.
The funniest part about all this is that the anti-public-education reactionaries who champion this charter school, the folks who want to take over one of your public high schools to expand Oxford Preparatory Academy of South OC to a K-12 facility, that team of reactionaries that are running to re-take over the Capistrano Unified School Board, call themselves “Hold CUSD Accountable.”
Young Oxford Prep scholars learn how test results can be inflated!
Oh. Let me back up a little. An important part of the platform of the Capo reactionaries has always been the fostering of CHARTER SCHOOLS, at the expense of the good old-fashioned public school that we all pay for and every kid gets to go to. Well, we all pay for charter schools too, but they’re a little harder to get into.
The reactionaries love the charter schools partly because the teachers are not unionized and get paid a lot less. But that’s made up for by how well the administration gets paid – the superintendent gets nearly 200,000 a year – nearly as much as the district superintendent – and she gets to put her family on her staff. Oxford Prep Academy South OC, approved a few years ago when the wingnuts had a majority on the Board, took over and displaced a fine elementary school, (Mission Viejo’s Barcelona Hills Elementary, whose students just had to up and go elsewhere) and now it drains a million dollars a year from the district.
Another thing they love about charter schools is that they tend to separate the “haves” from the “have-nots” – a great positive in their crimped, patrician version of “conservatism.” If a kid is accepted into one of these schools, they must purchase uniforms, and their parents must put in a number of VOLUNTEER hours – something most working-class couples can not manage.
Oxford Preparatory Academy (OPA) is a 501(c)(3) – that is, a profitable “nonprofit” that pays itself handsomely and is dying to expand. At this point they have only two campuses, one in Chino Hills and this one in Mission Viejo, having been turned away from both Saddleback and Oceanside. Like a corporation, it needs to always find a way to grow.
Now the South OC campus wants to be expanded to a K-12 institution with 1000-1500 students, and its supporters will be hitting tonight’s (Monday night’s) meeting in force to demand that. To serve that many students, the district will have to give up one of its HIGH SCHOOL facilities – that’s either Aliso Niguel, Capistrano Valley, Dana Hills, San Clemente, San Juan Hills, or Tesoro. And the kids and parents who are currently at THAT lucky school will then have to go much farther away.
But, check it out. As part of the case OPA will make for being allowed to expand, they’re hoping to boast of their spectacularly high CAL-STAR test results, which they’re already claiming are the HIGHEST IN THE STATE. A little glitch there, though – it turns out that the school is now under investigation for artificially inflating its scores, using the so-called “Asian method” – that is, encouraging low-performing students, directly or through their parents, to stay at home on the days tests are held.
Yes, the Orange Juice Blog has come into possession, as they say, of a document – a letter from the law firm Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves, and Savitch LLP, addressed to CUSD superintendent Farley, apprising him of their immediate investigation into these allegations. Apparently enough OPA parents and teachers witnessed and spoke up against this Asian method being used to dishonestly jack up OPA scores. An investigation by the district itself has not yet been discussed by the Board, but is very unlikely NOT to be, especially after hundreds of angry parents DEMAND it at tonight’s Board meeting.
This is very bad news for the district’s reactionaries who are running on a platform of expanding charter schools and busting teachers unions (as well as bringing swap meets and cell phone towers onto campuses and God knows what other madness.) It’s especially bad news for the three “Hold CUSD Accountable” candidates who are on the ballot this month – Jim Reardon, Steve Lang and Bill Perkins. It’s an unfortunate, infuriating setback for current wingnut Board members Sue Palazzo (retiring anyway) and Ellen Adonizzio. And it’s a teeth-gnashing, garment-rending calamity for the ideologues who fund and instruct these hardliners – Tony and Jennifer Beall, and the already-recalled Mike Winsten and Ken Lopez-Maddox-Lopez. And an irritating spanner in the works to their faroff privatization theorist-puppetmasters at the Education Alliance, Kids First, and the Pacific Research Institute.
Our Childrens First peeps say:
Thank you Vern for helping to expose these bullies. Perkins and Lang are both members of the local Mormon church and are getting support and funding from their local houses of worship. What happened to honesty and integrity from “christian” candidates for office?
Keep up the great work Vern!
The bad news is that most of CUSD knew all along that OPA was cheating on admissions and testing. The other bad news is their students get caught in the middle of adult games and should be held blameless. The adults? that need to be held accountable are the carpetbaggers Perkins and Lang and that obnoxious lawsuit happy Jim Reardon. This all has the stench of Tony, Jennifer, Julie, Sharon and other wack jobs all over it. Maddox even identifies himself now as “Lopez” and with a new job – an organic farmer. Organic farmers specialize in spreading manure and the stink goes right back to Winsten, Maddox and the buddies they awarded those hundreds of thousands of dollars to in 2009 – Reardon and Beall.
The good news is that CUSD voters will re-elect Pritchard and Alpay and elect Hanacek and McCormick. Sorry Ellen – you’ll be all alone for the next two years
SCHOOL CHOICE= Parents choosing what they feel is best for their children. There are so many crazy posts below here. Bottom line, if you do not want your child enrolled in OPA- then do not enroll.
I hope most people are smart enough to discredit any of the “anonymous sources” Anyone is free to leave OPA when every they like. Every parent I have met who sends their kids to OPA have had nothing but amazing things to say about their teacher and their students growth.
This is not an insult to other teachers, other schools- its their own personal experience.
The fact that there is a waiting list of parents hoping, wishing and sometimes praying to get accepted to OPA is a witness that CUSD schools is not a one size fits all.
My house location dictates what school I go to, the school determines what teacher my student has and this determines where my tax dollars goes. This is not freedom of choice.
If your a teacher at CUSD- stop wasting time posting and prepare more engaging lessons.
If your a union member- Be honest and state how your priority is teacher compensation and protection (NOT STUDENT). Explain that your more concerned about where the money goes then where the student attends.
If you live near Barcelona- Be honest and talk about how sad it was to see the neighbrhood change.
If your an OPA Parent- Share your experience and stay with OPA if its working for you or leave if its not.
If your looking into OPA- Talk with parents, students and visit campus of schools you have a choice to attend and your neighborhood school.
GROW UP AND STOP THIS CHILDISH BACK AND FORTH.
Wow-Knew it all along
When you say “Most of CUSD” knew it all along ? Your argument is that Alpay and Pritchard were in on this supposed scam…but you want them re-elected ??? Your logic is seriously flawed.
My point again is that NO ONE forced any parent to enroll in OPA. Anyone is free to choose to return to their neighborhood school where they are forced to attend based upon their address. I am sure those parents can make informed decisions which they think are best for their family.
No one forces the OPA teachers to work there (for what I understand is less pay then teachers at my neighborhood school). They are free to leave anytime if they feel the learning environment is not safe, secure and honest.
Yes I am a free market fan and if OPA sucks, then the parents are smart enough to get out and the school will fail. If the neighborhood schools and teachers are better,then they have nothing to fear.
I’m not shocked. This has been alluded to at board meetings for the past two years. Hispanic parents were supposedly told that OPA was a private school, and that CUSD was where they should go. Plus, CUSD is still responsible for running special ed services for the few special ed kids that OPA takes, so the district is on the hook for their services, not OPA.
I only hope that the document mentioned in the article is truly valid. Its about time these “for profit” wack jobs were exposed for what they are: greedy so and sos who are more interested in the almighty dollar than in honestly educating children. Private schools can be great places of learning, but not when they cheat and take funding from the rest of the student body collectively. OPA needs to go. Now.
OPA is a PUBLIC school, Bob. Of course students should have access to IEP resources like at any other public school. It’s paid for by our tax dollars.
BOB – CUSD is not “responsible” for special ed. services. The services are being leased from CUSD. In other words, CUSD is getting money for it, along with the leasing of the building.
BTW If you were educated on charter schools, you would know that they are public not private. Taxpayers are paying for it. The ADA money follows the student and is not being taken away from CUSD. It is the parent’s tax money which is following the child to where they attend school. Please educate yourself before you continue to blog such nonsense because you now sound like and uneducated “so and so”.
It is hilarious how supposedly “educated” teachers can make such “uneducated” comments.
Bob- OPA may be a public school, but make no mistake about it- OPA is a business and I feel sorry for those who are too afraid to even question the numbers proven and are unable to think anything could be improper. you hit the nail on the head!!!!
Hey mister I go to OPA and I also went last year! Its great and I love it! The only problem is is that sometimes they give us too much homework or the tests are too hard, but that’s ok. I don’t have the best grades, but I’m trying better. If OPA go’s then that means I’ll have to go back to my depressing really low grade life. OPA changed me so much that I don’t even know if I would be living right now if it weren’t for this amazing school. I’m in 8th grade right now, so I will be going to high school next year. OPA changes lives and it definitly changed mine. In 6th grade I went to Aliso Viejo Middle School and it was not pretty. All of you need to consider the fact that us students are the next generation. So what kind of example are you setting for us? WE DID NOT CHEAT!! I worked so hard for those grades! How would like it if you found out for the first time you found that you could get good grades, but then someone says that you cheated. Its not nice and just a form of jealousy. OPA is a public charter school and makes it very hard to keep my grades up, but they believe in us and you guys are saying that we are stupid and cheated?! That’s messed up!
I’m going to presume here that the allegation are true. Assuming so:
Just to make this very clear: anyone who votes to replace the current CUSD school board is morally complicit in this fraud of the public.
Hey, you know who else has been defrauded here? Parents who paid the high tuition at these educational institutions because they thought that their children would receive an education that led to higher test scores — as opposed to a convenient de facto suspension from school. And that one could be tried in court!
Here’s the “document mentioned in the article.” I tried to get it up on Google Docs last night but that was all jacked up. It’s working now though!
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bx7WBV-sJ5p_WkVteUFsMi1WLUE
I smell a rat! A letter to our District Superintendent from a lawyer is being posted online? That’s an impropriety! Who leaked that? Is it the Superintedent, district staff or is it one of “Trustees” that leaked this? I have had kids in this district for over 11 years and I am appalled at the lengths that the District Staff, the Union or Union backed Trustees will go to get what they want, and that usually does not have the students best interest in mind. Look at the faces to the right of this blog. They are all Union backed candidates. Alpay and Pritchard voted to cut our school year by 3 weeks instead of making changes with salaries/pensions. Who’s best interest is that?!! If you truly want what is best for the students at CUSD then it’s time change the school board, and stand up to organizations that call themselves “CUSD students first” because they should really have called themselves “union first,” CUSD is in the business of Educating Students. Let’s get back to that business!!
LetsBclear – You are spot on. Thanks!! 🙂
Um, can you please not call systematically cheating “the Asian method”? Surely that is not an acceptable term of art.
OK, Ada, fair point. I got the sense from Vern’s article that it must be a “term of art” among people who discuss how to game these tests, but that doesn’t mean we can’t give it a better name. We will take nominations below.
P.S.: I hope that this story of ours helps to make up for it.
Re-reading this, I think that the term referred to the tactic of impelling students who would do poorly not to take the test, not to “systematically cheating” generally (which would be even worse.)
Funny how facts are turned into fiction. Why is it then, Mr. Diamond, that the lowest participating subgroup at OPA is the highest performing in the state (ASIAN!). So I guess you are right…it is the Asian method! Hooray! Ten points for you!
I’m not the one who initially used that term for it. If you have a link to stats from a credible source that shows this to be true, then I’ll think about how that might be. Until then, anonymous sea mammal, I’m not going to give it credence.
Here you go: http://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/Acnt2012/2012APRSchAYPReport.aspx?allcds=30664640124743&df=2
This is the tip of the iceberg. I hope the rest unravels soon..
Yes, poorly graded students were discouraged from taking the test – but some insisted on showing up for the test, much to the chagrin of the “headmaster” and the administrator. So, the students who rebelled and wished to be tested, the teacher stood beside them and pointed out the right answers to the questions.
Is there any independent confirmation of this? That would take the corruption to a higher level, but (and no offense intended) I’d need to know more before I believed it.
ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!! I guess anyone can say anything and it will be believed. If that’s the case I have land in the middle of the Atlantic….anyone want to buy it? I hate that you can say whatever you want and not be held accountable!!! If you are a teacher, a supposedly role model for the next generation, then you should be ashamed of yourself!
Tanya – were you in the classroom when this happened? Or did you hear this from one of the hundreds of people who are upset OPA was even opened or upset that OPA has had an awesome first year without the help of the union backed teachers. Or … did you hear this from one of the many former Barcelona parents or neighbors who are upset the charter is being housed at the former Barcelona site. Wow, take your pick, because with so many enemies, we are not surprised this whole charade is even happening.
Check with CUSD. They have direct parent corroboration. An investigator has documentd these accusations with statements made by the parents of the children involved and a couple of the staff, who left the school.
No offense, but who believes anything that CUSD says? Their investigators are a joke and Farley and the Board react with any minor amount of gossip by firing people and while they are suppose to keep issues private, they seem to make themselves readily available to media at all times. If there was cheating, I would believe a third party investigator, with nothing to do with the district (and Union).
Oh my……..just keep an open mind all the way around- bring in a third party!!!! Gee, I wonder what the hold up is??? If I was being investigated as a school, I would be HAPPY to prove no improper behavior- Bring it on!! But as I said, what is the hold up?
You must not be a lawyer, or ever dealt with the district. Everything takes forever and a day. just sayin….
No- I am not a lawyer, but maybe you havent read the letters between Roche insisting on an “INSIDE” investigation, with no school district involvement ……. I say to them- if there is no improprieties, welcome the investigation. I wish the best for All kids, not just mine, and if they did as great as shown publicly, I would again say—-BRING IT ON!!! And just curious- How many kids are enrolled in Chino OPHA, and how many kids took the test? I thought under 1000 took the test yet I was told by the school that 1300 were enrolled. (that is including 300 (approx) home-schooled kids.) The home-schooled kids go tho school 3 days a week at OPHA. I am just wondering why didn’t ALL eligible kids take the test??????? (Of course not including kindergarden etc) Where are the rest of the kids??
Duck…duck…goose! Less than 24 hours it took the OPA board to hold a meeting and bring in an independent investigator. Funny how the only people not cooperating are CUSD folks. Their tactics are predictable. Start the fire, then walk away. This is called arson. Not much different here.
Hold a meeting and then bring in Roches hired crew to “investigate” their own kids!!! How about an impartial investigating crew? And who is walking away? C’mon Walrus!!!!! Really? Probably impossible, but how about an impartial investigative crew re-test the kids- shouldn’t take too long, and well worth the efforts! I would be proud to have my kids do it, and put an end to this train wreck!!! The kids deserve it and the parents deserve it!!!!
Tanya – Now this is scary but not surprising. How in the world did you get this information from CUSD? Are you “in” with the board? Or do you work at the district office? Or are you getting information from “someone told me”. Either way, it isn’t right.
Does someone know the answer to my question? Thank you
It would be interesting to get an attendance count and see if they even reported the students as being their own. The state dings your test scores if a certain percentage of kids at the school “opt out” or do not take the tests. I believe the percentage has to be in the high 90’s anyway. They could not score high without a high percentage of students taking the test so are they taking ADA money for them but not counting them as students? BTW, let’s just call it “cheating” because that is the real name for it.
The percentage has to be at least 95%. BTW – New article in Patch today about the state numbers you are asking about. OPA’s percent of attendance is HIGHER than CUSD. How about that.
Hi- my question is this- and I am talking FACTS but am getting no answers. OPHA in Chino has approx. 950 students enrolled, plus approx 300 students homeschooled, yet they are “enrolled” . When I called the school to see how many kids were enrolled, that is what I was told. The home schooled kids come to school 3 days a week. SO HOW COME ALL THOSE KIDS DID NOT TAKE THE TEST????? If they had, there would have been over 1200 kids (at least) testing, right? They got their percentage, but how? With some home schooled kids testing and some at school kids not testing? Less than 1000 took the test, and that is a fact.
You are totally right…They have kept kids on the waiting list for two years in Chino and kept them in their “independant studies” program. Those kids include GATE students…they are forced to only be on campus two to three days of the week with the hope of getting in. The Opa people are likely subbing the higher performing independant studies kids for the lower performing on. Campus kids to take the test….oh wait, what was I thinking……most of the low performing kids have already been kicked out……they shut down a school in Chino in a very impoverished area….many had no transportation to the other school and walked in the rain in the winter…..if OPA was really doing anyone a service they would have embraced those kids and help make a difference in their lives….instead last year their stats showed only one economically disadvantaged kid in the whole school.
Why not open a school in Pomona or some school in a REAL need for direction—- ANYWHERE!!!!! That is why people are suspicious– Not to mention the percentages of nationalities in the school. YIKES!!!! Parents with concerns come forward and make a difference for your kids!
Smellslikeaduck- Roche is submitting petitions to open a school in Pomona and in Rowland Heights.
Wow- you are so right. Those poor kids!!!!! booted out of their school to watch the other kids take over and study Mandirin chinese 2 days a month for Gods sake!!!!! What is Roche’s REAL goal??????
You are getting feisty again. 🙂 No worries … all in due time.
Remember that K, 1st, and 2nd do not test, I think that’s where the numbers would be lower
LUVMYKIDS— 2nd grade does take the test. At least mine did— Are you SURE?????
First of all, OPA Chino has only 200 students in their homeschool program. Second…only students in 2-8th grades test, so that is why not every student in the school tested.
Hey Walrus—-only 762 students took the API test in Chino OPA. There are 200 independent-study students. How many kids “opted-out”? How many kids were eligible to test? Could it be that independent study kids are under an umbrella and joined the 95%- (some take it some don’t) and at- school students (some students take it and some don’t?) At the school’s discretion??? So they make their 95%- but it’s a pick and choose game- 762 took the test out of over 1,100 enrolled students????? These are the facts- look it up under California Dept of education Star Testing—— They are missing some kids, right??? There are not over 300 kids in Kinder and First, that’s for sure!!! The big question lies within the independent study students.
Sorry- the exact amount of kids tested was only 762!!!!!!! And 1100 students enrolled- that’s a shortage of at least 100 kids- and the 95%? It’s pick and choose who is tested, in-school or independent study. Are they under an umbrella? Does anyone know? How does that work? Still investigating, kids first- but it looks like kids second, third or fourth…….OPA is a business and don’t you forget it!!! (Chino OPA) see you- fiesty 🙂
Why aren’t any of the newspapers and other media pointing out that Mimi Walters and Diane Harkey, both candidates for public offices, are involved in lawsuits clearly questioning their personal integrity?
Sue Roche is a determined woman. She has her family and close friends as employees of this school -the showdown should be interesting to watch.
http://sanjuancapistrano.patch.com/articles/charter-school-to-investigate-cheating-allegations
The only folks that are nuts are the ones that give this blog an ounce of credibility. We are dealing with Capistrano Unified here. Corruption is a tradition. Oxford Prep is blowing other schools in the district away with their performance, which is proven by the fact that they have a waiting list that is larger than their current enrollment. Their admissions are done through a lottery. The cheating allegations are bogus and probably initiated by bloggers that have sold out to the unions and think that schools should be ran for adults and not kids. Typically when people are afraid of competition it is because they don’t like their chances when it comes to competing.
If you say so, champ! Let’s see what these investigations turn up. Lotsa smoke here…
Vern- you got that right! I smell a fire!!
I’d take most public school teachers today over the puffed up scrubs they have over at OPA and other charters. I’ll give them credit for the ungodly amount of pompous parents they must deal with, but it’s pretty easy to score high when you’re teaching the smartest kids. At It’s core, It’s about segregation and a few people making big buck$.
Check out the IEP ratios at charter schools because you are wrong about teaching to the smartest kids and segregation. i had to put my children in a charter school so they could have exposure minority teachers. Look at demographics of the teachers at CUSD, then come back to discuss segregation. OPA’s parents are not pompous, they are simply more involved than the average parent. When my kids were in public school, the PTA moms were a bunch of lushes, any excuse to call a meeting and celebrate happy hour. I suspect you are a Barcelona parent.
Not segregation. It is a lottery which every child in CUSD was able to participate in. If you call parents who are concerned about their child’s education, pompous, then so be it. Better to be called that than parents who don’t care and just assume their child is babysat during the day, unpompous. Jealousy doesn’t suit you.
Nope. Not a Barcelona parent. I’ve been to Spain though. Funny how a random lottery can somehow yield only the best test takers. Crazy.
Oxford. huh. – The lottery didn’t yield the best test takers. It was the teaching done by the teachers who are there because they want their students to love learning. Not because they are tenured and clocking out as soon as the bell rings. Crazy. Huh.
Um. I doubt it Kids First. There are world class teachers in CUSD. OPA has motivated PARENTS and make school a priority. Public schools take everybody. Special needs, second language and kids with parents that don’t give a ****. I doubt many of those kid’s parents are entering them into the OPA lottery. Never understood why you people hate public teachers so much for wanting to get paid what they deserve.
Just out of curiosity– what does a public school teacher deserve to be paid?
Here we go again – The “problem” I have with the public school teachers (not hate) is that they all are protected by tenure. Throughout the years, I have seen many teachers get “comfortable” with their jobs, knowing they can’t get fired, and basically just doing the basics in the classroom. One would always hear about that special teacher whom everyone wanted, who went beyond, because she loved to teach. Like in a business, you need to be held accountable. You get reviews and if you do not step up, well guess what – there are hundreds of other applicants willing to bend over backwards for that teaching position. The other “problem” I have is that while soooooo many people have lost jobs, benefits have been cut, salaries have been cut, etc. etc, teachers have barely had a 2% decrease in pay. Really? Oh, but furlough days are a decrease? Well, in the private sector, you get decreases while still having to go into work and put in the same hours you were doing, but with less pay. Whereas, furlough days, teachers can stay at home with their children, go on a vacation, or just hang out without having to go into work. It is NOT considered a decrease, but a vacation with no pay. Another “problem” I have is that teachers are being paid pretty well considering they only work 9 1/2 months a year, with benefits and pensions, which all taxpayers are paying for. Basically, my children will still be paying off the teacher’s pensions, because the state has no money. I could go on and on, but will leave it at that. Food for thought.
Again, if you are a teacher I feel sorry for your students. Do your students and their parents know that you don’t think they are the smartest ?
Nah. Either you’re jealous or you hate them. I think it’s combo of both. The way you talk about public school teachers tells me that maybe you had a bad experience in your bubble and you don’t have a big picture view. Maybe you’re a stay at home mom that doesn’t have much else to focus on. What else would explain your weird obsession with their pensions that they paid into, or their earned vacations and salaries? Why the **** do you care so much about what they do during their free time too? They’re not nuns. I’ll never get that. Maybe you should have gone to college, earned a masters degree and then taught for a decade, so you could earn the benefits that come with this profession. What do you do for a living? Let’s discuss how your pay and vacations and whether or not you deserve them?
Here we go again … Jealous? I think not. Hate? Maybe not. It is a strong word, one I don’t use that often.
Actually, I did not have a bad experience in my education, because I didn’t grow up in the state of California. However, my children have had those token teachers – no one wants to waste their year with. The ones all parents cross their fingers for, hoping their child isn’t in his/her classroom. So yes, I would say we’ve had several bad experiences.
You think I am a stay at home mom? Well, guess what … you are wrong. Could I be a teacher? Could I be a nurse? Could I be a sales rep.? Could I be an astronaut? How about a parent who is tired of the union running the state of California, or better yet, CUSD? Well … you are correct!
I get that teachers have paid into their pensions and their paid vacations. We all know that. We also know that the state of California has no money, and our children (and grandchildren, even great-grandchildren) will have to be paying for it. How about the pensions of our future teachers? You don’t think something needs to be done about the pension system? Something needs to change soon, but if you want to continue to put your head into the ground and not see the facts, then you are crazy. I am not part of the union, and don’t expect you to pay for my pension, so why should I have to pay for yours?
BTW … since you did not understand my point in “obsessing” about what teachers do on their time off, I will explain again. We are tired of hearing the teachers say they are taking a pay cut, because they truly are not. While the rest of the non-union working members of society have lost jobs, have taken pay cuts in salaries and benefits, the teachers have NOT. The excuse that teachers have furlough days is NOT a pay cut. The teachers are at home doing “whatever”they want; just not having to go into work and not be paid fot it. boo hoo. The rest of us are taking cuts, but still have to go into work. That was my point.
You would be surprised to hear that I think there are great teachers in CUSD. The problem I have is that everyone needs to be held accountable. The good teachers will continue to teach our children and the tenured protected “bad” teachers should be replaced. Step up to the plate, or get out!!
You didn’t grow up in CA. Shocking. Public schools aren’t a business. Do you really believe that you can weed out all the bad seeds in any profession? So there are bad teachers. There are bad everything. And teachers aren’t the only ones earning pensions from the state. Why don’t you go after firemen and police tuff guy?
Not you again – Police officers have guns pointed at them; firefighters go into burning buildings. They need protection. Teachers go into classrooms to teach our future generations and should be held accountable for their actions, not clock out as soon as the bell rings. There does not have to be bad teachers, as i other professions as you say, if they are evaluated every year and expected to do their job correctly. Don’t waste a year of my child’s life because they aren’t good enough. What a shame.
Kids First you’re just an OC right wing ninny. Up in everybody else’s business. WWJD buddy. This person is paid too much. That person isn’t “moral” enough. I’ll bet a nickel you don’t even have kids. If you do, they’re probably in private school. Oh yes. Teachers never get guns pointed at them. My mistake. Maybe not in your neighborhood. And there are never bad cops, bad policemen or bad employees anywhere. Feisty? When it comes to the character assassination of teachers, damn right. You wont be satisfied until they make minimum wage. How much should they be paid by the way? No one ever has the juevos to put it out there. They deserve every penny they can get. Ha ha Rrrraaaar!
Notuagain – Right wing? Why, thank you! If you think every teacher is so outstanding, then why do they have to be protected by tenure? Why can’t they get paid based on merit? Are you nervous that half of the force will be fired? Or are you nervous that you would lose your job? Wow … cowards need to hide behind such nonsense and do not think that much of themselves if they can’t say, “Pay me based on my performance!” Whooooo … how scary! RRRRaaaarrrr!!!
Oh, that first question is easy: lack of tenure allows for political persecution — both large scale politics and office politics. The last thing we need is for principals or school boards to be able to fire teachers who aren’t “loyalists” as those in power define them. Sadly, allowing administrators to decide based on “merit” often ends up being allowing them to decide based on self-interest.
You’re all the same Kids First. First of all, I am no coward. Trust me. Just how would you rate a teacher you ignoramus? Test scores? GPAs? And just how do you adjust for the demographics of a school’s population? Special needs kids? English second language? Let’s just be honest. There are some bad public school teachers. However, most of them are wonderful people that work their ***** off. Even with ideologues like yourself who have it out for them and the public school system. Privatize this. Privatize that. All to support your ideology rather than the common good.
Notuagain – if you think you are a great teacher, then why are you scared to get paid on how well you perform. You really don’t have confidence in humanity if you think there is no way to come up with a way to rate a good teacher vs. a bad one? Wow, how stupid is that. We live in the 21st century. I can assure you that there is a way. Not just on test scores, but on input from administrators, parents, students, etc… Trust me. When there is a bad teacher on campus, every parent, along with the administration, knows about it. I’ve even heard an administrator say that there is nothing she could do about it – her hands were tied. Crazy!
“Paid on how well you perform?” You honestly don’t realize that that’s the problem? There may be a way to evaluate teachers well, but it is highly unlikely to be the way that teachers are actually evaluated. Instead — as with most of humanity, and most of all when the standards of success are ambiguous — people reward their friends and punish their enemies and try to please those with power. That, perhaps, would be just fine with you.
Dear Yo……is that what you told yourself to get out of helping out at your kids school….that the PTA moms had a drink after a meeting while they planned out fun activities for your kids and spent hours working at the school …whil you were our getting your nails done….seriously ???? What does that have to do with anything? Are you aware that the chino PTA went on a Xmas dinner cruise their schools tab last year?
Greg – I can not believe for the life of me, that your child/children (if you have any), were never at a school where all the parents were praying their child didn’t get a certain teacher because it would be a waste of a year. I’m not saying because she was too strict, or they didn’t like what she/he looked like, or didn’t give a lot of homework or too much homework, etc. etc.. You’ve got to give parents more credit than that. I am talking about the teachers who DON’T CARE!! The ones who charge you a tutoring fee; the ones who only give pencil and paper assignments and don’t engage students in higher levels of thinking. Administrators and teachers even know of a couple of their own peers who shouldn’t be teaching – I’ve heard it from many teachers throughout the years. Those are the ones I’m talking about. Not all of them. If you are a good teacher, then great; if not, then don’t waste my child’s time protected by tenure and get out!
Take away tenure and you’re giving administrators and school boards a gun. Once you give it away, you can’t control whom it will be pointed at.
You should talk to some teacher unions to hear stories of who gets disciplined and why. I (and they) would accept that a small minority of teachers aren’t good — the problem is with constructing the rules as to avoid a cure worse than the disease. I recognize your concern; you don’t recognize mine (and that of the unions.) Something has to give if there’s to be communication.
Have you ever really talked to a teacher’s union representative — outside of a public forum where everyone is speaking to the peanut gallery — about their concerns? Maybe you should consider doing that.
Greg – You are right. I haven’t spoken to a union rep. and maybe I should. I just think about how workers in the non-union world are surviving. If what you say is true, that the administration will point a gun, then how come business owners, managers, etc. aren’t being accused of the same crime? Why are teachers any different, if everyone should do their job correctly?
I agree … there’s got to be a happy medium. But, quite honestly, the union higher ups are always in it to win it.
“Point a gun” is a metaphor.
Business owners and managers are accused of firing competent workers for political reasons all of the time. (Often, by the way, that reason is: legal attempts to form a union!) Teachers are somewhat of a special case, though, because they are charged with explaining facts to children. We want — we need — them to be able to be intellectually honest. We don’t want them couching things in a certain way that a church may prefer, or that local corporations may prefer, or (I’ll grant, though it’s not usually a problem) that unions may prefer — to protect their own jobs.
People get fired on the basis of pretexts all of the time. It’s hard to suss them out; that’s part of my job, actually. If it is possible to ensure that a firing is truly on the basis of a just cause that is fairly enforced — which, in other words, means that it is some substantial act or pattern of misbehavior that would get the principal’s sister-in-law fired if she was the one who had done it — then yes, it’s OK. But bear in mind that (1) teachers do get fired for cause and (2) one role of the union is to be an advocate, sort of like a defense counsel, for teachers. We need that in such a system; they should be no more slammed for advocacy of their members than a defense attorney should be for advocacy of a client. It should be hard to fire a teacher, but it shouldn’t be impossible.
Let me give you a thought experiment. Let’s imagine that there are two schools, engaged in the same sort of inflation of test scores that is being alleged here. One is a unionized “normal” public school, the other is a non-unionized charter public school.
Which teachers do you expect are going to be more willing to blow the whistle on the bad practice?
(It’s the latter — and that’s part of why we grant teachers tenure.)
Not a teacher Kids First. Just a fan of public school. Please. Tell me Mr. Free Market. What should a teacher’s salary be? I want to know.
GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!! READ MY PRIOR COMMENT AND THEN RESPOND WITH FACTS—— IF YOU DARE……….By the way, everyone wants the best for their kids, for ALL kids!!!!! But when questions cannot be answered and administrators are evasive, you have to wonder why. Just sayin……..
Wow, I must have hit a hot button. You are very aggressive. 🙂 Usually, when people get defensive they resort to tirades. Please … just take a chill pill. No need to get so feisty. Kids do learn from teachers who aren’t part of a union; who aren’t protected by tenure; who don’t clock out as soon as the bell rings. In your own little bubble, you assume everyone wants the best for “ALL” kids. Guess what? Not true. Now that my dear person is a fact.
BTW … FYI – all students in the district can participate in OPA’s lottery. There are over 7oo students in now and hundreds on the waiting list. There is an interest. Just sayin…..
Dear ILUVSCIENCE— You are spot on!!!!! A dinner cruise for OPA on the school’ tab!!!! I personally know one of those moms who “opted-out” on the $$$$$ Dinner cruise because she was mortified with the whole idea!!!!! Gimmee a break!!!!!!!
Smellslikea – Are u kidding?? What do you think is the biggest waste of taxpayers money. One in which all CUSD students are paying for, since we are millions of dollars in the hole. I wish we could’ve “opted out” of the beautiful taj majal built for our wonderful CUSD staff. Now that is what I call big time money! Btw … OPA is not in the red after being audited, which is something CUSD can not claim. I can guarantee you that many of the administrators, staff, teachers etc. of CUSD have fudged a bit on their tabs. A dinner, gasoline, hotel room, etc. on CUSD tab. Wouldn’t it be great to calculate the thousands of dollars spent on all the little things which add up to a lot. Gimmmeeeee a break!!!!!
So ridiculous. CUSD is the Afghanistan of districts in Southern California. Same cast of characters. New election cycle. All ideologues get the **** out. Both sides. Public education is essential. It’s not a business. They take EVERYONE. Somebody is making a lot of money on these schools. Maybe if public schools change their name to (school name) Academy, these parents will look to make PUBLIC school a priority and improve their communities instead of joining in the “white flight” and falling for the lie that private is always better than public.
With all due respect, I have children in charter schools, including OPA. These schools are not “making a lot of $”, in fact they are receiving less ADA $ than the public schools. So from that standpoint, charter schools are actually generating revenue for the district. The district also derives income by leasing their campus to the charter organizations. The reason why parents are asked to volunteer is to pick up the slack due to lack of $. Another area where you are wrong regarding “white flight.” Charter schools tend have a higher IEP ratios per student population than public schools, which causes an additional financial strain on the charter school, not the district. OPA is great at fund raising and building community partnerships, which has lead to their success. OPA has triple the # of students than Journey School, a 13 year old charter school in CUSD. This whole accusation just smells like sour grapes coming from the Barcelona lot or other, less successful, charter schools. Before OPA opened it’s doors last year, the old ladies working in the Barcelona office were bad mouthing OPA, spreading false information because they had to share their “cushy” campus. When I reminded them that OPA students were district students, they did not want to accept that simple fact. Nope, sour grapes i tell you.
In contrast, JS has less than 300 students, yet has taken over an entire campus in Aliso Viejo (that could be used by Aliso Niguel HS). Former CUSD President, Jack Brick, voted in favor of the discounted lease contracts JS negotiated with the district because his grand daughter was a student there at the time. JS still employs teachers that corrected wrong answers on their student’s STAR tests to raise their classroom scores. Check into it.
To Kids First- What is SOOOOO most interesting to me is that you took the time to respond to my “Tirade” (gimmee a break) But never took the time to investigate the facts I brought forth——— you have plenty to say but why didn’t you respond to the one thing I asked? over 1300 enrolled kids and less than 980 took the test. WHY??? And how many “opted out”??? Again I say– give me the answer, because I cannot get it from the school, it’s very hush,hush. I am only curious. Find the answer- I DARE YOU!!! And the reason there are so much on the waiting list, is because we, as parents WANT the best for our kids. If there is something fabulous out there, we want it for our kids. DUH!!! But let’s be honest— give me answers- I simply want the truth, If there is something shady going on, we all deserve to know.
Smells like a … oooooh private eye. Continue your work and maybe you’ll discover a secret. Good job – pat yourself on the back. 🙂
I’ve only been following this discussion lightly, but I have a few questions for you.
Others seem to think that parents and/or administrators at OP are somehow gaming the system to stack admissions and/or inflate test scores.
OPA had a random public lottery, at a public location, posted on their website, and invited CUSD staff and Board Members to attend. In their first year, two Board Members did attend. Moreover, last year they live-streamed the event on their website for anyone to watch. Nothing to hide. Much easier to lie and pretend, then to investigate and find truth. This is not directed to you, but rather a generalized comment.
Kids First— Once again you respond with a cute comment, but no answer to my question. Could it be you have no answer? Could it be you don’t want the answer? hmmmmm- Could it be you are scared of the answer? Maybe you should do a little investigating on your own…..c’mon now, you can do it!!! Still waiting- Fiesty
Still waiting for an answer, chicken!
Smellslikea – Quack quack. The time will come. Trust me … or not. 🙂
If you don’t think they are gaming the system, check out the population demographics for Chino Unified (search google for CA STAR 2012) vs. the OPA campus there. It is also explicit that “both” parents volunteer their time, and it is pretty easy to figure out who they are trying to exclude. I hope several whistleblowers are awesome enough to reveal everything!
so true!
Excuse me. Don’t you take an hour a month to volunteer at your school? Shame on you. I take time to cut out future art projects, for the OPA teachers from home. You don’t need a brain, or thousands of hours, but just an interest in your child’s education to make a difference. Hmmm … jealous?
Please do check out the demographics at the Chino site.
BINGO!!!!! Check the demographics—- Wow– makes you wonder……Right on CVUSD parent!
Kids First—- Still no answer to my question……. You sure act informed but apparently just don’t have a clue do you? Just check the numbers (you must have) and cannot figure it out either, can you? All in due time? the time is now- You dont have to investigate- just call the school, ask how many students are enrolled, and how many took the test, (including home-schooled) and how many “opted-out”. BINGO!!!!! Don’t hurt yourself trying to figure out the #### ‘s Fiesty
I was not at Oxford last year but my son is attending this year. I can only give anecdotal evidence, which is better than what has been given so far, we participated in the lottery and got in, after being on the wait list. There was no way for OPA to know my son’s academic abilities. They did know he comes from a divorced family, I am on campus frequently, there is quite a bit of diversity. I know there are two special needs students in my son’s class. The parents at OPA are very dedicated as are the teachers, I see that as the differnce, not cheating and discriminatory practices.
There are dedicated teachers and parents at every school ProudParent. I’d be interested to see the actual demographics of OPA. I’ve heard that it’s 70% Asian. I could be wrong.
Yeah, you’d be wrong. Nowhere near 70% Asian. The demographics seem very similar to the other CUSD schools in Aliso Viejo where my kids have attended. The demographics of those tested will be released with the Star test results later this month so you will have an accurate number then. If you attended the lottery or watched it as it was streamed live,you would know that admittance is by lottery – which means it’s random, names are pulled out of a barrel they aren’t picked by academic ability, race, religion, or any other distinguishing factor. The only “weight” given was to in-district applicants over out-of-district applicants.
I’m looking at a site right now that says 68% Asian, 14% Latino and 11% White. This same site says the demo of that zip code is only 22% Asian. Don’t know what that says really. Don’t care that much.
http://www.movoto.com/public-schools/ca/cypress/high/060263007580-oxford-academy/5172-orange-ave.htm
You’re looking at Cypress, which is in North Orange County and part of Anaheim Unified.
Seriously, if you are going to attempt to discredit OPA, get your facts straight. OPA is a K-8 school located in Mission Viejo.
Herewegoagain – you are looking at the wrong school. Try Oxford Preparatory Academy and then please post again to correct your misinformation!!!!!!!!
What names were submitted and what names may have been left out? Doesn’t much matter if it was streamed live. Smart kids may have had their names picked randomly.
Here we go again … get your facts straight before you spew your lies. No wonder such outrageous rumors start. It is because of people like you who don’t investigate before blogging. I can tell you this – the dedicated teachers at every school are protected by tenure. For example, there was a teacher at my former school who would leave campus at the same time as her students and drive a couple of students home. For what you ask? To tutor them and charge them per half hour of tutoring. Outrageous!! She didn’t stay after school to help her students because she loved her job as a teacher, but she had the audacity to charge them for her service!! At OPA, any student who needs help, can stay after school at no charge. Wow!! What a concept.
My child was a part of the OPA lottery both years. I attended both lotteries. EVERY SINGLE student who applies to OPA receives a wait list number. The lottery took HOURS because they pulled out one name at a time until every single name was drawn. The lottery is public and filmed. There is no way that students could be left out of the lottery without the parents being aware.
Aha – Inform yourself before you comment. Better yet, please attend the next public lottery and see for yourself. Ignorance is bliss … isn’t it?
Kids First. Great story. One alleged story about one teacher in a district of hundreds. Who cares. And you’re getting your panties in a bunch about me spreading “rumors”. Are you “Capo Kids First”? Be honest. You sound like one of those tools.
Here we go again … you caught me. I am a tool – I think I am a hammer for now. Yes, one single story I had about a teacher charging some money after school for tutoring. Really?? I think there are probably hundreds … I myself know of about 20 stories. The bottom line is this … because teachers are “protected” they do not seem to care. Not all of course, but many. If they knew, like most businesses, that they were going to be reviewed based on their performance, and their job was on the line, they would give 100%. It is human nature. period
Why would they ask for our kids report cards prior to lottery? By the way, my children where picked– 🙂 Makes you wonder though……..
Smellslikea- If you are such a private eye, why didn’t you ask yourself, when you turned in your info. packet at OPA (which by the way sounds quite interesting…hmmmm … you were also interested in what OPA has to offer). The information was readily available to those who asked. THe report card shows the school the student attended, therefore the district. It also showed the grade level they were in. Unfortunately, or fortunately, there are many charter laws which need to be followed. Boy, wasn’t that an easy answer – one which was told to everyone who asked. How great is it to be informed. Isn’t it? You wouldn’t have been stressing about this. I hope your mind has been put to ease.
I don’t believe it’s random when you have to turn in a copy of the child’s report card prior to the “lottery”
Iluvscience – doubtful you’ve ever been to the public lottery. Every single child is pulled. Before you spew your lies, go and experience it first hand, and then you’ll know that your comment is absurd. Especially when I know of many families, whose one high achieving child did not get into OPA while the under-performing child got in. How do you explain that?
Absolutely right on ILuvscience!!!!! You DID have to turn in the child’s report card— ask the parents!!!! I am one who did!!!!! BEFORE the lottery!!!!! Why would that be?
Iluvscience – The information was readily given to those who asked at enrollment. The report card validates the school, district and grade level the student was in. Since there are so many charter laws in place, OPA couldn’t just go off of what the parents said only – word of mouth doesn’t cut it. Hope this helps.
I never even thought about it until ILUVSCIENCE brought it up- and they didn’t need ALL report cards did they? By the way- of course I was interested, I want the best for my kids, ALWAYS! By the way, since you are curious- my kids did get in, I chose not to take them— Roche lied to my face about 3 specific things- and now I see the mess and glad not to be a part of it!!! Always follow your gut……My mind is totally at ease- Is yours, Mr Defensive????? Still waiting…….
Smells- all you union thugs are threatened by the hundreds of parents wanting to leave this messed up district. Our students at OPA are thriving and proving that the teachers can be amazing without having a tenure to hide behind. All the teachers are being held accountable and all do their part. After prop. 30 doesn’t pass, and CUSD is $52,000,000.00 in the hole, and the students have 25 furlough days and the teachers go on strike, we’ll see who is running for the hills. Just don’t run towards ours, because you “smellslikea”are not welcomed. signed, at peace
Messed up district? Huh. Just stay away from it then. Please? I could not care less about OPA or private school. Leave CUSD alone. You and the rest of the OCGOP weirdos. Put your kids in private school and shut up.
Notuagain – Really?? Are you ok with the board voting for 10 furlough days, and 15 more, when prop. 30 doesn’t pass? Are you ok with increased class sizes? Are you ok with 92% of our money going to teachers salaries, etc. and 8% going to the students? (btw – the average is between 82% – 84% going to the teachers, not 92%) Are you ok with CUSD teachers being the highest paid in Orange County? Well … if you are, then I hope you can sleep well tonight, knowing our students are getting the short end of the stick. Now, you close your mouth. 🙂
For whatever reason, you and Smells seem to think this is a big deal. It is not a secret…it is right on their website: http://oxfordchampions.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=103008&type=d&pREC_ID=200882&hideMenu=1
Where exactly does it say that the report card results “prevent” a student from enrolling, since that is actually impermissible? Do you not realize that both CUSD AND CVUSD approved their charter, and the enrollment requirements are listed in it, including this component? Smells Like A Duck is on a Wild Goose Chase!
No where near 70%???? Try 68%!!!
Smells – I lost you … 68% of what?
Kids first- I always manage to get what I want! And how pompous of you to speak for everyone, I am always welcome, I am not afraid to get my hands dirty and work hard…..I wonder how long you will last……Now, hush- I am at peace, hope you will be. Don’t be so offended, this is an open forum! Still waiting for the answers to my questions……
so WRONG!
I could be wrong, but I thought it was 68% Asian—– how interesting…… 🙂
My child was admitted to OPA this year. In my brief time as an OPA parent, I can say that I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. The teachers are very enthusiastic and my child loves the school. I also note that the academics at OPA are more rigorous that those of the private school he was attending.
I find the generalized allegations to be specious. I suspect that the rigorous academics, teacher enthusiasm, and parent involvement is the more likely explanation for the high test scores.
We were also at a private schoo, I agree the academics are more rigorous at OPA. OPA has very high expectations from both teachers and parents, I’ve sem my son respond to that already.
Not true, What other inaccurate information are you spreading?
These accusations can also be tied to the Chino Hills charter school too.
How so, MM?
One of the school board candidates I talked to said there are some whistle blowers there, but the school board in Chino could care less.
Matt, the school is in Chino, not Chino Hills. You need to at least get the city right if you are going to post…right?
Nope, Chino Hills, Matt is right. Everyone – less nonsense here!
Not that it matters, but the school is in Chino, once El Rancho- Part of Chino Unified School District. Chino Hills is also part of CVUSD.
Its true…the school is in Chino the lower performing portion of the school district ( made up of Chino, Chino Hills, and South Ontario) but the school is composed of children stolen from Chino Hills.
Ohhhh nice … the Chino Hill’s students hands were tied and dragged to OPA. They must have been “stolen”. Ha! Ha! Educate yoursefl.
iluvscience … OPA Chino was given its facility by the district – not OPA’s choice. If you have a problem with it, take it up with the district. Just as Barcelona was not the site chosen by OPA SOC- it was chosen by the district.
I hope you are not a teacher because I thought teachers were role models that do not spread gossip or heresay.
I don’t have a child at this school, but it sure sounds fishy that cheating is alleged at a popular charter school right before a school board election. Seems to me that if there were incidences of cheating on tests given in May, those making the accusations would have made them when it was occurring, not right before API scores are to be released statewide that might make the Capo district look bad.
It is fishy that this all comes out now. Even so, we at CVUSD have always wondered why it is never questioned. Every school that the OPA “superintendent” has led here in Chino Valley is top in test scores. When she leaves, the scores drop a bit. Regular public schools find it to be unethical to tell parents that their child “would not benefit” from taking the standardized test and encourage the family to “opt out”. This happens at OPA. Where else could you find a population of students, who are selected at random in a “lottery”, to be nearly perfect- 997? So if this school is running honestly, then I think the “superintendent” should become a police chief… I am sure she could bring the crime rate down to 0%
So far, this comment is winning this thread.
Just so you and everyone knows– I have asked around because I had forgotten that when my child applied (PRIOR) to the lottery, OPA in Chino did ask for ALL my childrens report cards well before the lottery. How interesting to find out that in 1 day 11 people I know who applied all said they had to turn in their childs report cards BEFORE the lottery. Why would that be???? How very interesting…….By the way, my children did get in Chino OPA, but after asking Roche 3 direct questions, one of them being “How many kids per class?” She told me “You would be crazy not to put your kids here!!!! 22 kids per class should be enough information alone!!!!” I hear there are 34 kids per class plus home-schooled kids brought in 2 or 3 days a week in addition to that! What????? All three questions were answered with …….well, I will call it what it is….misinformation? or lies………
Very good point. Ha winner.
Hey aha, check out the decrease in the crime rate at El Rancho since OPA opened!!!!
Cool…there were previously 11 sex offenders who lived within a two mile radius of the school….I guess the residents of Chino finally got some benefit.
So true!!!! Does anyone know the answer to my prior questions? Re: Testing? Thank you
I’m wondering if you all understand that a “perfect” API score of 1000 does NOT mean that all students received “perfect” scores on the star tests. Try going to the CA Dept of Ed website & read up on how the API is calculated – it’s not as simple and straight forward as you might think. And, can we please remember that these are allegations, no wrong doing has been proven. In this blog post many additional allegations have been made besides those being investigated. Just because someone says it, doesn’t make it true.
Why don’t we all take a deep breath and relax for a minute. Let’s wait to see the findings of the investigation, and if wrong doing is found – it will be addressed and handled. If OPA and its students are found innocent of wrong doing, let’s be happy for their success and then look at their model and see what we can do to improve the education our kids are receiving through traditional public schools. Isn’t that the point of charter schools – to offer school choice and foster an environment to improve public education? Isn’t it supposed to be about the kids?
You are right. It means that all of the students scored advanced on the test.
Great read for everyone by Diane Ravitch: The Death and Life of the Great American School System- How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education.
The author worked under both Bush and Clinton. Very interesting how Charters were first set up to bring up test scores among all demographics. Charters have not made a difference at all with low performing students. I would love to see how an OPA charter would do in Santa Ana or Pomona. How come nobody wants to help elevate performance in areas like that?
Aha – Once again … educate yourself. It DOES NOT mean all the students scored in advanced. Wow. It’s no wonder fictitious rumors are abound with comments like aha’s.
The founder of OPA did start a school in a low performing area and still came out with the highest test scores in San Bernardino County!!!! PLEASE investigate the facts before you spew out venomous lies!!!!!
Sure, I heard that the kids that live around that school don’t go there. Sad.
Screaming Mimi – Just like all private schools, charter schools, etc. in our country, the neighbor kids don’t go there either. Trust me … OPA is not the only school in the nation that has students pulling from across the district. As a matter of fact, there are many schools, where parents are willing to drive at least 30 minutes, to get their children to school (just like OPA parents). That speaks volumes. Must be worth it.
BTW … the kids in the neighborhood have to drive 5 minutes away, to two other great CUSD schools. It’s not like they have to drive 20 minutes away, heaven forbid.
Hardly any of the kids came from that area , check your facts , most parents drive their kids in at an average twenty minute commute.
You did not understand my comment. Read again and get your facts straight. BTW – I was talking about OPA SOC.
Me- Do you know the answer to my prior question? I am giving FACTS. You investigate and let us know!!!! Thank you in advance- : )
I’d be very interested to know how many of the former El Rancho kids attend OPA. I would bet that not many do.
Interestingly, many EL, Sp. Ed, and behavior problems were “overflowed” to other schools. The high performers never seemed to be, though. And, no, I can’t prove it. It’s just what those parents have told teachers. As a teacher, I don’t have time to investigate. That’s up to a school board who doesn’t care.
If they really wanted to show possibilities, Roche would choose a low-=performing school and show the District it can be done—-Makes you wonder……. check out the demographics of kids nationalities in Chino!!!!! What happened to those neighborhood kids???? And how many of these 1300 enrolled kids took the test and how many did not?? (excluding the kindergarden etc) I was told by the school that 1300 kids were enrolled, and that the home schooled kids came to school 3 days a week. Where are the missing kids?
Smells – You must not be educated about charter law. You can’t just go into a low performing school and make it a charter. The neighborhood kids around charter schools across the country, can put their names in the lottery. If their name isn’t pulled, then they go to the next nearest school. Luckily for CUSD, there seems to be another school at every other corner. I would hope that most parents wouldn’t mind driving their children an extra 5 -10 minutes to get them to school. If parents of charter kids are willing do drive in 30 minutes, it is the least a parent could do – drive with your child in the car, and make it an opportunity for bonding. 🙂
I think you can do just that under the no child left behind law…they did it at a school in south la…a charter school can do what it wants as long as it is part of the approved charter….a percentage of seats can be reserved for the economically disadvantaged, or those living witching a certain boundary….just like they reserved 10% of the seats for children of founding members and staff.
Roche is submitting petitions to Pomona and Rowland Heights this year. Those are low performing school areas.
Yeah, I said something a lot like that days ago here. Let’s see what the investigation uncovers. But till then, I think you all should take a wait and see approach to expanding this facility to K-12 and taking over an existing high school! As well as basing your political campaigns on astronomical performance that might be questionable. Ya know?
Before assuming OPA would take over an existing high school, there are other options being looked at. It seems like the union backed board has made it impossible to work as partners.
The union is scared of the interest in OPA, because it shows that students can be taught by teachers who value their teaching abilities and don’t fall back on their tenures to keep them afloat.
It is so interesting that these claims are coming up now … right before the official API scores are made public. There were so many people against this charter from the beginning … the board, the union, the teachers, former Barcelona Hill’s parents. It is no wonder that OPA was able to survive the union backed outcry. This fear of competition has led to many teachers stepping up to the plate and working harder than ever. For example, from what I’ve heard, Barcelona Hills Elementary had a stellar last year sharing a campus with OPA. Supposedly, many activities were done which were never done before or hadn’t been done in years.
I just approved a trackback to an article from educationhelp24.com. I’m reposting it in full, without having edited a word, because I can’t tell if it’s real or a cruel joke:
If this is some sort of parody, stop it. Not funny.
I can’t tell if I can’t read it because it’s late or if I can’t read it because it’s unintelligible.
It looks like some googld-translated piece of spam based on a real article somewhere that’s in opposition to mine. Funny though.
The original without the gobbledygook
http://patch.com/A-y36J
Not in opposition, just bringing facts to the table for consideration. 🙂
The Patch posted a fabulous article (with factual data) stating the OPA had a higher percentage of students actually take the STAR test in May than CUSD students did. Ironic? Let’s look at data that helps to prove points rather than gossip on juicy blogs!
Penny. Patch totally lost their credibility on this bet to support collier and others for OPA Shame on you
http://Www.patchsjc.com
http://Www.juliecollier.com
http://Www.holdcusdaccoutable.com
http://Www.robertreidle.com
Having fun yet? – Shame on you!!
Lol
I feel badly for all the parents that Sue Roche has duped into trusting her, it’s going to be brutal once this investigation is over, it goes so deep and so far the people who defend her are going to have her stench on her forever.
Like always, she will come out smelling like a rose.
If there is an actual investigation. That cost lots of $$$$$$$- and is it really worth it? Re- test the kids, with investigators present, and let the chips fall where they may……I say!!!!! Now that would be interesting…. And Have ALL kids tested— home-schooled and In school, since they are all “enrolled” Just curious, How many opted-out, and in what categories?
I love these shadow links above that “Having Fun Yet” just posted in his comment. Why does our Union continue to allow us to build false websites, and distributefalse advertising?? I am getting really fed up answering questions from John Alpay detractors here in San Clemente, and now you have to post these? John has done a great job down here for us. We are a strong Union, and together we will win this fight! We don’t need to do it by trashing other campaigns, tarnishing someones name and family, and creating fake websites to trick people to find ours?? What are we doing???
“Why does the Union allow us to ….”
I would say, that the folks on either side feel very strongly and do whatever they want and can get away with – what does anyone need the Union’s permission for?
I see these parody sites and “shadow links” done by both sides, by now people should have figured them out.
David W – You are correct. This latest action by Alpay, Pritchard and supporters, has done nothing but make it a bigger uphill battle for your cause. People are getting informed of this dirty tactic and are not happy. Many who were on the fence, now got their answer and know who NOT to trust. Unfortunately for Alpay, Pritchard et al. people are not putting up with it and are willing to go the extra mile to find out who is behind this dirty work. They better watch out.
If you think David W is a teacher…You probably went to private school.
Coming from someone who knows. Chino OPA and SOC OPA are two different types of schools. Parents only have to volunteer 20 hours per family. Which is not alot. There are plenty of opportunities for parents to volunteer even on weekends. Teachers at OPA work very hard, and yes harder than public school teachers. They are there continuous hours and even fundraise for the school. They do accept special education children and IEP children. The independent study program is rigourous. Children do receive special education services in SOC Chino. The teachers are different, if they do not perform well they are fired. But administration does it in public. Administration at OPA is really cocky. I love the school but many parents live in fear of admin. Parents do not speak up and at PTA meetings they are not allowed to speak or ask questions they choose not to answer. Also the meetings minutes are edited. They omit comments parents or administrators make and that is unethical. There is no discipline of the children here. Many rich bullies, they are not held accountable because their parents are their chronies. I give all props to the school but very clickish and kids feel entitled are allowed to feel that way. Money gets spent on frivilous stuff like a fountain and curtains. But no one says anything. The PTA president is worked like a slave for free. The principal don’t get me started on him but I think he got a few more grey hairs last year. They expected him to be a slave too. Bailey should be the principal. And Mrs. Black, arrogant and fake. In for the money.
Totally believe it, lovely. Dinner cruises for PTA!!! REALLY? (OPA) in Chino. Wonder if the parents know where there $$$$$ is really going while they have Pay-Pal for donations……Parents are afraid to stand up and challenge the administration, can you blame them? And how do they get away with editing the minutes????
Don’t ever forget, Charter is a buisness first!!!
I do not know how they got away with it but apparently two parents printed out an email from Sue Roche she accidently sent to all parents on the minute list that she meant to send to the minute taker that instructed her to edit all comments, and gave the Sup Wayne Joseph and the school board members of CVUSD and they did not take any action nor respond to the submitters.
That is very interesting, Lovely1. Being involved with the “Superintendent” is like being married to the mob. Very sad.
Smells like a duck… Dont forget that NO ONE forces any parent to send their school to a charter school….or participate in fundraisers…
Read the comments from parents above, they are quite aware and involved. They do not sound like a bunch of victims that you need to protect.
Sounds like your trying to protect the monopoly neighborhood schools have…
Smells – Your “know it all” attitude must be hard for people to deal with. It seems like you’ve got a personal ax to grind, and you sound pretty bitter. It surprises me how much misinformation you have, and it makes me wonder what your intentions really are? No matter how many times someone tries to justify their reason for choosing a charter school (which quite honestly, isn’t any of your business), which is a better fit for their child, you will find something wrong with the comment. Well, I could do the same thing in regards to the “regular” public schools you so much admire. I can find many faults with the system and feel so blessed that my children love going to OPA and are not only learning, but remembering everything they’ve been taught. So … because you and I would never come to an agreement, I am done with you and your “glass half empty” attitude. I hope you spend half the time and energy you’ve put into thrashing a school in which “hundreds” of students and parents love, into your own life and school you love so much. Adios! Adieu! Good Bye!!
SHAME on YOU for writting such false accusations without knowing the facts. Shame on you parents who believe what you read just because it’s printed! Not everything you read is true.
You say, “at the expense of the good old-fashioned public school that we all pay for and every kid gets to go to.” At the expense of good old-fashined public school???? At the expense of a child’s education! Good old-fashioned school doesn’t exist! My house location dictates what school I go to. Even if I don’t want my child at that school, I can’t take them out of the disctrict whithout jumping thru hoops. I know this because I had to do this for my girls. The school system works under a dictatioship mentality. Probably because they are under the dictatorship of the unions, who are not in place for the protection of our children.
I had my children in “good old-fashioned” public schools and I did not see the growth in them that I see now that they are at OPA! What is good old-fashioned??? Or do you mean schools where teachers don’t care if a child is being left behind? I would rather my child attend a school that takes the “No child left behind” act seriously!
OPA is an amazing school. Do not trash the name or the people who have worked so hard to make it amazing. It is wonderful to be a part of a school that encourages parents to be part of their child’s education. More parents should partner in their child’s school.
What does being unionized do for our children? The union is about the union. They don’t care about the children. Someone needs to be about the children. Someone needs to stand up for our children. I believe that is where parents come in. Our children are the future of our nation. We need to direct our attention to the children. They are who matter in this whole thing.
Stop worrying about who makes what kind of money. No one forces teachers, non unionized teachers to work at charter schools, “who get paid less”. These are what teachers should be, they should be focused on the education of our future. I love and respect teachers, I personally believe that they should make a good living for what they put out on a daily basis.
You commented on how administration gets paid thousands of dollars, well, these administrators get a good pay check for an honorable job in our society. You on the other hand make a living and probably a good one dishonoring people and groups that you don’t even know. Or maybe you are just a bored blogger that chooses to dishonor people for fun and that’s just wrong! Let’s talk about poor spending. Visit the Capo School district office and then go visit Viejo Elementary School and some of the other, older schools in the district and write about that. I am disgusted that my child sat in such poor condtions while the district workers get to sit in a newly remodeled office space.
Shame on you!
WORD OUT … OPA IS CLEARED OF CHEATING!!! The two sources who came forward were not enough to bring down an amazing school, students, teachers, staff, and program. The “anonymous” source will hopefully be found out, and the other source possibly worked for the district. Nice try. Hopefully, the community of haters will come to realize that money was wasted on investigating a lie. The students of CUSD are once again, losing out on money which could be spent on the children. Way to go CUSD. Shame on them for listening to these 2 sources and wasting taxpayers money, after all … CUSD is millions of dollars in the hole.
Where is this documented so we can link to it — and examine it?
Giving OPA every benefit of the doubt for the sake of argument — are you really saying that CUSD shouldn’t have investigated such charges? Is the logic there that OPA is by its very nature above suspicion, or what?
Let’s see … this was the self-investigation by the Academy, right? Sort of like the self-investigations the Justice Dept or Pentagon do of themselves. And it was all of one page, nothing to see here. I understand there’s also a district investigation ongoing.
I see, from Penny Arevalo’s article in the Patch, that “After the district received the complaints, a left-leaning blog published the accusations and deemed them true without naming its sources,” meaning she must be a right-leaning writer who didn’t read this article. OK, I guess she went by my catchy title. But my article itself, which you can peruse above, just states the accusations and that an investigation is underway. I stand by it and smoke a cigarette.
Vern – Third Party investigation. 10 page summary to be exact. There’s also a district investigation ongoing, which we can assume won’t have the results until after the vote. We can also assume that since one of the “sources” was a CUSD employee, and the other one “anonymous”, the district will be forking out thousands of dollars more into this fabrication, hoping to close a non-unionized school. OPA will never close, only the waste of much needed money for CUSD students.
I also read the release of the investigation report and it is much longer than one page. YOU MUST SCROLL DOWN! Quit smoking cigarettes..they are bad for your brain and common sense. As a neutral party in this whole matter, I am easily frustrated that the children’s money is being splashed around on attorneys. Let’s refocus on what is important and rebuild our district. OUR KIDS DESERVE IT!
CUSD Superintendent- Please control the district and help guide what is left of a decent school board to focus on the important aspects of education and where money should be spent.
On another note, CUSD should be busy investigating their own board members, or did Alpay resign at the meeting last night?
What is the status on the investigation in regards to changing students grades after STAR test results come in. How is this fail to high school students? The competition to get into college is at its highest level and altering GPA’s as a result of one assessment appears to be ILLEGAL!
Watching the way unions and CUSD conducting themselves for the last 1 1/2, my husband and I will NEVER send our children in any unionized schools. Feel so hopeless for the ignorance and desperation of CUSD and the teacher’s union. We don’t like this choice so therefore you should not have it either. We don’t know if we will send our child to OPA but we are definitely not going to trust CUSD with having any student’s interest first.
Take it or leave it, Sue Roche has an agenda, get’s it done and takes care of business Just wish she would open up an OPA in the Desert like under privelaged children in INdio and Coachella that would really benefit from her approach. This area has a lot of retireees and philantoprotist that are willijng to donate to the betterment of a poor community, WE WELCOME OPA IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY!
Did I miss it somehow? Your retraction now that both investigations show these were spurious, completely unfounded charges?
Your tactics are disgusting–you, as well as CUSD, owe OPA an apology.
Hmmm, both investigations are over, and the only thing to be heard over here is the sound of crickets and Vern exhaling more smoke.
Will there be a followup article with an equally witty title as this one? In case inspiration is lacking, how about:
“Capo apologists catch the bandwagon to nowhere in their hasty zeal to discredit the black sheep charter school”
With 195 comments, obviously people are interested. Why are you not blogging about two independent investigators finding no evidence of cheating.
Send us links. I’m not going to concede the words “independent” and “no” without confirmation.
http://missionviejo.patch.com/articles/cusd-report-charter-school-s-cheating-allegations-unfounded
Funny how quiet this topic has become….
Vern states:
“…Let’s see what the investigation uncovers. But till then, I think you all should take a wait and see approach to expanding this facility to K-12 and taking over an existing high school! As well as basing your political campaigns on astronomical performance that might be questionable. Ya know?”
I guess the wait-and-see approach didn’t apply to quickly outing a leaked document describing potential cheating that ultimately proved to be unfounded.
This is like a SOAP OPERA! LOL… Maybe someone is jealous because the OPA is doing so well ?? Who s care what method it s teaching as long the children are getting PROPER EDUCATIONS and at a level where is should be well-deserved.
Noticed in public schools, teachers are getting pay awful a lot but what are they really teaching??!?!?!??! Charter schools they are teaching from heart and brain and not really into $$$$$
I still think the American Schools PUBLIC are behind considers the eductions in Europe and Canada
Im a single mum with a son who’s 7years old and Im not impressed how public schools are teaching my son.. Now I see why AMERICAN children or student are failing It is suppose to go forward and better for our future children but instead it going backward and out of control students with lack of disciplinary and too many lame excuses and the parents are not accepting to be a parents when it comes to homework’s They need lot more homework than what it s happening.. I remembered at my times, and in past there never been an issues… Yah the universities such as YALE, PRINCETON , HARVARD and ETC is a hard higher standard of educations and usually small percentage get accepted. Now barely few because of lack of proper educations that needed to be started at primary not wait til High School… Im starting to fall for homeschooling cuz you learns more and the choices you want your kid to learn.. I want my son to learn quality well-around education and you are not going to get that in PUBLIC SCHOOL in PRIMARY OR SECONDARY and probably not a lot of choices in High School.
They are so into SPORTS Certain sports is a very intelligent and its relates to Educations BUT FOOTBALL BASEBALL BASKETBALL????? How is that gonna teach real LIFE after the school??
PS choices of sports it should be our rights of choices not the AMERICAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.. Not everyones have the body or the interest to do those three sports and mind you IT NOT SAFE if you don’t have proper SPORTS.
Secondly it s unfair for girls to take BOY ROUGH BULLY SPORTS but then boys won’t take girls sports. THAT S LAME! If you know the history well You wouldn’t be calling ti girl sports and it was man creation!
I do not wish for my son to grow up to be bully or get him brain washed or bribe him into just so you guys can get him into mean rough sport and usually those sports have an ATTITUDE PROBLEMS. I know I don’t have any saying about those rough sports but I agreed on they should take sport but on their interests not yours THUS the children are not your kids ( DISTRICT PEOPLE )… Whats wrong with lacrosses, what s wrong with martial arts, what s wrong with dancing what s wrong with golfing what s wrong with ice staking or ice hockey etc etc FOOTBALL BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL are becoming too OLD AND TOO PLAIN AND TOO BULLYING… EVEN SO WHAT S WRONG WITH SOCCER??? I and my son would rather be learning that soccer than football basket ball and baseball
On top of that, if sports sponsor scholarships in college or university then it should be OFFERS AT ANY SPORTS OR NONE AT ALL It s so unfair and judgmental.
I don’t have issues with OPA charter school and my son has not enrolled in that school yet and Im trying to get him in there because PUBLIC SCHOOL are no better!
They need to offer musics and arts and any extracurriculars to ALL GRADES FAIRLY not just for certain grades…
Thank you for reading this. You do not have to respond negatives remarks keep ti to yourself but I want to hear positive remarks
PS If i use my judgement they should of be testing at SCHOOL not at home… I don’t have problem sending to campus three times a week as long it being proper taught and test at school ( it s almost like college systems )
Also Im hoping they will open up another campus nearby like in Rancho Mission Viejo then I would DEF put my son there SCHOOL UNIFORMS IS ALWAYS THE BEST for school… And even public school should be wearing uniforms DRESS CODE is a MUST some children dressed dirty and comes to public school being fashion or dirty or untidy poorly groom and unappreciated clothing to schools
the UNIFORM NEED TO COME BACK ALL AROUND PERIOD!
I know CA is hot but we still can offer summer uniform spring uniform and fall winter uniform just like regular clothing’s NO EXCUSES
Everything in this article is absolutely true. I use to work at the Chino campus and I was in a constant state of shock with the admin. making racist comments about E.L. learners and how they would “bully” low and special education students. I could tell you story after story about how corupt and racist this organization truly is. It’s a shame, and I hope the truth comes out!!!!!
John- I also wish the truth would come out, but it seems way to many people are to scared to speak up. My daughter was retained by OPA Chino because her English STAR test score was lower that year then the year before. We were called into the school on a Sunday “Labor Day” to be exact the day before the school holds “Meet Your Professor Day” to tell us she will be retained.
We were not the only parents, and believe me MANY were not happy including us. They tried to show us other scores from test they give her and all were passing, her report card all A’s and never through out that school year were we in any meetings letting us know she was in danger an might possibly be retained.
Its been 2yrs since this happened and when I talk about it, it makes me just as upset as it did that day cause it really shows how much they only care about their scores then they do their students. An let me quote Sue Roche when she told us “A’s don’t matter on report cards”. That is what we were told while we sat in that office fighting for our child.