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Wisconsin
State Journal
Letters
to the Editor
This
letter is in response to the article you printed on Tuesday
reporting the Brookings Institute's study of Charter Schools.
On behalf of Parents Advocating Student Success, Inc. (PASS),
I would like to provide you and your readers with the information
you likely were seeking on our school's quite successful performance.
Verona
Area Core
Knowledge Charter
School's results
are inconsistent with the study's findings. Some excerpts from
our annual report, published each August, which is available
online at the school's website, or by calling the school directly:
·
The Verona
Area Core
Knowledge Charter
School has exceeded
the state averages in all areas tested. Results of three standardized
tests administered in 2001-2002 -- Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts
Examinations (WKCE), Wisconsin Reading Comprehension Test (WRCT),
and Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-9) -- converge to provide
a comprehensive and impressive picture of academic excellence
at CKCS. National, state, and district comparisons
show the school's excellent academic achievement across the
grade levels and across a variety of academic subjects.
·
Comparisons with state averages
on the WKCE show that CKCS fared well across the five academic
subjects tested by WKCE (Reading, Language, Math, Science, Social
Studies) and at both of the grade levels tested (Grades 4 and
8). For Grade 4, CKCS mean percentile
ranks on the WKCE exceeded those for the state by 11 points
for Reading, 8 points
for Language, 2 points for Math, 5 points for Science, and 11
points for Social Studies
·
Differences were even greater
at Grade 8. CKCS mean percentile ranks for Grade 8 exceeded
those for the state by 18 points in Reading,
19 points in Language, 16 points in Math, 20 points in Science,
and 18 points in Social Studies. Double-digit differences of
this magnitude in favor of individual schools are rare.
The
Brookings report states on pgs 32-33 "charter schools in four
states (MA, MI, MN, and TX) score significantly below state
averages for similar schools. Charter achievement
in the other 6 states [including Wisconsin]
is indistinguishable from average.
Clearly,
when compared with the Brookings Study, Verona
Area Core
Knowledge Charter
School performs well
above the average. Verona
has a well-deserved reputation for quality education for all
students. This district recognizes that one
teaching style does not fit all learning styles. By providing
multiple options including these two charter schools (including
The New Century School, Verona's
first charter school), the Verona
School District and
parents have ensured that all students have the best opportunity
to learn and excel. In this district, we are proud of our educational
system and the success our students enjoy as a result.
PASS,
Inc. is a non-profit organization of parents which holds the
charter agreement with the Verona Area School Board to operate
The Verona Area Core Knowledge Charter School. We are happy
to comment, and share any information you may request about
our school.
It
would be unfortunate for our school as well as all the other
Wisconsin charter schools if your
story left readers with the wrong impression of Wisconsin
charter schools' performance. I sincerely hope that you print
this letter.
Regards,
Scott
Bukolt
President
Parents
Advocating Student Success, Inc.
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