Anonymous wrote:Probably would have been helpful for OP to link to the article that prompted the thread.

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/150578984-story

A link wasn't available during the time I heard it on the news.

Anonymous wrote:I read the article twice, and I just don't get it. But I am appalled by the scores. Why aren't they shut down? I thought that successful charter schools need space.

They only had 66 students last year. I assume that if nothing changes after this year's PARCC they will get Tier 3 and the DCPCSB will begin to move toward closure.

I read the article twice, and I just don't get it. But I am appalled by the scores. Why aren't they shut down? I thought that successful charter schools need space.

The Turkish connection has been known, and reported on before, including on 60 Minutes. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-charter-schools-tied-to-powerful-turkish-imam/

Anonymous wrote:Quite stunning that a charter school board in DC doesn't have a single African-American member?

Perhaps they are not very good at Harmony?

Probably would have been helpful for OP to link to the article that prompted the thread.

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/150578984-story

Quite stunning that a charter school board in DC doesn't have a single African-American member?

Anonymous wrote:We were matched with Harmony and very interested given their 'successes' in PG. This concerns me. Who is in the leadership of Harmony?

http://www.harmonydcpcs.org/#!trustees/c1tcu

Anonymous wrote:Using tax payers dollar for teachers and staff from Turkey. Also they take an annual trip to Houston for a meeting at its headquarters. Anyone attend this school?

Never heard of it.

Perhaps it's a new Chinese immersion charter?

We were matched with Harmony and very interested given their 'successes' in PG. This concerns me. Who is in the leadership of Harmony?

Harmony is riddled with scandal. Just do a Google search. The administration does not evaluate teachers effectively. The leadership is disjointed, jaded, and incompetent. The leadership relies on here-say to govern Harmony. Personal vendettas are waged on specific employees, parents, and students who are of the LGBTQA community or identify as African-American males. The school, in DC, lacks the adequate resources and vision to meet the needs of every student. There are students who were referred for psycho-educational testing, to determine their eligibility for receiving 504 and/or special education services, due to the costs associated with the assessments. Each one of the school administrators has a troubled and scandalous career history. Overall, this is not a school that fully includes and instructs all of its students equitably; nor is it a school that fosters professional development and job security.

Harmony is riddled with scandal. Just do a Google search. The administration does not evaluate teachers effectively. The leadership is disjointed, jaded, and incompetent. The leadership relies on here-say to govern Harmony. Personal vendettas are waged on specific employees, parents, and students who are of the LGBTQA community or identify as African-American males. The school, in DC, lacks the adequate resources and vision to meet the needs of every student. There are students who were referred for psycho-educational testing, to determine their eligibility for receiving 504 and/or special education services, due to the costs associated with the assessments. Each one of the school administrators has a troubled and scandalous career history. Overall, this is not a school that fully includes and instructs all of its students equitably; nor is it a school that fosters professional development and job security.

Harmony is an extremely weird chapter in the whole charter school thing. yet now that I have seen what DCPS can do, I am less phased by it.

What's your point OP? There should be scrutiny?

A trip to Houston is hardly a junket, especially in summer.

Using tax payers dollar for teachers and staff from Turkey. Also they take an annual trip to Houston for a meeting at its headquarters. Anyone attend this school?