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Start our own Charter School.
Topic Started: Dec 22 2005, 09:58 AM (5,862 Views)
Cindi
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None have you have provided any credible adverse effects which the Legacy Initiative will have on the student body
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Grade Span, Renchler, 2000
Schools with very narrow grade spans experience frequent student turnover, which can influence the school’s identity and sense of community. Narrow grade spans also impose on students the stress of frequent school transitions.


I agree that there will be "kinks" in the plan, however, this plan does not affect the fundamental learning environment and learning experience
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Associated Factors of Transition
Most effects were found to be negative with some differences between genders. The decline in motivation and performance, and loss of self-esteem particularly in girls was reported. Noted the negative impact of transition, particularly two transitions, on course grades and somewhat on self-image.

School districts poised on the brink of making these decisions must take into account factors beyond simply what is best for the students. They also must consider projected enrollments, transportation costs, number of transitions to be made by students, size of the school and overall school goals. These discussions and their ultimate outcomes are not without controversy, especially in rural areas where reconfiguration is often the first step toward closing small schools. This can have farreaching effects on not only the staff and students but on the community itself. Six recent studies, however, have addressed the issue of configuration and student achievement, and their conclusions, combined with the research on school size, suggest the need to reexamine the popular notion that fewer grades per school is better. Their conclusion was that student achievement was higher when the 6th and 7th grades were included in the elementary school. The findings that students in grades 6 and 8 achieve at higher levels when grouped with the lower grades are strongly suggestive but not conclusive

The students will still go to their classroom, listen to the teacher, do schoolwork and homework (providing the parents enforce that), and learn
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That would be the whole concept of "school"...go to class...learn from an educator...do homework...& of course LEARN.



Additionally, this plan is "good" for tomorrow. It plans for declining enrollment.


LPS should be looking at ways to increase enrollment, thinking outside the box and develop ideas to lure children who live in Livonia back to the public schools.
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Rose
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..
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f11
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LPS, transportation for all
xyz-321
Dec 26 2005, 03:20 PM
f11
Dec 26 2005, 11:03 AM
To anyone who doubts that "transitions" negatively impact students....

I can personally vouch for the fact that they do.  I don't have to read anyones research or
"speculate" whether it will or will not in the future.

I have lived thru it first hand when I was "forced" to change schools (3) times by LPS.

It wasn't because I was going to a special program(mcat, acat, etc...) so yes, I was NOT
looking forward to the change.  I moved with many of my friends who also went thru this,
so no, it wasn't just me that had a hard time, they were negatively effected also.

And I can vouch that I was not affected by the transition... Perhaps f11, you had a rough time. Everyone has a problem with something. F11, please read my post on December 24, 2005 at 2:00 PM. It is on page 12.

Your post is too wordy....can you dumb it down for me?

Remember, I had all those "transitions" and stuff...
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livoniarecall
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Elisa
Dec 22 2005, 10:52 AM
Steps to starting a charter school. We definetly have the power to do this...





http://www.uscharterschools.org/pub/uscs_docs/r/steps.htm

Forgive me if I attempt to draw a little attention back to the topic of this forum.
:)
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Grant
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In regards to a charter school, we should determine what would be more popular. A k-6 or a k-8 school. K-8 seemed to be what is supported by the research.
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amomof2
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My vote would go to the K-8 configuration.
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Elisa
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We have looked at Title I funding, but we should probably focus some attention on Title V. Funding is available for educational reform/alternatives. Maybe we need to ask the BOE if any thought has been given to tapping this resource. Of course this Title comes with it own set of requirement and applications but considering the state of the LPS it may be worth some consideration. I would be in favor of a k-8 magnet school.


"Title V - Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative Programs
Title V of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 focuses on three areas of reform: innovative programs, public charter schools, and magnet schools. Within each of these areas, Title V stresses the need for creative approaches to educational improvement on all levels, from school restructuring to teacher training to improved academic opportunities for the gifted"
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angrymom
Principal
Put my vote in for the k-8. This would cut out many transitions.
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fyi
Principal
Much as been said about how the sixth graders do not belong in the middle school.
I agree that 7th and 8th graders would have an influence on them forcing them to "grow up sooner." By the same token, I don't believe that 9th graders should be in the high school. I don't see Livonia moving the 9th graders out of high school though. I'm for a k-6, 7-9, 10-12 configuration. Three years seems like a better span than 2 years. Other than that, I think k-6/k-8 are other good options.
Private schools have a way of separating the older kids from the younger ones
while still remaining in one building. In this way, the older kids do not have a negative influence on the younger ones. The kids also benefit from the stability of staying at one building for 9 years. By the time they reach high school, they are better able to cope with transition. The older children help out with the younger ones just like they do in our current k-6 configuration. This is a very important benefit of the k-6 and k-8 configuration.
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Rose
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Grant1
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We have just begun to fight!
fyi
Dec 28 2005, 01:51 PM
Much as been said about how the sixth graders do not belong in the middle school.
I agree that 7th and 8th graders would have an influence on them forcing them to "grow up sooner."  By the same token, I don't believe that 9th graders should be in the high school.  I don't see Livonia moving the 9th graders out of high school though.  I'm for a k-6, 7-9, 10-12 configuration.  Three years seems like a better span than 2 years.  Other than that, I think k-6/k-8 are other good options. 
Private schools have a way of separating the older kids from the younger ones
while still remaining in one building.  In this way, the older kids do not have a negative influence on the younger ones.  The kids also benefit from the stability of staying at one building for 9 years.  By the time they reach high school, they are better able to cope with transition.  The older children help out with the younger ones just like they do in our current k-6 configuration.  This is a very important benefit of the k-6 and k-8 configuration.

I can vouch for the K-6, 7-9, 10-12 configuration as I lived it in LPS schools as a student. This to me made much more sense, created close knit bonds, and placed more emphasis on learning with peer groups of the same age.

In addition, the greatest benefit was that all of the peers you went through grade school, junior high, and high school with became what is known now as PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN LIVONIA SCHOOLS. My wife and I went through all of the schools together, had the same friends, acquaintences ( ok...where's that spellchecker Jimid? ), and now have these persons as our friends and nieghbors with thier children going to LPS. We all stayed ( ok...some did move away and are now back... hmmmm?... imagine that, they moved away but came back to thier home nieghborhoods to raise thier families!... this must say "a bazillion things" about why we are so passionate about our schools! ) so we could have our children experience exactly what we experienced.

The LI will take this all away!

Friends, families, neighborhoods, bonds of a lifetime will disappear with this "plan"

We must kill it before it grows into something that destroys what we have had for 40 years!
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Rose
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Grant1
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We have just begun to fight!
Rose
Dec 28 2005, 03:45 PM
I too can vouch for that configuration. I went through LPS and so did my husband. We have decided to stay in Livonia because of the schools.......was I wrong or what?

YOU were not wrong...YOU AND I were wronged!
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NFarquharson
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I agree that K-6, 7-9, 10-12 worked pretty well when I was a kid back before dirt. I remember 7-9th grades as being one giant waste of time in a way...most of us were more focused on hormones than homework I guess. Middle school is undoubtedly the same now but starts earlier in most districts. I understand why Livonia moved 9th grade into high school, but I wonder why almost every district did the same. The 7-9 Junior High was what every district had for many years. At least we resisted moving 6th graders to middle school, which is a good thing. I still can't beleive they want to now put our 5th and 6th graders into a middle school like setting.
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MrTeacher
Principal
I'm not sure about Charter Schools...I'm a public school teacher and I hear they are a mess..http://www.nea.org/charter/index.html.

They also have their own "mini" board of education just like we do in Livonia. Here is some food for thought.. in every public district...we elect a school board...who then hires a Superintendent...who then hires administrators...who then hire teachers...
What's great about our system is that if you don't like who's running the show which many of us feel, you simply go about removing your board members and hire those that support the communities ideals. (apparently current board members don't hear a word we say)...Shouldn't we be focusing on 'fixing' our organization rather than worrying about Charter Schools, after all, the District is in reality ..."US" . Every great school I've ever been in is one in which parents are deeply involved..it only makes sense doesn't it? You know, a key question asked at interviews for administrators in various districts I've interviewed for is "How are you going to encourage and get effective parent involvement in your school?" I'm not sure our board did that when they interviewed our Superintendent, we know how that went, but more importantly, did WE do that when we elected our BOARD MEMBERS?
MrTeacher
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