City school parent Wanda Simmons’ daughter will attend the new Capital Prep Harbor School, founded by educator Steve Perry, recently funded with the backing of Governor Dan Malloy and the state legislature. Charter schools have their share of detractors including school board candidate Maria Pereira who argue they siphon funds from traditional school districts. It will be an issue with school board seats up for grabs this election. In this commentary defending more school choice, Simmons asserts many school children are “more likely to go to prison than attend college.” Simmons’ commentary follows:
I have been a part of the Connecticut education system for 49 years, from Stamford to Milford, West Haven to Bridgeport.
My child recently won a spot in Capital Prep Harbor School in Bridgeport. She has attended traditional public schools her entire life, and I am grateful for the opportunity we will have this year. My daughter’s experience in school thus far has been awful and demeaning.
As a parent, I tried to find a school that meets my child’s needs. But regardless of where we went, we continued to struggle.
I am hopeful that now, with a spot secured at Capital Prep, we can stop moving around and focus on what’s most important–a great education that leads to opportunity in the future.
We all know that changing the current system is important. The people in my community know that if it doesn’t change, the future of our children grows dimmer and dimmer. Our children need to know that they are valued and their lives matter to the world.
But right now, that isn’t the case. Right now, they feel stereotyped and undervalued. The expectations on them are low. They are not expected to graduate. Many of them are more likely to go to prison than attend college. It’s unacceptable.
Every community should have good functional schools in their areas. And each family should have an option of how they want their child or children educated.
They shouldn’t be forced to have their children attend a school year after year that does not meet their needs.
For parents like me though, there is hope. Because of the tenacious advocacy from Governor Malloy and the conviction of some principled legislators, parents like me are finally getting the choice they deserve.
Because our elected leaders made the choice to fund two new public charter schools and allow existing schools to expand, more children will attend public charter schools than ever before.
Simply put–we are finally taking the steps we need to take to make sure that every child has access to a great school.
We still have a long way to go. We need to make sure that our public charter schools receive the same level of funding as their district counterparts.
But what we accomplished this year is significant. On a personal level, I have hope for my child’s future. And the fact is, this is the first time in a really long time I can honestly say that.
Ms. Simmons, had you done the most basic research by visiting the CSDE website, you would have discovered Capital Preparatory Magnet School ranks number 9 out of 10 magnet schools in Hartford even though his school is the only school with an extended school day and school year. In addition, black students in his school perform WORSE than black students in the Hartford Public Schools as a whole. He has been sanctioned for illegally recruiting student athletes to attend his school. He also petitioned his own Hartford BBOE to take over two of their schools, including his magnet school. His request was denied and many residents came out in protest of this charlatan.
His only concern is his $2.6 million in management fees he will receive in the first five years of “managing” Capital Prep. Harbor School. He will pocket 10% of the $11,000 the state gives him to educate your child each and every year.
Quite honestly, if I asked you to explain the difference between a true public school versus a charter school, I doubt you could.
Maria, if your research is correct, which I’m sure it is, Ms. Simmons just bought the Brooklyn Bridge.
Lisa, exactly!
Sorry Steve, but when it comes to Charter Schools, you are not knowledgeable.
The six charter schools located in Bridgeport will siphon away $30 million from the BPS in the next five years. This parent’s “choice” is hurting the 22,000 students in our BPS. You don’t take from many in need to serve a few in need.
Maria, please explain how the teachers in charter schools are paid. Benefits and all. How are these schools profitable?
None of the charter schools in Bridgeport are unionized and less than 50% of their teachers are required to meet the same certification requirements as true public schools. The vast majority of their teachers have less than five years of teaching experience and are Teach for America recruits. They are only required to make a two-year commitment. 50% will turn over by year two and 80% will turn over by year three. They are paid significantly less than true public school teachers.
President Clinton signed into law a 39% tax credit for the promotion of charter schools, however a requirement is the credit only applies in impoverished/depressed communities. In addition, this tax credit is allowed to be added to job creation and brownfield tax credits. Investors make a profit on the loans and through leasing real estate to house the charter schools. On average, if a millionaire invested $2 million in a new charter school they would likely double their investment in seven years and triple the investment by year 10.
So six Magnet quality schools in BPT cost us $30 mil, or $6 mil each. Can anyone point to where we can find out how much the Magnet schools cost apiece?
The BOE has a budget of $239,526,866 and 30 elementary schools, six high schools and one alternative school for a total of 37 schools. That is $6,473,699 apiece. Each Charter school gets better results and saves us 1/2 a million dollars.
You are completely clueless.
Good luck to Ms. Simmons. People should have a choice, especially those in underserved areas where excellence is not an option and mediocrity is a stretch. We have some fine educators in the City of Bridgeport and a few performing schools. We have fewer magnet schools where entry gets more difficult when families get priority spots for siblings.
I commend you for caring about your child’s education as I know from firsthand experience some of these children are so emotionally neglected and needy with parents who do not give a damn. The Bridgeport school system forces students with a chance at a bright future to be relegated to unimportant individuals while the classroom is taken over by children with anger management and other emotional issues. The teachers are held hostage.
Choice is good. I am not sure you bought the Brooklyn Bridge, but I do acknowledge your desire to improve your child’s education without the means to send them to private schools like two of our Mayoral candidates.
Who are we to stand in the way of parents who want a choice? Throwing more money into the Bridgeport school system is not the answer. What’s more, the Bridgeport school system has been and continues to be a dumping ground for politically connected families as everyone on this blog knows.
Good luck, Ms. Simmons. Personally, I am not against choice whether it is a woman’s decision whom you should marry, where you send your child to school or supporting a candidate who has never has a child in the Bridgeport school system. I am not promoting charter schools but I am supporting parents who desire to explore other avenues.
Remember, Mayor Finch has two children in the Bridgeport Public schools and neither one has taken up a spot in a Magnet school.
Maria and Lisa, I respect your comments, I think it would be admirable to acknowledge the Mayor has children in our public schools.
“I think it would be admirable to acknowledge the Mayor has children in our public schools”–Steve A.
“Throwing more money into the Bridgeport school system is not the answer.”–Steve A.
Steve: The current administration, which mentions ad nauseam the Mayor’s children attend the Bridgeport public schools, underfunds the Bridgeport public schools. And you seem perfectly OK with that. Because otherwise, to you, funding the schools adequately would be “throwing more money” into them?
Steve, as posted here before, Bridgeport spends $2,700 per public school student; New Haven and Hartford more than $4,500 per student.
Do New Haven and Hartford schools out perform Bridgeport Schools almost 2 to 1? If yes then I may concede to your post Mr. Spain, as I believe you to be extremely intelligent. I find Maria P to be extremely intelligent also. However, we are not talking about underfunding our schools. Was Dunbar or Marin ever adequately funded as Curiale? These three schools represent the reason Ms. Simmons wants a choice. Who are we to say no choice for you? Get a sugar daddy and send your kids to private schools? I commend her tenacity and wish her well.
Steve, Hartford and New Haven do not outperform BPS 2 TO 1. And neither do charter schools.
Every charter school in Bridgeport significantly underserves children who live in poverty, English language learners and students with special needs. These are the most expensive students to teach, and they perform the worst on annual tests, therefore by undeserving these three subgroups, they inflate their test scores.
Thank you Maria for the honest answer. Mr. Spain, take note.
Actually, Bridgeport Achievement First School serves more or as many ELL students than 40% of Bridgeport schools including three Magnet schools. Only ~50% of the students at Achievement First School qualify for free lunch. Significantly less than other BPT schools but the magnet schools also serve less than the BPT average of free lunch pupils. This may mean wealthy people are just smarter or do more to get their kids in better schools and ensure success. I am not aware of why slightly wealthier kids would do better in school. Bridgeport Achievement First School services ~4.5% fewer disabled students than the BPT average. Hardly a significant number. It is possible Bridgeport Achievement First simply did not have enough disabled students apply to achieve the district average. The article did not disclose the type or nature of the disability that was tracked.
nepc.colorado.edu/blog/snapshots-connecticut-charter-school-data
Problem is Steve, THEY SHOULDN’T NEED A CHOICE, ALL OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH TO WHERE YOUR CHOICE WOULD BE BASED ON THE BETTER SPORTS TEAM AND NOT THE BETTER EDUCATION. If we continue to deplete the funds necessary to make all our schools competitive with our suburban counterparts, the CHOICE would be to send them to schools in suburbia, as from my dealings with most people who have come from schools in suburbia. What they possess in “book” knowledge they lack in common sense, so if I were given a true choice it would be my daughter be able to learn “book” knowledge without sacrificing her common sense.
Hector, you are correct. They shouldn’t need a choice but they do. There are a few really good schools and great Magnet schools. Are you willing to sacrifice your child’s chances so she can perfect her selfie or videotape a fight and upload it on YouTube and Vine? In a perfect world you are correct. Living in Bridgeport, we do live in a less-perfect world where people want to take away a parent’s rights even though they are not personally affected.
Next fall one is going to St. Ann’s and the other to either a magnet or charter.
Once again, when I think Steve A cannot get any dumber, he outdoes himself.
Steve, at best, her children do not have choice, they may have luck. Even if you believe everything you posted here, it is simply the luck of the draw. Get into a charter, god bless. Get stuck in public, F you.
That is what you are saying. Again, if you believe what you post, you are condemning all the children in the Bridgeport school system to a lifetime of lower earnings and limited potential.
The mantra of charter schools is get lucky and succeed. Don’t get lucky, don’t blame me.
Bob Walsh, all I said is thank G-d Ms. Simmons cares for her child. Why wouldn’t Mary-Jane and Joe Ganim send their kids to the Bridgeport Public Schools. Do you think voters want an answer? Do you have children in the Bridgeport public schools? Maria? Choice? Why should there only be choices for those with money?
Ms. Simmons, good luck.
Steve,
In regard to your “choice” question, I humbly point you to an essay by Diane Ravich entitled “I Believe in Freedom of Choice.”
dianeravitch.net/2015/06/11/i-believe-in-freedom-of-choice/
Parents should be able to send their children to the school of their choice. And they do, but the public should not be expected to pay for their private choices.
The public has a civic obligation to support public education. Even if you don’t have children, you pay taxes to educate the children of the community. Even if your children are grown, you pay school taxes. Even if you send your children to private school, you pay school taxes. Public schools are a public responsibility.
If you don’t like the public schools, you are free to choose a private school, a charter school, a religious school, or home school. That’s your choice. But you must pay for it yourself.
We all pay for police and firefighters. If you want a private security guard, pay for it yourself. We all pay for public schools, even if we don’t patronize them. They belong to the community. We do so to invest in the future of our society. It is a civic obligation.
We all pay to support public libraries. If you never use the local library, you still have to pay the taxes to support it. If you prefer to buy books instead of using the free public library, don’t ask taxpayers to subsidize your private choice. Buy your own books. Pay for it yourself.
The taxes you pay support the common good, not your private preferences. They pay for highways you may never drive on, fire departments you may never call on, beaches open to all that you may never set foot on, public parks, and a range of services and facilities open to all without fee.
When it comes to education, there is a simple rule: public money for free, democratically controlled schools, private money for private, privately-controlled, and religious schools.
The average experience of a Bridgeport Public School teacher is 12 years. By contrast, the average experience of a teacher at AF-Bridgeport is a mere 2.6 years. Something else to chew on.
Ben, sometimes teachers are in the wrong profession and at 12 years they are bored, tired and don’t give a damn. A teacher withtwo to six years may be more enthusiastic. Then Ben, you have the teachers union protecting lackluster nonperforming individuals who should be fired but, well you know …
Steve, repeated studies have shown a new teacher doesn’t become highly effective until three to five years of teaching. You worked for Home Depot for about 11 years. I guess Home Depot should have rated you as “bored, tired and don’t give a damn” after three years and booted you.
A teacher in CT does not earn tenure until five years of teaching. If the principal cannot determine a teacher is “ineffective” within five years, they probably shouldn’t be the principal.
Maria, if Steve were “bored, tired and don’t give a damn then yes, Home Depot should have let him go. If all these teachers with three to five years of experience are so effective, then why do the schools they work at suck?
Not to mention the educational requirements of public school teachers in CT.
In every other profession, experience would be seen as an asset, but in arguing about education, some would make the clearly illogical step to equate experience with laziness and boredom. The attack on the teaching profession continues. No wonder teacher morale is at an all-time low.
Maria, Home Depot was non union. Home Depot promoted and transferred talent and booted lackluster crybabies.
In the Bridgeport school system if you are a Principal and get demoted, they transfer you to another school, put you in a classroom and let you keep your salary. In the real world, you are fired!
Here’s a choice.:
www .bridgeportedu.com/Board/Policies/2013-2014/CONTROL_TRANSFER_POLICY_2013-2014_(English).pdf
Every single magnet school in Bridgeport significantly outperforms every state charter school located here. It isn’t even close.
Last year 6,000 students applied to our magnet schools. Only 800 could be accommodated. 5,200 were placed on a one-year waiting list.
5200 on a waiting list. Maria, certainly you, Bob Walsh, Joe Ganim and Mary-Jane see how ridiculous this is. Only a handful of Magnet schools, sibling priority and people like Ms. Simmons gets to have a child in a classroom with emotionally challenged crack babies and people like Joe and Mary-Jane pay for excellence and people like Bob Walsh and Maria P who are not affected take our choice away. Yup. That should get votes!
Sibling privilege does not take effect until next year. Only Classical Studies has sibling privilege now.
Now that is a great school!
I agree. The parent commitment really works. Parent advocacy got CSMA from K-6 to K-8, then magnet status. We graduated our first eighth grade class this year. One of the next challenges is to become interdistrict!
Eric, you work at Classical Academy? Always a great day there!
Next you will tell me Mayor Finch has expanded Pre-K and after-school programs! Oh wait he has and does support that! Pretty soon parents will only have to deal with their kids for two hours a day! Dinner and bedtime.
I am a parent there. I was the president of the school PAC when my team and I advocated for 8th grade. My successor continued the game plan and pushed for magnet status (that automatic into Central Magnet is important). Now I am helping the newly elected president with some of her initiatives.
Maria, then the logic would be to make more Magnets or to make Magnets our staple for education. If we made all our schools Magnets we would most assuredly not need ANY CHARTERS. The bonus being ALL our education monies stay in the current system.
Oh Hector, on the surface a brilliant post. But …
More magnets. Local, transparent, accountable … successful!
I agree with Bob Walsh, it has nothing to do with choice, we are abandoning those who do not win the lottery. Instead of charter schools we should see all students receive equal education. Put Dr. Perry on a committee to come up with suggestions to improve the public school system and help all the students. All the directors on the charter school boards should have an education summit and exchange ideas to come up with solutions to improve student scores. Why can’t they transfer the same results from a charter school to a public school?
cc,
As mentioned before, the charter schools have no interest in serving ELL, impoverished students, or special-needs students. Therefore their ideas will not work in public schools. Charter schools “thrive” since 1) they hand-select their students (all of BPS Magnet Schools have students in ELL, impoverished, special needs). 2) politicians are getting kickbacks from the private citizens who have invested in charter schools, thereby protecting their return on investment.
Missing in all this is the role parents play in raising their children. Education starts at home. If your parents value education, then chances are you will too. The foundation has to be set at home, even if it is advocating for your child to get the services they need.
Eric Alicea, since that is not the mentality of these young parents, what do you suggest?
SA,
It’s up to the parents. The only way one can guarantee a horse brought to water will drink the water, is to bring a thirsty horse. Parents have to want it for their children.
Personally, I believe the three prevalent issues that face our children in Bridgeport can be overcome, but it starts with their parents.
Eric,
I agree with your points.
But also, in the so-called debate, let’s never leave out Finch deliberately underfunds the public schools while rolling out the red carpet for charters. It’s a disgrace.
Now some of you will say, “Wait, are you saying the Mayor should raise taxes?”
If you’ve been reading OIB, you know from John Marshall Lee’s thorough analysis of the city’s budgets in recent years there are dozens of funded ghost positions and pet projects serving less important needs than those of our duty as adults to ensure the school children in our municipality get their fair share.
This is not deep. This is not a debate. It’s about fairness.
Pete,
I didn’t forget Finch has sold the children of this city up the river. I didn’t want to belabor the point with Steve.
Eric Alicea, of course you wouldn’t want to belabor the point with me. You are supporting Ganim, the schools were in worse shape and I am supporting Bill Finch who was so disgusted with the pathetic state of affairs within the Bridgeport school system he attempted drastic measures. The other top candidate would not put his kid in the Bridgeport schools when he was the Mayor and living in Bridgeport and of course MJF when her kids were younger did not attend the Bridgeport schools. Finch selling our kids down the river. Do the research on your candidate. You imagine the schools became worse under Finch and Fabrizi? Think again!
Would this be a paid committee?
I volunteer at Marin School. When it comes to education in Bridgeport, I’ve got boots on the ground, drones in the sky and knowledge that comes from experience.
Steve,
My grandson goes to a MAGNET SCHOOL, not a charter school.
Mary-Jane I am sure would be flattered to hear you think she has school-aged children but she is a bit too old for that, I fear.
I truly believe Bridgeport needs more magnet public schools. I openly endorse the idea. But charter schools are just another attempt to further underfund public education.
Bob Walsh,
I am pleased your grandson has the opportunity to attend a Magnet school. I totally support Magnet schools. A waiting list of 5200 is just unacceptable. I was not referring to Mary-Jane Foster having children in the Bridgeport public school at present. Are you actually blogging while at the big gala event on Fairfield Avenue? Enjoy!
The charters are just as good as the magnet schools.
k12.niche.com/multicultural-magnet-school-bridgeport-ct/
Multicultural got a 95 in math and an 88 in reading total B-
6to6 got an 90 in math and an 90 in reading total B+
Park City got an 88 in math and an 80 in reading total B-
Achievement 1st got an 87 in math and an 77 in reading total B
In opposition to Maria’s comment ‘Every single magnet school in Bridgeport significantly outperforms every state charter school located here. It isn’t even close.’ It is very close and in both instances the Charters are rated at ‘better’ than the Magnets.
BOE SPY,
Thanks for the lead to Niche–which I hadn’t looked at before.
Correct me if I’m mistaken, here’s what I see in the Niche data:
% at or above proficiency per state standard:
Averaging four Bridgeport MAGNETS for which data available on Niche.com (Multicultural, High Horizon, 6 to 6, Park City):
Math: 91.25%
Reading: 86.5%
Averaging two Bridgeport CHARTERS for which data available on Niche.com (Achievement First, New Beginnings):
Math: 81.5%
Reading: 70%
All Bridgeport public schools (I believe excluding MAGNET and CHARTER data) avg provided on Niche.com:
Math: 59%
Reading: 50%
Also,
% free lunch eligible, per Niche.com data:
Magnet: 79% free lunch (skewed by 6 to 6, which is 30.8%; if 6 to 6 is excluded, this % is 95.1%)
Charter: 77.6% free lunch
Bridgeport Public Schools: 99% free lunch
%race/ethnicity, per Niche.com data:
Magnet: 40.5% Hispanic, 39% African American, 13.75% white, 3.75% Asian.
Charter: 32.5% Hispanic, 64% African American, <1% white, <1% Asian
Bridgeport Public Schools: 49% Hispanic, 39% African American, 8% white, 3% Asian, <1% Native American, <1% Multiracial, <1% Pacific Islander
As for Niche.com’s "letter grades" for schools, I’ll leave to my fellow OIB readers to evaluate based on Niche’s methodology; on quick review, I sense the letter grades are hard to compare across schools within a tight range (e.g., B to B- or B+).
Six to Six Magnet School is not a BPS. This is a state-run magnet, therefore it is skewing the statistics.
Maria,
Thanks for that correction, then removing the 6 to 6 info, the comparison becomes this:
% at or above proficiency per state standard:
Averaging 3 BPS MAGNETS for which data available on Niche.com (Multicultural, High Horizon, Park City):
Math: 91.67%
Reading: 85.33%
Averaging two Bridgeport CHARTERS for which data available on Niche.com (Achievement First, New Beginnings):
Math: 81.5%
Reading: 70%
BOE SPY, as anyone can see, that is a significant absolute difference!
>10% for Math!
>15% for Reading!
All Bridgeport public schools (I believe excluding MAGNET and CHARTER data) avg provided on Niche.com:
Math: 59%
Reading: 50%
Also,
% free lunch eligible, per Niche.com data:
Magnet: 95.1% free lunch
Charter: 77.6% free lunch
Bridgeport Public Schools: 99% free lunch
BOE SPY, as anyone can see, that is a significant absolute difference for “free lunch” population.
>17%
%race/ethnicity, per Niche.com data:
Magnet: 43% Hispanic, 39.67% African American, 10.33% white, 4% Asian.
Charter: 32.5% Hispanic, 64% African American, <1% white, <1% Asian
Bridgeport Public Schools: 49% Hispanic, 39% African American, 8% white, 3% Asian, <1% Native American, <1% Multiracial, <1% Pacific Islander
BOE SPY, as anyone can see, the race/ethnicity composition of the magnet population is much more reflective of the BPS population than is the charter population.
Well, I was counting 6to6 as a charter as it is run like a charter school. But yes Pete, the numbers you posted are about even. There is no ‘great disparity’ between the population served by magnets and charters and only a slight difference between charter schools and regular BPS schools other than free lunch. This data still refutes Maria’s claim “every single magnet school in Bridgeport significantly outperforms every state charter school located here. It isn’t even close.” In fact it is very close and half the time the charter schools are better.
You continue to be a poor spy. As I stated previously, every magnet school in Bridgeport significantly outperforms every charter school located in Bridgeport. It isn’t even close.
Meanwhile the magnet schools have impoverished children, children who are ELL, and special needs. Not only are the charter schools selective in who they choose to attend their schools, the magnet schools take all demographics and still perform well.
The bottom line is smaller class sizes, focused educational needs, and help being available makes all the difference. In essence, this is what the magnet schools offer.
Multicultural and High Horizons are also selective.
Both charter and magnet schools hold lotteries to gain admittance. BPS is 91.6 % minority. The four charter schools in Bridgeport we have data for are between 98.3% to 99.6% minority. All our magnet schools are LESS segregated than the BPS as a whole. Charter Schools are bastions of segregation, which is completely illegal.
Multicultural Magnet School serves the same percentage of students who receive free/reduced priced lunch, ELL students, and serves the highest percentage of special needs students, and it is the best performing school located in Bridgeport.
What is your basis for stating the two best performing schools in all of Bridgeport are “selective?”
Did you notice Multicultural has WAY too many Hispanic students? Are the black students being excluded from BPT’s best school?
62% Hispanic, 22% African American, 10% white
Not to mention a disproportional amount of Hispanic teachers and staff. How many Hispanic principals has the school had in a row? Is that also illegal segregation and a racist hiring practice?
It could also be a coincidence. Just like the racial makeup of the charter schools.
Magnet: 43% Hispanic, 39.67% African American, 10.33% white, 4% Asian.
Charter: 32.5% Hispanic, 64% African American, <1% white, <1% Asian
Bridgeport Public Schools: 49% Hispanic, 39% African American, 8% white, 3% Asian, <1% Native American, <1% Multiracial, <1% Pacific Islander
Why do the Magnet schools serve so many fewer African American children than the charter schools do? Could it be this is who applied?
Year after year the BPS system has a final grade in the 60s. I don’t know about this common core math but when I went to school that was a failing grade. Whether it be in school, in business or any other entity in the private sector the management (administration) would be replaced. If we really cared about the children we would hold the administrations accountable and remove the underachievers. All parents should have a choice to not send their kids to a failing school, whether that be vouchers, public, charter or magnet. Competition will weed out the failing schools and then tough decisions need to be made on the consequences for those schools. And the decisions need to be made with our children put first, not cronyism, not unions, not special interests, not anybody but the children. The remaining passing schools need to be funded evenly.
Key word in your comment is funding.
Hartford and New Haven get twice as much and their students are not performing. Throwing more money is not the answer.
Steve, Hartford spends about $19,000 per child, New Haven spends about $18,000, and Bridgeport spends about $14,000. As you can see, their expenditures are significantly higher, but definitely not double.
And they do not do significantly better than BPT. What is your point?
Quentin, our public schools are not factories creating widgets. We are educating children. Applying a business model to developing our children socially, emotionally, and academically is highly inappropriate and is exactly what is wrong with the “deform” movement.
Charter schools are actually cheaper (more underfunded) than BPS schools.
BOE SPY … WHAT?
State funding per pupil in Bridgeport schools is $8,662.
State funding per pupil in CT Charter schools is $11,000.
This doesn’t include all that could be hidden because of the lack of transparency. Nor does it include all of the unfunded transportation costs, SPED costs, ELL costs and on, that the charter schools heap upon the public schools through skimming and other segregative techniques.
(This according to the unimpeachable Jonathan Pelto.)
I was only using the numbers Maria provided:
cost to the BBOE $30 mil for six charters
$239,526,866 for the other 37 schools.
Ben, you are 100% accurate. Charter Schools receive $11,000 per pupil while true BPS students receive $8,600 from the state. Then the cost of charter school transportation and special ed. services is deducted from our measly $8,600, yet the full $8,600 is actually counted in our ECS Grant as funding BPS students.
It is a huge scam!