In the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of charter schools compared to traditional public schools, a recent article has raised significant concerns. A well-known charter school network in New York City, Success Academy, faces allegations that it maintains a list of students it intends to push out. Charter schools, while receiving public funding, operate independently and are supposed to provide education to any enrolled child unless they withdraw, are expelled, or move away. However, reports suggest that at least one Success Academy school has been attempting to pressure parents into withdrawing students they deem undesirable.
The New York Times highlights the case of a mother named Lisa Mitchell, whose daughter faced excessive disciplinary actions at her Success Academy kindergarten in Brooklyn. Lisa’s daughter was frequently reprimanded for minor infractions, which Lisa found excessive and unjust. Documents obtained by the Times revealed that Lisa’s daughter was among 16 students identified on a list titled “Got To Go.” This list consisted of children that school officials were reportedly seeking to remove for various reasons. The heightened disciplinary measures seemed to be part of a strategy to encourage parents like Lisa to withdraw their children from the school.
This isn’t the first instance of Success Academy being scrutinized for allegedly trying to push out less favorable students. The Times notes that the school’s impressive performance record has long been rumored to result from a strategy of “weeding out” students who may struggle or cause disruptions. Current and former employees, speaking anonymously, have corroborated these claims, with one noting a principal who instructed staff not to send re-enrollment forms home with certain students, signaling that the school did not wish for them to return.
Charter schools market themselves as providing superior educational outcomes, claiming they can achieve better results with the same student demographics as traditional public schools. This means they should be inclusive and dedicated to helping all children succeed. However, resorting to tactics that push students out to improve performance undermines that mission and raises questions about the ethical use of public funding.
While finding the right educational fit for a child is important, targeting specific students to force them out of the school community is both troubling and discriminatory. If such practices continue, many parents may question whether they want to support this type of operation with their tax dollars. For more insights on the complexities of home insemination and family-building options, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination from Facts About Fertility.
In summary, the allegations against Success Academy highlight serious concerns about the treatment of students within charter schools. The reported practices of maintaining a “Got To Go” list and pressuring parents to withdraw their children raise ethical questions about educational fairness and accountability.