of 65% proficiency.



The latest Charter School Annual Report, for 2008-09, makes note of many additional  goals that RGACS failed to meet. Afew of these of note are:
:
 In Social Studies only 81% of students scored levels 3 and 4 as compared to the goals of 90% students will meet/exceed grade level standards.

In Wellness 90% students on average met/exceeded grade level standards, missing goal of 95%.

RGACS failed to meet goal of students eating a healthy breakfast/lunch at the school
RGACS also failed to provide students with multiple opportunities to pursue passion/interests including intersession/electives because such programs were either not established or not developed if established.

RGCAS has not met its student attrition goals each year. For example in 2008-09 the target was 6%, when actual attrition was 20.1%

Special Needs Students
Proposed Charter goals state that 12% of the RGACS population will be made up of ELL and 10-12% will be classified as Special Education students.

In 2008-09, 40/399 students had IEPs or 10%, but it appears none are receiving more than SETTs, and have no access to self contained classes.
Many parents claim they were urged to withdraw their kids who had special needs; even after paying for their own evaluation they were unable to get services needed at the school.

RGACS did not meet its own chartered goal to help all special education students meet the annual goals in their IEPs

SED monitoring site visit in March 2009 revealed that RGACS lacks coherent resources for meeting the needs of students with disabilities.

That same year, 10 students were classified as ELL’s or 2.5% of enrollment, some 10 percent fewer than the chartered goals demographics.

In 2007-08, 6 students, or 3%, were classified as LEP
And in 2008-09, 8 students, or 2%, were LEP.

Besides failing to enroll and serve students learning English, only 80%of the ELL students at RGACS taking the ELSLAT improved by at least one performance level each year (falling short of the chartered goal of 85%)



Progress reports:

 In 2009-10 RGACS was awarded the numerically lowest score in NYC , among all school.
RGACS ranked 1,140 out of 1,140schools.
The school was awarded:
 F for School environment  = 0 points/15
F for student performance  =  0 points/25
F for student progress          = 0.1 out of 60
NO ( zero) points for additional credit

Over all score 0.1 out of 100 = C *
*(really F, except the DoE agreed to drop a school by no more than 2 letters grades that year.)

Parent engagement/ trust/communication /empowerment
At the Quality Review visit and ensuing assessment, reviewers found that in 2006-07, parents at RGACS were not empowered.
Many parents have claimed they were urged to withdraw their kids who had special needs, paying for their own evaluation and unable to get services needed at the school.

Per the SED monitoring visit March 2009:
  only 22%  response rate to Learning Environment Survey in 2007-08; and

    only 28% of parents responded to an independent school survey administered in Dec 2008;

A high percentage of  parents were unhappy with  the discipline  system (documentation/ process not consistent/clear, according to SED monitors)

Scandals:
 Financial:
Reportedly, the Ross School founder has spent more than $330 million on the Ross School school in Sag Harbor, of which at least a million dollars or more goes to student tuition scholarships,
The  SED report from Year 3 points to issues around the schools’ financial goals and a lack of stability and clarity between the Ross Institute (not for profit) and the Ross School, RGACS.
The Ross Institute provides: curriculum, support, implementation, professional development, technical assistance, Quality Assurance, fundraising/development; advisors to school/board, as well as some services (such as HR/Fiscal that are not in the contract.
The Quality Review for 2006-07 report states that the school was “over spending, making the school increasingly dependent on cash/in kind services from Ross Institute.”

Of note: RGACS receives support from NYU, where the founder is a Trustee.


 RGACS was accused of test tampering – later cleared
Principal Stephanie Clagnaz (5th principal to leave) was reported by a teacher to have taken student exams home.

This is a difficult and disappointing decision for CEC  for District One given that RGACS came into District One with exciting plans and so much promise.
 After an auspicious start they have struggled and have been unable to progress and are now failing to provide a good education in a good learning environment as promised. 
After twice providing our support as described above, the CEC for District one now asks the DoE authorizing committee not to renew the Charter for Ross Global Academy Charter School.

Since every school in District One ( and in NYC) has outperformed RGSCA this year, and given the choices offered in our all-choice district, we pledge to help all students from RGACS to apply to enroll in  District One schools next year to suit their needs.
 We will provide any and all support at our disposal, including lobbying for assistance from DoE’s Office of Student Enrollment, our district office support staff , and school  and community leaders.


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

THIS SCHOOL HAD ITS CHALLENGES LAST YEAR BUT THIS SCHOOL HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS TURN AROUND...OUR ADMINISTRATION,TEACHERS AND NEW PTA ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT OUR KIDS ARE HAPPY AND WE HAD A GREAT TOWN HALL MEETING THERE WAS SO MUCH SUPPORT FOR RGA THAT THE FEW NEGATIVE INFLUENCES RAN AWAY WITH THERE TAILS BETWEEN THERE LEGS... BECAUSE THEY DID NOT EXPECT THE POSITIVE RESPONSE THAT RGA BROUGHT TO THE MEETING...SO YOU UGLY PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE YOUR KIDS IN THE SCHOOL SHOULD SHUT UP AND BACK OFF RGA IS HERE TO STAY...GET A LIFE

Anonymous said...

This school has been having challenges since BEFORE it opened. RGA is on it's 8th (EIGHTH) principal. Kids flee that school in droves EVERY year!

RGA is getting SHUT DOWN because it's a BAD charter school. Kids and teachers leave that school all year round.

RGA makes all other charter schools look bad.

TIMES UP for your FUCKED UP school.

Make sure to check back on this comment thread in a month. By then all RGA parents will be notified the school is closing. LMAO.

Anonymous said...

Very interesting blog.

It appears the district one blogger who states they were excited about Ross Global Academy entered District one has limited information.

Ross has only been in district one for one year and agreed the transition to this site has been challenging.

But what is not represented in this blog is what is happening in 2009-2010. It also appears the historical information may be misrepresentated are exaggerated to say the least.

Ross global Academy thisyear has a strong administration who has been committed to the overall growth and success of the children who are there. Teachers and parents have been working in collaboration. Discipline is not a problem , children are excited to learn, have a sense of pride in the school and the environment.

Extra curriculum activities such as basketeball, cheerleadering, art, music, karate are activities children are excited about.

Enrollment at the school is on point. Just this year many parents have enrolled their children and are excited about what RGA has to offer. Classroom are full and teachers are supported by support staff.

Smart board technology has been installed in every classroom and lap top are available for children. This technology is used daily and supported with the classroom instruction.

Teachers are young but excited and given the support they need to support the students as well as have effective classroom management. There are also a cohort of older teacher who are there support younger teacher and the balance is refreshing

I guess the question is how do you know this is to true? I am a second year parent at Ross and have only experienced my children success. The curriulum has allowed them to be expressive thinker. The instruction has only advanced their knowledge of larger global community. They are learning chinese as well as teaching me. Parents are engaged in the Parent Teacher Association with over 50 at each meeting. I was only encouraged when at the public hearing for charter renewal over 120 parents attended with their children to let the DOE know how important RGA was to them.

So I can only wonder once again if this blogger was part of the problems that left RGA last year but does not represent the wonderful future.

Anonymous said...

RGA IS A IS TRULY A DISGRACE!!! COURTNEY ROSS FEELS THAT SHE IS SUPERWOMAN YET SHE IS NOT!! NUMBERS DO NOT LIE. IF RGA WAS DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB WHY DO WE HAVE STUDENTS PERFORMING BELOW LEVEL, HIGH ATTRITION RATES FOR BOTH STUDENT, TEACHERS, AND FACULTY? COURTNEY ROSS NOR HER ADMINSTRATION HAVE DONE RIGHT BY THE STUDENTS OF RGA. BOTH THE FORMER(CHRISTINA FRANZ) OR CURRENT(JAYME GRECO)DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS/ABILITY OR PROPER SUPPORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION POPULATION THAT THEY DO HAVE ARE RECEIVING THEIR RELATED SERVICES IN A TIMELY MATTER. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY SERVICES PROVIDERS, SPECAIL EDUCATION TEACHERS LEAVE RGA LIKE A REVOLVING DOOR. AS A FORMER RGA PARENT I HAVE HEARD MANY PROMISES OF CHANGE BUT NONE NOR WILL NONE EVER HAPPEN. PARENTS PLEASE WAKE UP AND SEE THE THE WOOL IS BEING PULLED OVER YOUR EYES.THOSE OF YOU THAT YOU DO NOT WILL FIND YOUR CHILD/REN SUFFERING IN THE LONG RUN WHEN THEY ARE UNDERPERFORMING THEIR PEERS ONCE THEY ARE OUT OF RGA!!! SHUT THIS CHARTER DOWN!! COURTNEY ROSS IS NO SUPERWOMAN!!!

Anonymous said...

Its clear to me that Ms. Ross is running not a school but a live circus. There's no excuse for five principals in 4 years. Oh I get it if its not her way its the highway. How is it that we continue to allow Ms. Ross the opportunity to insult our intelligence?? We know that Ms. Ross isn't serving all children. Also, we know Ms. Ross hasn't made good on all her promises that she made to the community. So why keep her and the circus?? Oh I'm sorry I ment school. RGA should not receive another renewal our children are failing. Charter school's are held accountable by there performance numbers. Its clear as day that RGA is failing our children. Also, failing in the numbers. The numbers never lie. Its time to shut them down, shut them down !!!

Anonymous said...

RGA IS HERE TO STAY...LIKE IT OR NOT WE WILL FIGHT TO KEEP OUR SCHOOL OPEN. SO GET READY TO EAT YOUR WORDS...RGA IS HERE TO STAY...

Anonymous said...

your accounts of what happen at the town hall meeting are totally untrue!!!you guys are lying...but I guess that is the way you present yourselves because the truth is not what you want people to know..I was there and nobody was treated badly or harassed. The anti charter people did not expect the turn out. we want to keep our school why is this any of your business it is our choice to have our kids here why would you want to TAKE AWAY MY CHOICE? IT DOES NOT EFFECT YOU OR YOUR CHILD BACK OFF..OR AT LEAST BE HONEST..

Anonymous said...

there was nothing wrong with the way the meeting was run....you were all sitting in front of the auditorium you could have gotten up and started the line no body pushed you back you were just out numbered...and that is what upsets you. you did not like what you saw...so you left..there were over 150 people there in support of RGA parents,students,faculty you cannot dispute the support RGA had..you have to accept we want the school and we will fight for RGA...get ready because there are parents,staff and students that will rally to keep us open...you no longer have the floor to yourself...we will be heard too....

Anonymous said...

Ignorance is sad, this blogger who curses and demeans others should learn how to post their opinion with intellegence.

Your no longer there get over it. Do you need a list of other schools

Anonymous said...

It's not about courtney ross its our children. Wow you are obsessed with courtney would you like her phone number

Lisa Donlan said...

The RGA staffer who wrote this last comment is not helping the school or RGA's case.

As described in our letters to DoE CSO, the RGA staff illegally lined up their own speakers, coerced members of the public to sign in with RGA, prevented potential speakers from signing up with DoE, and tainting the entire hearing.

We will leave out the two year-olds in RGA T-shirts, the snacks and robocalls, the ineptitude and possible collusion of the CSO, all typical tales in the phony "public hearings" that serve as the forum for input to the charter school attack on our public schools.