Shake Up at SSMA?

[Anonymous]

Complain to mayor and/or DME.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Addendum to 12:08

The PCSB WILL intervene, or at least publicly scold schools at the time of charter review and renewal/renewal with conditions. Not sure when SSMA is next up for review.

The only other thing for parents to do is leave. Student retention is now tracked in the STAR reports put out by OSSE. Last year it was 83%; just about at the DC average.

Ten-year review is in school year 2020-2021. So not for a while.

Here is what is covered in a 10-year review. https://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/SY%202018-19%20Charter%20Review%20FAQs.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Addendum to 12:08

The PCSB WILL intervene, or at least publicly scold schools at the time of charter review and renewal/renewal with conditions. Not sure when SSMA is next up for review.

The only other thing for parents to do is leave. Student retention is now tracked in the STAR reports put out by OSSE. Last year it was 83%; just about at the DC average.

Ten-year review is in school year 2020-2021. So not for a while.

Here is what is covered in a 10-year review. https://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/SY%202018-19%20Charter%20Review%20FAQs.pdf

SSMA adopted the PMF for its goals. The PCSB will review whether the school is meeting goals, is legally compliant and is fiscally sound. Parent satisfaction and complaints alone aren't going to cause the PCSB to intervene unless dissatisfaction is so severe that it impacts the school meeting its goals, being legally compliant and being fiscally sound. The PCSB can certainly ask questions publicly during the review and maybe that will encourage the SSMA board to take parent concerns much more seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Addendum to 12:08

The PCSB WILL intervene, or at least publicly scold schools at the time of charter review and renewal/renewal with conditions. Not sure when SSMA is next up for review.

The only other thing for parents to do is leave. Student retention is now tracked in the STAR reports put out by OSSE. Last year it was 83%; just about at the DC average.

Ten-year review is in school year 2020-2021. So not for a while.

Here is what is covered in a 10-year review. https://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/SY%202018-19%20Charter%20Review%20FAQs.pdf

SSMA adopted the PMF for its goals. The PCSB will review whether the school is meeting goals, is legally compliant and is fiscally sound. Parent satisfaction and complaints alone aren't going to cause the PCSB to intervene unless dissatisfaction is so severe that it impacts the school meeting its goals, being legally compliant and being fiscally sound. The PCSB can certainly ask questions publicly during the review and maybe that will encourage the SSMA board to take parent concerns much more seriously.

Ha! The SSMA board has clearly demonstrated that they are there to do the bidding of Dr R only. Nothing will convince them to act at this point.

[Anonymous]

Parents need to leave if they are dissatisfied. That's really the only solution and if the exodus is large enough, maybe the board will act.

Trying to change it from within isn't going to work, at least not in time if you have a child already enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Addendum to 12:08

The PCSB WILL intervene, or at least publicly scold schools at the time of charter review and renewal/renewal with conditions. Not sure when SSMA is next up for review.

The only other thing for parents to do is leave. Student retention is now tracked in the STAR reports put out by OSSE. Last year it was 83%; just about at the DC average.

Ten-year review is in school year 2020-2021. So not for a while.

Here is what is covered in a 10-year review. https://www.dcpcsb.org/sites/default/files/report/SY%202018-19%20Charter%20Review%20FAQs.pdf

SSMA adopted the PMF for its goals. The PCSB will review whether the school is meeting goals, is legally compliant and is fiscally sound. Parent satisfaction and complaints alone aren't going to cause the PCSB to intervene unless dissatisfaction is so severe that it impacts the school meeting its goals, being legally compliant and being fiscally sound. The PCSB can certainly ask questions publicly during the review and maybe that will encourage the SSMA board to take parent concerns much more seriously.

Mild reprimands to "take parent concerns more seriously" are not going to have any effect. Other schools have also had this occur. To have things get so bad that parents are begging PCSB to do something, there needs to be a problem that won't respond to this kind of obscure non-threat.

Aside from leaving, which is always tough because you have to get in somewhere else first, and there will always be others to fill your spot, the only real way out is the media. I would suggest parents come together and work their networks, write detailed data oriented letters to local press and WaPo. The board members can be called out by name as well. They will be given a chance to respond but hopefully the details of the evidence will make them look bad in the press.

[Anonymous]

SSMA parents with children in grades 3-5 could also not allow their children to sit for PARCC.

DC does not have a formal opt out process but you could use unexcused absences for this -- and combine with media outreach.

Press release headline -- "80% of parents at charter school will refuse to allow their children to sit for PARCC exam until the administration and board do x, y, z.

"Quote from Larla's frustrated but determined mom and dad. ... etc"

If SSMA's participation rate in PARCC plummets, that would raise eyebrows at the PCSB and OSSE and the Board may have to do something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We tried to go to the open house on Saturday that is posted on their website. No one showed. Nor did they respond to emails at the posted email address for RSVPs. Multiple families waiting outside in the freezing cold also RSVP'd. Not a great sign...

Has she written you back since with an apology or any explanation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SSMA parents with children in grades 3-5 could also not allow their children to sit for PARCC.

DC does not have a formal opt out process but you could use unexcused absences for this -- and combine with media outreach.

Press release headline -- "80% of parents at charter school will refuse to allow their children to sit for PARCC exam until the administration and board do x, y, z.

"Quote from Larla's frustrated but determined mom and dad. ... etc"

If SSMA's participation rate in PARCC plummets, that would raise eyebrows at the PCSB and OSSE and the Board may have to do something.

Another option -- protests and pickets every day, before school.

Invite the media and give them something to cover.

But you must have a clear ask / demand. Not just 'better leadership.'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SSMA parents with children in grades 3-5 could also not allow their children to sit for PARCC.

DC does not have a formal opt out process but you could use unexcused absences for this -- and combine with media outreach.

Press release headline -- "80% of parents at charter school will refuse to allow their children to sit for PARCC exam until the administration and board do x, y, z.

"Quote from Larla's frustrated but determined mom and dad. ... etc"

If SSMA's participation rate in PARCC plummets, that would raise eyebrows at the PCSB and OSSE and the Board may have to do something.

Another option -- protests and pickets every day, before school.

Invite the media and give them something to cover.

But you must have a clear ask / demand. Not just 'better leadership.'

I fear retribution against my children if we lean too far in on this. I suspect I'm not alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SSMA parents with children in grades 3-5 could also not allow their children to sit for PARCC.

DC does not have a formal opt out process but you could use unexcused absences for this -- and combine with media outreach.

Press release headline -- "80% of parents at charter school will refuse to allow their children to sit for PARCC exam until the administration and board do x, y, z.

"Quote from Larla's frustrated but determined mom and dad. ... etc"

If SSMA's participation rate in PARCC plummets, that would raise eyebrows at the PCSB and OSSE and the Board may have to do something.

Another option -- protests and pickets every day, before school.

Invite the media and give them something to cover.

But you must have a clear ask / demand. Not just 'better leadership.'

I fear retribution against my children if we lean too far in on this. I suspect I'm not alone.

Really? I can't see it going that far. Teachers would likely be in support of what you were doing, even if silently. I think these are good ideas if parents are really serious about change. Also, this is a good time of year to do it, you can always lottery out if it goes awry.

[Anonymous]

I fully support the media attention angle, because it may draw needed attention to the overall problem with zero accountability for charters and zero avenue for serious complaint resolution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SSMA parents with children in grades 3-5 could also not allow their children to sit for PARCC.

DC does not have a formal opt out process but you could use unexcused absences for this -- and combine with media outreach.

Press release headline -- "80% of parents at charter school will refuse to allow their children to sit for PARCC exam until the administration and board do x, y, z.

"Quote from Larla's frustrated but determined mom and dad. ... etc"

If SSMA's participation rate in PARCC plummets, that would raise eyebrows at the PCSB and OSSE and the Board may have to do something.

What an idea. Charters are required to meet a participation rate. It's embedded in the charter contracts. Your idea would likely cause a violation of the charter contract and then yes, the PCSB would act and SSMA's board would have to act as well.

[Anonymous]

How about all the parents get together and withhold "intent to reenroll" forms. If a significant number do this the school may realize they have a problem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I fully support the media attention angle, because it may draw needed attention to the overall problem with zero accountability for charters and zero avenue for serious complaint resolution.

I don't know why people think this is just a problem in charters. My DCPS principal was horrible as was the Instructional Specialist supervising the principal. They seemed to be friendly with the Chancellor's team and there was NO accountability. DCPS didn't even see parent dissatisfaction as a "serious complaint" for resolution.