Public Virtual School Parents Respond to California Charter Schools Association's Latest Attack to Close Down Public Charter Schools

Parents cry foul to flawed report which casts "scarlet letter" on individual schools

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- California Parents for Public Virtual Education, a non-profit organization made up of volunteers whose primary objective is protecting access to a quality, virtual public education in our state, is speaking out today against the California Charter Schools Association's recent attack to close down low performing charter schools throughout the state. 

"Rather than being an advocate for charter school students, the Association has chosen to undermine parent choice under the guise of  'accountability,'" said Barbara Lynch, board member of California Parents for Public Virtual Education.  "If a charter school is having difficulty demonstrating student achievement, it is the responsibility of parents, teachers, school administrators and the local school district to find a solution and to get the school back on track.  Unfortunately, it seems the Association would rather remove local control, close down the charter school, and eliminate educational choice."

In March 2011, parents from around the state met with Jed Wallace, president and CEO of CCSA, to share concerns over the Association's recently published report, "Portrait of the Movement: How Charters are Transforming California Education."  Parents sought to work together with CCSA and policy makers by assessing the report's findings and suggesting a more comprehensive evaluation of non-classroom based charter schools be applied.  Rather than seek a solution, Wallace suggested that "the closure of a few charter schools will be better for the cause" and in many cases this tends to target those schools with an open enrollment and those serving the high, at-risk students.  Wallace argued that the arbitrary standards in the CCSA report had far more importance "to the cause" than input from concerned parents, teachers or school administrators.

"Our parents left that meeting questioning the current mission and philosophy of the California Charter School Association," remarked Lynch.  "Had it stopped being an advocacy group fighting for the rights of students and parents utilizing charter schools?  Had it become a pseudo trade association that is now focused on brokering deals with the Sacramento political establishment and offering an insurance policy of sort to its members deemed to be in good association standing?  What had become of this fine organization? The State of California does not have problems with any individual virtual schools singled out by the Association.  So why is CCSA pushing for a separate and unfair system that marks a scarlet letter on these public schools?" 

California has been at the forefront of parental choice with its many charter and public virtual schools.  These schools bring new and exciting learning methods that are designed to creatively meet the educational needs of students.  These non-traditional schools tend to view the student as an individual and offer an innovative, "out of the box" educational opportunity.  However, despite all their positive aspects, CCSA insists that its efforts to create "accountability" are more important than input from parents, teachers and school administrators.  One has to wonder if CCSA did their homework and solicited response and opinion from the parents, students, and administrators who can attest to the benefits of these schools.

"There's no denying that some form of accountability is essential," said Lynch.  "However, removing local control and transferring more power to CCSA and to Sacramento bureaucrats is certainly not the answer.  Parents deserve the right to choose what's best for their students and they deserve the right to choose the type of public school – brick and mortar, online, or charter – that best suits their student's educational needs."

SOURCE California Parents for Public Virtual Education