Does this smell funny to you???

Hey fam!  I gotta run this by y’all…..

 

I am trying to get my daughter into a good, solid middle school.  In the last 10yrs here in TX, they have allowed public charter schools and there are some really good ones.  These are ‘open enrollment’ charter schools, meaning that anyone who attends a public school can attend one of these – at no charge.  The advantage to them is they are highly specialized and have their own methodology and requirements.  Basically – it’s like getting a free private school education.

 

So – I have scouted out two so far that I really want her to attend.  Each one has top marks and success rates and because of that, demand is high.  So – their admissions process is almost as serious as college.  Each one has a lottery – you have to sign your child up and sometime in mid-March, you find out if you ‘won’.  

 

Now – here’s where it gets interesting.  The ‘open enrollment’ charter with the Texas Education Agency states that students must be considered regardless of sex, race, religion, academic ability.  This means that as long as the child is eligible to attend a school in Texas and meets the requirements for the grade level (through promotion from another school) they have to be considered.  The only information that is supposed to be given for entrance into the lottery is name of the child, parent, address and grade level.  Once the lottery is done and the winners are contacted, then all the other things come into play (i.e. shot records, report cards, test scores).

 

Well – one school is following the pure lottery system.  The other one, however – has had me do the following:

 

1. bring babygirl in for a placement test.  This was stated as non-impacting to the lottery process, but merely a confirmation the child will be placed in the proper grade level.
2. they asked me to bring her previous year’s standardized test scores and most recent report card to the testing
3. when I dropped her off for testing, I stood in line for 2 hrs to give the other paperwork, and was then handed another list of required paperwork whi*****luded her SSN, birth cert, shot records and proof of residency

 

When I asked if this meant she was accepted – they told me no, the lottery is still in play.  Well – the lottery is supposed to be ‘blind’ – so if I fork over all this info, they can basically pick and choose the kids they WANT.  No way do I believe they keep the process blind by having all that info! When I challenged it wondering what they do with the info if they don’t select her, they got real curt and short with me.  So – I’m on a crusade to investigate further and find out exactly who is still okay with this process, because reading the State Ed Board’s info – this is NOT what is supposed to happen in a lottery process.  The concept of ‘semblance of impropriety’ comes to mind.

 

Your thoughts????

Yep, something's not right there. Good for you for doin further investigation.

Thanks MJ - after standing in line all that time, I was pizzed! lol  And they got really short with me when I questioned the process. 

Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum  something ain't right about this one! 

I looked up the info for the TEA and the regional folk for that school - if I don't get some satisfaction there - there's a news station or two and a local Black activist that will be hearing from me. 

Hate to go here, but I am feeling like this is the start of the new 'Brown vs. Board of Ed' - the area I am in is HEAVILY hispanic - heck, Texas is now 38% Hispanic! This school gets really high marks and all the staff I've encountered are Hispanic - the enrollment there is like 95% or higher.  I get the feeling they are working for their 'own' so with this process, they can see who they want to bring in.

Yes - conspiracy sister is in! 

I don't blame you, and what I don't understand why its okay for our public schools to offer substandard education.

I believe you correctly called bull****  In your position I would continue with the process, play the game, and elevate my inquiry to the proper regulatory agency. 

No lottery needs selection criteria other than eligibility.  American education has become so weighed down in bull****  A parent who can't get a day off has to keep their kids in the substandard school systems.  Others like you hustle and pray to get into charter schools.  And most kids sit in neighborhood schools without the basic math and grammer skills old school 'students' like me learned through simple memorzation.  SMDH at why we refuse to teach the basics creating a permanant underclass then waste billions on bilingual education creating semi literate adlts in two languages so we keep diversity in this underclass. 

I hope you report this **** and spread the word.  My baby girl's career mission is to positively change this crap so all kids can get a decent education.  Doomed to a well educared life of thankless poverty (she needs masters, two speialized certifications, phd, in addition to teachers license), but a noble and worthy cause.   Good luck to you and your baby girl. 

okay!!!

only because I was lucky enough to have gone through a gifted and talented magnet program do I KNOW how valuable quality education is EARLY on.  And don't get me wrong - I am not faulting the end result they want - they can keep the system just like it is - but they need to augment their funding and stop getting my tax dollars! If you're going to ACT like a private school, FUND like one........

I'm callin' bull****  Furthermore, you *****s have been screent and kicked out the damn lottrey. 

There is absolutely no reason to do all of that preliminary admin work for someone who may never get in.  They wanted to see her ass.

you know, you're so shy- I feel as if I never know what you're REALLY thinking...... LMAO!!!

yep - I feel you and I've decided to be the troublesome Knee-Grow du jour.  I've already researched the TEA structure for charter schools and the specific codes they are held to. Luck for these mofos that the TEA is closed for the holiday today, but no worries - i WILL get my call on tomorrow!

I would have respected their gangsta had they not also provided me with branded documentation detailing the required information in direct violation of the charter. ~tsk~ remember the good old days of the 'down low'?  DANG! the game is suffering!!!! used to be evidence was burned, destroyed or easily masked. I ain't even have to work hard for this proof.....

I may keep my afro till after this blows over - if I get TV time, i want the ultra 'militant' look.

oh - and did I forget to mention there is also a HOME visit and interview????

WTH?  it's MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!! 

There's nothing wrong with your nose.  This stanks of impropriety.  Guess they need a little help from #1MM and the necessary authorities to make them aware that mess stinks.
Handle yo biz n baby girls behalf.
Take care,
Z