Bridgeport · In the State

New Beginnings Family Academy’s Ronelle P. Swagerty Schools Detractors On Charter Innovation

As of late, collaboration between charter schools and traditional public schools has been a big topic of discussion in Connecticut — specifically, whether charters are working as the “laboratories for innovation” that they were meant to be (which, in itself, is debatable). The reason for the sudden uptick in focus is pretty obvious. With the governor announcing… Continue reading New Beginnings Family Academy’s Ronelle P. Swagerty Schools Detractors On Charter Innovation

Bridgeport · Students

How About Wendy Lecker’s Void Of Intellectual Honesty?

On Monday, the Connecticut Post published Deputy Communications Director for Northeast Charter School Network (NECSN) Michael Shulansky’s response to Wendy Lecker’s latest anti-school choice hit piece.  His response is great, in that it calls Lecker’s commentary out for what it is — intellectually dishonest. Lecker, an attorney for the Education Law Center and columnist for… Continue reading How About Wendy Lecker’s Void Of Intellectual Honesty?

Students

The Parallels Between Washington and Connecticut Aren’t The Ones You Think

Recently, there have been quite a few Connecticut anti-reform activists touting the Washington state Supreme Court’s ruling on charter schools. I’ve already written about this issue, but the issue truly deserves more scrutiny – especially the relationship between the unions and the judges who ruled against charter schools. The verdict is troublingly cozy. According to… Continue reading The Parallels Between Washington and Connecticut Aren’t The Ones You Think

Bridgeport · Students

Bruce Ravage: “Charter Schools ARE Real Public Schools”

In Connecticut, charter schools have long been a target of smear campaigns. So, it’s not exactly shocking that attorney-turned-activist Wendy Lecker implied in her latest editorial that charter schools aren’t really public schools. That, however, doesn’t make it any less imperative to dispel these myths. As this blog as illustrated over the past few years,… Continue reading Bruce Ravage: “Charter Schools ARE Real Public Schools”

Students

Wendy Lecker Gets It Wrong Again on School Funding     

Apparently Wendy Lecker has a new career. As her latest attack on charter schools featured in the Stamford Advocate demonstrates, she’s not only an attorney and columnist, but also an expert cherry picker. For starters, I would hope Lecker, as an attorney, is aware that state and federal law dictates that charter schools aren’t only… Continue reading Wendy Lecker Gets It Wrong Again on School Funding     

Students

Response To Wendy Lecker: The Solution to Failing Schools is Not to Do Nothing

Wendy Lecker, lawyer and sometimes columnist for Hearst Media Group went on yet another anti-Malloy tirade. This time she argues against the proposed changes to Connecticut’s teacher evaluation system. As usual, Lecker attacks but offers no solutions of her own. In fact, she suggests we just get rid of the teacher evaluation system altogether. Great… Continue reading Response To Wendy Lecker: The Solution to Failing Schools is Not to Do Nothing

Students

New York Times: When the Circus Descends (on the Common Core)

As we’re witnessing in Connecticut, “the ideological circus” has descended on the Common Core. According to New York Times columnist David Brooks in his latest opinion piece on the Common Core State Standards, pundits and extremist special interest groups from both the right and left are inciting hysteria. Brooks writes: We are pretty familiar with… Continue reading New York Times: When the Circus Descends (on the Common Core)

Bridgeport · Students

State Board Not Tone-Deaf; Lecker Clearly has Selective Hearing

Wendy Lecker, lawyer and sometimes columnist for the Stamford Advocate, must have a serious case of selective hearing. That’s the only way to explain such glaring omissions in her recent article about the State Board of Education’s decision to approve two new charter schools in Bridgeport. True to form, Lecker only acknowledged those who agreed… Continue reading State Board Not Tone-Deaf; Lecker Clearly has Selective Hearing

Reform

Lecker Spouts Closed-Minded Rhetoric about Bronx Charter School for Excellence

Last Friday the Stamford Advocate featured another masterpiece of deception by irate activist lawyer and sometimes irate education columnist Wendy Lecker. In this wonderful example of closed-mindedness, Lecker attacks Bronx Charter School for Excellence (BCSE), a highly successful, award-winning charter school, which has applied to the state Department of Education to open an elementary school… Continue reading Lecker Spouts Closed-Minded Rhetoric about Bronx Charter School for Excellence

Reform

New London Day: “Any Roll-Back of Common Core is a Step Back for Our Kids”

After last week’s public hearing on the Common Core, the New London Day published a fantastic must read editorial which outlines why Connecticut Republicans have come out of the woodwork to oppose the Common Core State Standards. If your guess was for the “children of Connecticut,” unfortunately, you’d be wrong. According to The Day, the… Continue reading New London Day: “Any Roll-Back of Common Core is a Step Back for Our Kids”