Rebutting the Rebuttal
CHARTER SCHOOLS
LACK OF PROCEDURAL CLARITY WORRISOME
Reed Shiraki's letter ("Charter schools cap should be removed," April 16), criticizing Rep. Roy Takumi's action on removing the cap on charter schools is off base. Shiraki claims that Hawai'i's chance for Race to the Top dollars was hurt by the cap. Unfortunately, he is wrong.
He should consider the application and the comments by the reviewers from the U.S. Department of Education. One wrote, "It is unclear how charter school authorizers approve, monitor, hold accountable, reauthorize, and close charter schools."
Another wrote that the approval process was "murky."As a retired public school teacher, I agree with these reviewers that it makes little sense to allow more charter schools to open until there is greater accountability and transparency.
Shiraki is running against Rep. Takumi in the upcoming election so it's understandable why he wants to attack him.
However, before doing so, Shiraki should do what I always told my students: do your homework and get your facts straight.
Laraine Yasui
Pearl City
"Shiraki should do what I always told my students: do your homework and get your facts straight."
But, Ms. Yasui, I did do my homework! Honest!
Retired teacher Yasui also wrote, "Shiraki claims that Hawai'i's chance for Race to the Top dollars was hurt by the cap. Unfortunately, he is wrong."
Nope. This is straight from the Department of Education website: "States that do not have public charter laws or put artificial caps on the growth of charter schools will jeopardize their applications under the Race to the Top Fund," Secretary Duncan said.
Here's the link: http://www2.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/06/06082009a.html
In high school, I was always getting busted by my teachers (even when I didn't do anything wrong)... some things never change, I guess.