How much catering can a charter school program do

... before it begins to look like resegregation?

Parents are reportedly complaining that Quest Charter School, which is supposedly created to give kids from disadvantaged backgrounds more Math and Science, is not offering enough "truly honors courses."

There is a very small group of families who have a voice that will actually be heard by the Quest Board. Recently two such parents (who have the means to take their students on the annual school trip to Turkey and separate from the others on the trip to spend more time with school administrators and their families) went before the Quest Board seeking "smaller, pull-out classes" (i.e., segregation) for their students within a public charter school.

For years now, critics have questioned whether charter schools, which are supposedly created to serve kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, can also effectively appeal to middle-class parents. Quest Charter Academy is fortunate that it has been able to attract several middle-class families, with students having parents who are employed at Caterpillar and Bradley University (which works out nicely since those are two Quest sponsors).

The Quest Lottery has afforded the school some diversity, as their annual lottery is open to families from all across the City. As a result, on one hand you may have a student whose parent could be an engineer at Cat or a professor at Bradley, in a classroom with a child who never met an engineer. Of course, the child who has a parent who is a professor may be "ready to fly" on certain subject matters, but does that mean they should be separated from other students who may come from a disadvantaged background and working on flying? Shouldn't differentiated instruction work in a school the size of Quest?

The Quest website touts the benefits of their differentiated instruction:

"...teachers differentiate their instruction by content, process, and product in order to meet the needs of accelerated students. Concept Schools (CS) teachers receive training in differentiated instruction at the Summer Institute, Concept Schools’ annual conference, and professional development days. The dean of academics monitors lesson plans and observe in the classroom to ensure that teachers differentiate instruction.

High school students requiring acceleration are enrolled in academically challenging Mathematics and English Language Arts classes. Students have the opportunity to take AP courses, dual-credit courses, and courses offered through the Virtual High School. Accelerated students may have the opportunity for early graduation.

Accelerated students have the opportunity to participate in special interest after-school programs. These programs have a project-based, challenging curriculum and provide students the opportunity to participate in local, national, and international competitions. Examples of programs/activities include Math Counts, Math League, robotics team, science fairs, Olympiads, bridge building, Destination Imagination, and Word Masters. CS also organizes winter and summer programs for accelerated students in order to meet their needs and challenge them to perform to their full potential."

It was reported in November of 2012, that nearly 60% of students at Quest received a 3.0 grade point average or better in the second quarter; the school's average GPA is 2.95.

Nearly 20% percent of students had a failing grade in one or more subjects. To address the remedial concerns, students take part in Saturday pull out classes called "Buckle Down Saturday," which take place from 8 a.m. to noon.

Meanwhile, the exceptional students take pull out classes called "Ivy League" classes, which is a program for advanced instruction:

Click images to enlarge.

The Ivy League is already a "smaller, pull-out class," which can provide a student with intense differentiated instruction, so I'm left wondering, just how much "smaller" these parents really want a pull-out class to be?

When you consider the population that Quest is serving, the school's Math and Science programming is already considered by many to be ambitious.

Quest demographics, 2012

If Quest is already offering students differentiated instruction, Ivy League classes and other special opportunities, what more should they be called upon to do for a select few students? 

How much catering should a charter school program that is geared towards serving disadvantaged children, do for it's middle-class parents?

Perhaps it's time for the two parents at Quest to consider other District 150 Programs, such as Washington Gifted and/or Richwoods IB, for their students that are "ready to fly." Or, there is always Peoria Academy, Notre Dame or Peoria Christian (or any other private school), for those who may be so fortunate to have the means.

Closing Irving School, random ruminations, with sub-titles

Imagine

Imagine you are in primary, going to a school that is part of a fragile, yet closely knit community. A school where the same group of employees and volunteers have come in for years and done whatever they could to make your experience better. A school where EVERY child inside lives in poverty and the only place they can find refuge is in the classroom.

Imagine one day that school closed and you were shifted to a new school; a middle school. A school where all of the people live in houses that are nicer than yours (you come from the projects) and as a result, they imagine they are better than you. The sad thing is, you imagine they are better than you... you are in their school.

Closing schools kill neighborhoods

It has been proven locally, there is an alternative to closing schools and forcibly herding children and families. Quest Charter Academy has proven that some old school buildings can be revived. The Board that oversees Quest has collaborated with the City and the County in a way that shows that closing schools doesn't have to happen - renovation may be possible:

Old Loucks School

Renovated Loucks School now Quest

Overcrowding=Warehousing

Remember this post about the overcrowding of Glen Oak School? To date, tax payers have not heard back from the District about the solution to the overcrowding, nor has anybody in any position of authority, publicly inquired about the welfare of the students being warehoused. Out of sight - out of mind.

One can't help but wonder whether the classrooms at Lincoln School will now be over crowded.

Population Shift

Notice on the map below, there are no public schools in the lower valley in between Valeska Hinton (special admission only) and Lincoln Middle School. Additionally, there are no public schools in the lower valley in between Lincoln Middle School and Washington Gifted School (special admission only).

Redistricting is complete; the School District has a new boundary map; the City is already actively working with the Housing Authority to relocate it's residents to Section 8 Housing in the East Bluff and surrounding areas. In a matter of years, the herding of families of the children that have been shifted to the schools in the lower North East valley (Lincoln) and the lower East Bluff (Glen Oak) will be complete. 

Developers are salivating, their dream of developing the river front, down the river front trail to the marina, is closer now than it has ever been. Taft and the surrounding areas are well within grasp. Full river front development is potentially on track to being realized, thanks to the cooperation of the School District.

Irving School to close Dec. 21.

The 114-year-old school is finally, actually closing at the end of 2012. Since August, students and staff have been preparing to move to a 20-year-old air-conditioned building with new cafeteria, library, kitchen and computer lab.

On Dec. 21, Irving students will take what amounts to a field trip to their new school. They'll load onto buses, carrying their books and supplies, then unpack them in their cubbies at Lincoln, which will become simply Lincoln School, rather than Lincoln Middle School.

From the beginning of Christmas break to the end, Lincoln will go from a middle school to a kindergarten-through-eighth grade building, approximately doubling to 820 students and 86 teachers and other staff.

The district changed Irving's starting times so students could get accustomed to riding a bus route with Lincoln students. Substitute teachers have been hired to assure each teacher three days to pack and move into a new classroom. When the students move to Lincoln, the caring volunteers will follow them.

Lincoln open house and ribbon-cutting for new addition: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the school, 700 Mary St. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is 6 p.m., followed by a parents' forum with the Superintendent, tours and the open house. Source

Quest Charter Academy test assessment projections

 ... fail to meet expected academic goals. For a split second, I thought this was a good news story:

The title was misleading ("goals exceed"), but after I read the story, I can see that what really happened is Quest's assessments show that they need to lower expectations for 2012-2013; they will need to push students and increase tutoring services.

Current overall progress measures
76% proficient in reading
86% proficient in math

2012 -2013 projected goals
85% proficient in reading
90% proficient in math

I appreciate that they are ambitious and constantly looking at the numbers in an effort to improve. Source

Related article: Quest students score high on ISATs 

How can you be zoned a private school...

... when you are a public school, using public funds? How does a private school have a lottery? Quest just recently received School wide Title 1 Designation from the public school district of which they are a part, but they can be deemed a "private school" by the Zoning Commission? In essence, it appears that the Quest Board has forced a type of voucher system on The District.

We know that it has already been said that more than likely, The District will not be renewing Quest's charter in 2015. Is this further indication that the Charter will not be renewed? By the way, if Quest didn't have the Zoning Commission approval for demolition, what is this all about:

Zoning commission gives OK to Quest
Charter school's demolition of section of Loucks building is endorsed

A zoning permit recognizing Quest Charter Academy as a private school and to support its parking lot expansion and beautification efforts received a favorable recommendation Thursday from the city's zoning commission. City Council members will vote on the recommendation Sept. 25.

The commission's approval was unanimous and supports a change that endorses the private school's demolition of 25,000 square feet, about one-third, of the former Loucks School. The demolition will leave the remaining 55,000 square feet of the building for the expanding school's use.

Quest Charter Academy is a privately run charter school authorized by District 150 with an educational focus on math, science and technology. Source

Quest came before The District School Board seeking assistance as a public school on August 13, 2012.

District 150 Board meetings are now on UStream

Good look District 150! Up first, the August 13, Board meeting. This is the link to the corresponding minutes from that meeting. A couple of things in particular that I found interesting:

• COVERSION OF QUEST ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL FROM A TARGETED ASSISTANCE TITLE I SCHOOL TO A SCHOOL WIDE TITLE I SCHOOL – Moved by Wolfmeyer, seconded by Cloyd that the Board of Education approve the Title I Schoolwide Plans prepared and submitted by Quest Academy Charter School. After a year of being a Targeted Assistance Title I School, Quest Charter School has submitted the following items: a School Wide Title I Plan, Parent Involvement Plan and a Parent Compact which now makes them eligible to implement Title I programming school wide.
• 
  
• ADOPTION OF LICENSE AGREEMENT - Moved by Wolfmeyer, seconded by Costic that the Board of Education approve a one-year License Agreement with Carl Cannon for use of ELITE program information at Trewyn School at a cost of $80,000.00.
• 
  
• Mr. Cloyd and Mr. Crawford reported on the Washington D.C. Fly In. (Recall the outrage when Wolfmeyer, Butler went on the Fly In).
• 
  
• BOARD POLICY 7:70 – STUDENTS ATTENDANCE AND TRUANCY – Moved by Wolfmeyer, seconded by Cloyd that the Board of Education approve the changes/revisions to the following Board Policy as presented by the Policy Committee:  7:70 – Students: Attendance and Truancy. The policy is being revised to reflect the changes made in the Illinois School Code as it refers to truancy. Previously a chronic truant was defined as any student absent from school without valid cause for 10% or more of the previous school year (180 days). That figure has been lowered by 5% by School Code. The Board agreed to waive the first reading.

School starts at Quest Charter Academy August 20th...

weather permitting.

School was originally slated to start at Quest Charter Academy on August 16, 2012. However, due to delays around construction, the date for the first day of school was pushed back to August 22 20, 2012.

Now that construction has finally begun the roof has collapsed and apparently citizens are "lucky" it collapsed inward and not outward onto one of the busiest streets in the City - University Street. This is an interesting method of demolition  - luck. Brought to you by the very experienced  River City Construction, courtesy of us, the taxpayer.

Apparently the back hoe driver accidently "tapped" a beam. Surely he has used a Cat back hoe before. Right?

More change for Quest Charter Academy

Ali Kuran, new Principal at
Quest Charter Academy

Administrative turn over continues at Quest Charter Academy. The school, which is constantly changing, will be transitioning to a high school without it's founding Principal, Engin Blackstone.

After two tumultuous years at Quest, Blackstone is out and moving on as a Regional Superintendent. Quest also lost two deans this past year, Dean Stockman and Dean Armstrong. The charter school has also experienced significant changes on their school board, with the appointment of two new board members - Marcia Bolden and Tom Fliege - who were appointed to replace Roberta Parks and Al Hooks. Parks is leaving with a year left on her term and Hooks' term expired.

Quest's new principal, is a current Concept Schools employee and will be coming from Horizon Science Academy, which is currently in continuous improvement.

Administrative changes at Quest Charter Academy

As it prepares to open its high school program, Quest Charter Academy has announced administrative changes for the 2012-2013 school year.

The PCSI Board appointed Mr. Ali Kuran, as the new principal at Quest Charter Academy at their July 24, 2012 meeting.

Mr. Kuran was most recently the Director at Horizon Science Academy, a Concept Schools-managed community school in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Kuran has spent his entire educational career at Horizon Science Academies in Ohio. He started as a Mathematics teacher in 2003 at Horizon Columbus and became the Dean of Academics in 2005 at the Horizon Columbus High School. From there, Mr. Kuran transferred to Horizon Dayton in 2006 as the Dean of Academics. He took over the Directorship position in February 2009 and has been serving as a school leader since then. (click images to enlarge)

A Plus = “Excellent with Distinction   A = “Excellent”

B = “Effective”  C = “Continuous Improvement”

D = “Academic Watch”   F = “Academic Emergency”

Ali Kuran graduated from Bosphorus University in Istanbul where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. He later continued his education at University of Dayton and earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. Mr. Kuran currently holds an Ohio 5-yr Professional Principal License and a 5-yr Professional Teaching License in Mathematics.

Transitioning amidst constant change at
Quest Charter Academy

As a committed educator, Mr. Kuran is dedicated to seeing youth receive a quality education in a caring community school while learning the importance of shaping their own future. He has a great deal of passion for working with students, parents, staff and the entire community. Over the past three years, he played a key role in the expansion of Horizon in Dayton. Number of schools increased from one to three and enrollment increased from 175 to almost 600. Mr. Kuran has built relationships with area colleges and Horizon is now partnering with University of Dayton, Wright State University and Cedarville University.

At a later date, Quest Charter Academy will hold a press conference to introduce Mr. Kuran to the community in conjunction with a ribbon cutting at its newest location, the former Columbia Middle School on Bootz Avenue. Source

Of course it’s not necessary to have a new backpack…

… every year, but it sure makes kids feel good when they do.

I confess, every year we purchase a new backpack for our student, rather she needs one or not. Every year her “colors” change. I support that whole heartily. We also purchase at least a couple of new mechanical pencils; but we recycle paper, notebooks, crayons, markers and colored pencils.

The topic of student backpack and supply needs have come up recently in comments. We all know the annual backpack give away season is upon us. And yes, we all realize that many of the same people attend more than one event and get more than one backpack.

At Quest Charter Academy, they purchase a backpack and supplies for all of their students. Those who get free lunch and/or books get the backpack and supplies for free; others are required to pay the school about $17. Is it a stretch to then think that more than likely, some of the Quest students also receive free backpack and supplies from other places? Not really.

In my opinion, it would be very difficult to regulate something like a backpack give away, when all across the City of Peoria church groups and civic organizations are looking to help their patrons and or clients who may need help getting students ready for back to school.

These backpack giveaways are also happening in Pekin, Canton, and Morton, as well as other places; and there are many opportunities for all types of people to “be greedy” and chase down “free stuff” that they allegedly “feel entitled” to have.

There are some good suggestions coming through in comments about how to stop people from getting more than one backpack. I like the one where the backpacks are donated to the School District and they are given out by the teachers in the classroom. That really is one way to make sure that each child receives one backpack.

However, keep in mind that the main backpack event at the Dream Center is about more than backpacks and supplies. It is also an opportunity for students to receive the necessary physicals so that they are truly ready for school. Any dent that can be made in the number of students who show up to school without the necessary physicals is worth giving folks a couple of extra backpacks.

Sure, those knuckleheads running around getting as many backpacks as they can are annoying. However, let’s not let the fact that some folks may be “greedy” make us lose sight of the good work the Dream Center is doing for the whole student, which in my opinion is what really matters.

UPDATED: Construction on the new Quest Charter Academy has NOT begun

Photos taken today, back/front Loucks on left, back/front Columbia on right.

School starts back at Quest Charter Academy in just a little over a month and it looks like construction is finally underway they are doing some work on the roof.

Quest is slated to make improvements on a portion of Loucks and the old Columbia School this summer. The work was reportedly scheduled to begin after the school year ended in June and is scheduled to be completed by August 16, 2012, in time for school's first high school class.

For the 2012-2013 school year 5th – 6th grade students at Quest will move to the Columbia School building at 2612 N. Bootz Ave; while the 7th - 9th graders will attend school in the Loucks building.

The plan is to demolish about 25,000 square feet, leaving about 55,000 square feet for school use. The part  of Loucks scheduled for demolition is in the oldest section of the building (shown in the photo above), which was built in 1914. (click images to enlarge)

District 150 sold the two buildings to Peoria County for $300,000. The County sold the buildings to Quest. The County also extended a $500,000 line of credit to the Quest board to make repairs on the building. Quest's board members were reportedly scheduled to vote on issuing bids for demolition and improvements immediately after receiving the funds. A quick review of the website for the Quest Board did not clearly indicate what date that meeting would be held.

click image to enlarge

Just trying to understand it all...

What I know: Quest Charter Academy is a public charter school that is within the boundaries of Peoria Public School District #150. Reminder: Quest is not a private school, it is a District 150 public school.

What makes Quest Charter Academy a different District #150 public school, is a charter/contract that allows a separate, non-elected board of citizens (Peoria Charter School Initiative), to utilize federal tax dollars that District #150 receives, to support their vision of a District #150 public school. However, in every other respect, Quest is a public school that sits within school taxing District #150.

Peoria Charter School Initiative is seeking to expand Quest Charter Academy (a District #150 school) and would like to purchase two school buildings from District #150 for $150,000 each.

click image to enlarge

Rationalizing: Taxing District #150 is selling the buildings to Peoria County, which will then sell them to charter school District #150 because school laws prevent the District from selling the buildings directly to the charter school District #150. Huh?

Why all the convolution?

"Expect the latter."

Interestingly enough, the post from last Monday, which talked about District 150 terminating the contract with the Peoria Charter School Initiative ("PCSI" the Board for Quest Charter Academy) in 2015, continues to get loads of hits.

I originally thought the quote (shown above) about the 2015 termination of the contract was a typo, so I have been checking the on-line edition for a retraction. To date, I have yet to see a retraction on the statement.

Within the same article as the comment about ending the contract in 2015, the Superintendent of Peoria Public Schools was quoted as saying "I'm excited about the success at Quest,...it's a benefit to the district... (Quest) is expanding into high school for next year and they will continue to have district support. They are meeting the needs of the district and the community." Therein lies the contradiction.

The most recent interview the Superintendent of Peoria Public Schools gave to the local newspaper, didn't reveal any new information on the subject.

Perhaps the retraction was in the "print edition" of the local newspaper. However, I don't take the "print edition" of the local paper. So, if anybody has seen the retraction, please advise.

The final decision to deny, revoke or not renew the PCSI contract in 2015, will be made by the local school board.

Glen Barton named to State Charter School Commission

Former Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Glen Barton has been appointed to a new state commission dealing with charter schools. Barton was one of nine people selected by the Illinois Board of Education for the State Charter School Commission.

Its goal is to review charter school applications and consider them for approval or denial. This will primarily deal with appeals of charter agreements that have been denied, revoked or not renewed by local school boards.

Barton is the current President of the Quest Charter Academy Board in Peoria. The new appointment begins November 1st.Source