DOCSLIB.ORG

Updated School Profile 2018-19

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Updated School Profile 2018-19 * US News and World Report Silver Medal School * Received a spot in the Newsweek’s prestigious 2015 “Beating the Odds” list * Was chosen as a 2015 Honor Roll School * One of 16 districts in the UnitedSCHOOL States to be PROFILE awarded the 201 US 3Department-2014 of Education Race to the Top grant * Earned 6 distinctions in Texas Accountability system for the 2017-2018 academic years * Earned “A” rating as a district 2017-2018 in Texas Accountability system * Rated as “A” School in the greater Houston area by Children At Risk College Prep Public Charter School CEEB/ACT Code: 443546 TX CDC-School Number: 101-846-001 Title I School Principal: Seth Haytiyev, M.Ed. ([email protected]) Head Counselor: Syed Hasan, M.Ed ([email protected]) College Guidance Counselors: Berna Celepcikay , Fadime Dogan , Fatih Gozuacik , Huseyin Yildirim , Numan Kuzey HARMONY AT A GLANCE: Harmony Science Academy is a comprehensive four year college preparatory public charter high school serving grades 9-12. Its mission is to prepare each student for higher education by providing a safe, caring, and collaborative atmosphere featuring a quality, student-centered educational program with a strong emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The school was opened in the fall of 2000 and graduated its first senior class in the spring of 2005. Harmony Science Academy is a designated T-STEM academy and is accredited by Texas Education Agency. Students are enrolled through a lottery process and applications are open to the public. Harmony Public Schools educates nearly 36,000 students in grades K through 12 on 54 campuses in Texas. The school operates on a two-semester system with nine week quarters. BASIC SCHOOL STATS: STUDENT BODY POPULATION: Class of 2018: GPA # of Range Students Year Established 2000 Hispanic 57% Enrollment 626 Asian 18% 4.00+ 22 Grades Served 9-12 African American 20% 3.99-3.75 16 Free/Reduced Lunch 77% White 5% 3.74-3.50 9 Student to Faculty Ratio 13-1 3.49-3.00 43 Student to Counselor (12) 23:1 Student to Counselor (9-11) 130:1 2.99-2.50 26 2.49-2.00 11 RANKING: Harmony Science Academy does not rank due to the depth of the curriculum and rigorous work. Rank can be shown if it is for the benefit of the student. Graduation Requirements: HSA follows the graduation requirements set by TEA. Students are required to complete 100 community services hours and gain acceptance from a 4 year college. GPA CALCULATION: GPA is computed using the grading scale below. All courses, including local credit courses, whether passed or failed, are included in the computation. AP, Project Lead the Way (PLTW), and dual-enrollment courses are weighted on equal scale. COLLEGE PREPARATORY CURRICULUM: GRADING SCALE (up to New Course Weight Scale (Effective 2016- 2016-17 school year) 17 school year) Discipline RHP DHP A - 90 – 100 4.0 Letter Grade AP/PLTW/DUAL Pre- On English 4.0 4.0 Excellent Grade Range Credit AP Level B – Above 80 – 89 3.0 Mathematics 4.0 4.0 Course A 90 – 5.0 4.5 4 Science 4.0 4.0 C – Average 70 - 79 2.0 100 Social Studies 3.5 3.5 B 80 – 89 4.0 3.5 3 Economics 0.5 0.5 F – Fail 69 and 0.0 Physical Education 1.0 1.0 below C 75 - 79 3.0 2.5 2 LOTE 2.0 3.0 Fine Arts 1.0 1.0 D 70 - 74 2.0 1.5 1 Speech 0.5 0.5 Elective Courses 5.5 4.5 F 69 and 0 0 0 below TOTAL 26 26 1 Class of 2018 SAT Score Ranges (Mid 50%) AP PROGRAM Participation Rates: 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 SAT Math (Highest) 480 – 590 (790) 32% 45% 34% 36% 32% 36% 40% Mean: 543 SAT Evidenced Based 470 – 590 (740) Reading &Writing Mean: 530 AP Scholar Designation 2018 # of Students at HSA receiving distinction SAT Combined 950 – 1170 (1510) AP Scholar 28 (Highest) Mean: 1073 AP Scholar with Honor 7 AP Scholar with Distinction 6 National AP Scholar 1 Class of 2018 ACT Score Ranges (Mid 50%) ACT Combined (Highest) 21 - 28 (33) Mean: 24 COLLEGE ENROLLMENT The following are some institutions that Harmony students have been accepted to. Institutions in bold are institutions Harmony students have been attending. Sam Houston State Amherst College University Lehigh University Swarthmore College The University of Texas, San Austin College Emory University Lamar University Antonio Southwestern Adventist Baylor University University Macalester College Trinity University Massachusetts Institute of Boston University St. Edward's University Technology Tufts University St. John's University - Queens Brandeis University Campus New York University University of California at Berkeley St. John's University - Staten Brown University Island Campus North American University University of Houston St. Mary's University of San University of Houston (The Honors Carnegie Mellon University Antonio Northwestern University College) California Institute of Technology Swarthmore College Oklahoma Wesleyan University University of Houston, Downtown Pennsylvania State University, Columbia College Chicago Texas A&M University University Park University of North Texas Texas A&M University, Columbia University Corpus Christi Princeton University of Notre Dame Cornell University Houston Baptist University Pomona College University of Rochester Houston Community College Georgetown University System Purdue University University of St. Thomas Georgia State University Johns Hopkins University Rhode Island School of Design University of Pennsylvania Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey at New Brunswick Kansas State University Rice University University of Texas at Austin Rochester Institute of Duke University Texas Southern University Technology Yale University Emory University Texas Tech University The University of Texas, Austin The University of Texas, Dallas 2 AP and DUAL CREDIT COURSES OFFERED to Class of 2018 Advanced Placement and Dual Credit courses offered locally year by year and applicable grades are shown below. 09th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade Course Name 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 AP Biology 1 1 1 1 AP Calculus AB/BC * 1 1 1 AP Chemistry * 1 1 1 AP Computer Science * 1 0 1 AP Computer Science Principles 0 0 1 1 AP English Language * 1 * * AP English Literature * * 1 1 AP European History 0 1 0 0 AP Human Geography * * * * AP LOTE French * * 1 0 AP Macroeconomics * * 1 1 AP Physics I 1 1 1 1 AP Physics II * 1 0 0 AP Psychology 1 1 1 1 AP Spanish Language * 1 1 1 AP Spanish Literature * 1 1 1 AP Statistics * 1 1 1 AP Studio Art Drawing 0 1 1 1 AP US Government * * 1 1 AP US History * 1 * * AP World History 1 * * * GOVT 2305 Dual 0 * 1 1 ECON 2301 Dual 0 * 1 1 ENGLISH 1301/1302 Dual * 1 1 1 MUSI 1306 Dual * 1 0 0 SPCH 1315 Dual * 1 1 0 PSYC 2301 Dual * 1 1 0 Total AP/Duals offered to Class of 18 4/0 14/4 14/5 15/3 Legend: 0 = course is not offered * = Course is offered but not to class of 18 1 = Course is offered to class of 18. 3 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Harmony Public Schools Texas Case Study Harmony Public Schools Texas
    HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEXAS CASE STUDY HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEXAS Schools 54 schools 33,500 students 24% limited English proficient 61% economically disadvantaged https://www.harmonytx.org Challenges Creating a new project-based learning (PBL) model from the ground up Providing PBL curriculum materials and resources for teachers Equipping high school physics labs with tools for PBL Solutions PASCO digital sensors SPARKvue® software Levent Sakar, M.Ed. PASCO Capstone™ software STEM/PBL Activity Coordinator Curriculum Director, Physics Implementation Grades 9–12 Physics, AP®physics, dual credit physics Results In 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, all Harmony schools met or exceeded state academic standards set by the Texas Education Agency. 100 percent college acceptance rate for Harmony students. 58 percent of Harmony graduates choose STEM majors in college. 100 percent of students passed the state’s 2013 End-of-Course test in physics. Invitations for students to present at local, regional, state, national, and international conferences AP are registered trademark of the College Board, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse, PASCO Scientific. Introduction Harmony Public Schools is a system of high-performing, K–12 college- preparatory charter schools that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Harmony has a very engaged, hands-on approach to education, where students are directly involved in designing, building, experimenting, and demonstrating their investigations and projects in a PBL environment. In late 2012, Harmony Public Schools was awarded a $30 million Race To The Top District grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education. With the grant, Harmony set out to develop a STEM curriculum that incorporates project- Levent Sakar, M.Ed.
    [Show full text]
  • Oner Ulvi Celepcikay
    Oner Ulvi Celepcikay Phone: 1- 713-966-9354 E-mail: [email protected] Address: 4514 Meadow Green Dr. Sugar Land, TX 77479 Objective: Seeking Faculty Position in Computer Science Department Research and Teaching Fields: My main research and teaching interests lie in the field of data mining, knowledge discovery, database management systems, object oriented analysis and design, web programming, programming languages and other computer science fields. Education: ! Ph.D. Computer Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA Dec 2009 ! M.S. Computer Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA May 2003 ! B.S. Electrical Engineering, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey Jun 1997 Refereed Publications: ! Celepcikay, O., Eick, C. A Generic to Estimate Generalization Error of Geo-Regression Techniques, under preparation to be submitted to IEEE Transactions on Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, 2012. ! Celepcikay, O., Eick, C., REG^2: A Regional Regression Framework for Geo-Referenced Datasets, 17th ACM SIGSPATIAL International Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems (ACM GIS 2009), Seattle. ! Celepcikay, O., Eick, C., Ordonez, C. Discovering Regional Patterns in Geo-referenced Datasets Using PCA, 7th Industrial Conference on Machine Learning and Data Mining, MLDM 2009, Germany. ! A. Bagherjeiran, O.U. Celepcikay, R. Jiamthapthaksin, C. Chen, V. Rinsurongkawong, S. Lee, J. Thomas, and C. F. Eick, Cougar^2: An Open Source Machine Learning and Data Mining Development Framework, Proc. Open Source Data Mining Workshop (OSDM), Bangkok, Thailand, April 2009. ! Celepcikay, O., Eick, C. A Regional Pattern Discovery Framework using Principal Component Analysis, International Conference on Multivariate Statistical Modeling & High Dimensional Data Mining, HDM 2008, Kayseri, June 2008. ! Choo, J., Jiamthapthaksin, R., Chen, C., Celepcikay, O., Giusti, C., and Eick, C., MOSAIC :A Proximity Graph Approach to Agglomerative Clustering, in Proc.
    [Show full text]
  • Charter Renewal Contract Commissioner
    ATTACHMENT A OPEN-ENROLLMENT CHARTER CONTRACT RENEWAL PETITION Current Information in Charter School Tracking System Charter Holder Name: HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Charter School Name: HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY (AUSTIN) Charter School County/District #: 227-816 Generation: 04 Maximum Approved Enrollment: 5000 Grades Approved: PK3,PK4,K, 1,2,3,4.5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 Campuses: 227816001 227816002 227816003 HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY NORTH HARMONY SCHOOL OF (AUSTIN) AUSTIN SCIENCE-AUSTIN 930 E RUNDBERG LN 1421 W WELLS BRANCH PKWY STE 200 11800 STONEHOLLOW DR. AUSTIN, TX 78753 PFLUGERV1LLE.TX 78660 AUSTIN, TX 78758 Grade Levels Currently Served: Grade Levels Currently Served: Grade Levels Currently Served: K.l.2.3.4.5.6.7 8,9.10.11.12 K, 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8 227816004 227816005 227816101 HARMONY SCHOOL OF POLITICAL HARMONY SCHOOL OF INNOVATION- HARMONY SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND COMMUNICATION AUSTIN EXCELLENCE 13415FM620N 2I24ESTELMORD 2100ESTELMODR AUSTIN, TX 78717 AUSTIN, TX 78744 AUSTIN, TX 78744 Grade Levels Currently Served: Grade Levels Currently Served: Grade Levels Currently Served: KJ ,2.3,4.5.6.7.8.9.10 K, 1.2.3.4.5.6,7.8,9.10, II. 12 Geographical Boundary: The original charter application and amendment history reflects that the following district(s) comprise the charter school's geographic boundary: AUSTIN ISO RANKS ISD LAGO VISTA ISD PFLUGERVILLE ISO BASTROP ISD ELGIN ISD LAKE TRAVIS ISD ROUND ROCK LSD BURNETCISD GEORGETOWN ISD LEANDER ISD SAN MARCOS CISD DEL VALLE ISO HAYS C1SD LOCKHART ISD DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD HUTTO ISD MANOR ISD Section I.
    [Show full text]
  • Case 1:14-Cv-00193 Document 1 Filed 03/05/14 Page 1 of 7
    Case 1:14-cv-00193 Document 1 Filed 03/05/14 Page 1 of 7 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS AUSTIN DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-00193 v. HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, D/B/A Jury Trial Demanded HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMy-AUSTIN Defendant. COMPLAINT Plaintiff United States of America alleges: 1. This action is brought on behalf of the United States to enforce the provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.c. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII"). JURISDICTION AND VENUE 2. This Court has jurisdiction over this action under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f), 28 U.S.c. § 1331, and 28 U.S.C. § 1345. 3. Venue is proper in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas pursuant to 28 U.S.c. §1391, because all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to this cause of action took place in this judicial district, and because Defendant Harmony Public Schools ("Harmony"), doing business as Harmony Science Academy - Austin, maintains places of business in this judicial district. Case 1:14-cv-00193 Document 1 Filed 03/05/14 Page 2 of 7 PARTIES 4. Harmony operates open-enrollment charter schools, including Harmony Science Academy-Austin, throughout the State of Texas as part of the public school system, and therefore is a public agency, political subdivision, and/or instrumentality of the State of Texas. 5. Harmony is a person within the meaning of 42 U.S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • T-STEM Academies 2016-17
    ESC ACADEMY NAME DISTRICT/CHARTER NAME REGION Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math and Science Abilene ISD 14 Alief ISD STEM Academy* Alief ISD 04 Angleton ISD Wildcat STEM Academy Angleton ISD 04 Anderson Applied Tech Austin ISD 13 W. Charles Akins H.S. T-STEM Academy Austin ISD 13 Birdville Career and Technology Education Birdville ISD 11 Brooks Academy of Science and Engineering Brooks Academy of Science and Engineering 20 Da Vinci School for Science and the Arts Burnham Wood CSD 19 Canutillo High School Canutillo ISD 19 METSA @ R L Turner High School Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD 10 CEDARS INTERNATIONAL NEXT GENERATION HIGH SCHOOL Cedars International Academy 13 Clint High School T-STEM Academy Clint ISD 19 Memorial Early College High School with St. Philips College* Comal ISD 13 Innovation Academy Corpus Christi ISD 01 DeSoto STEM/iSTEAM Academy* DeSoto ISD 10 EE-TSTEM Early College High School* Edcouch-Elsa ISD 01 Toltech T-STEM Academy of Memorial High School Edgewood ISD 20 Economedes T-STEM Early College High School* Edinburg CISD 01 Edinburg Collegiate T-STEM Early College High School* Edinburg CISD 01 Edinburg North T-STEM Early College High School* Edinburg CISD 01 Robert Vela T-STEM Early College High School* Edinburg CISD 01 Franklin High School El Paso ISD 19 Irvin T-STEM Academy El Paso ISD 19 Transmountain T-STEM-ECHS* El Paso ISD 19 Fabens ISD Fabens ISD 19 Fruitvale STEM Academy Fruitvale ISD 07 Ball Prep Academy for STEM Galveston ISD 04 Robert E. Lee STEM Academy Goose Creek Consolidated ISD 04 Grand Prairie Collegiate
    [Show full text]
  • The Gulen Movement
    THE GULEN MOVEMENT Turkey’s Islamic Supremacist Cult and its Contributions to the Civilization Jihad By Christopher Holton and Clare Lopez Volume 8 1 Copyright © 2015 ISBN-13: 978-1522702221 The Gulen Movement: Turkey’s Islamic Supremacist Cult and ItISBNs contribution -10: 1522702229to the Civilization Jjihad in America is published in the United States by the Center for Security Policy Press, a division of the Center for Security Policy. December 10, 2015 THE CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 201 Washington, DC 20006 Phone: (202) 835-9077 | Email: [email protected] For more information, please see securefreedom.org Book design by Adam Savit and Brittany Clift Cover design by Alex VanNess 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword ..................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ............................................................................................... 9 The Gulen Movement: Origins, Structure, and Ideology .......... 11 Moving in the Arteries of the System—Then a Rupture ........... 15 Official Concerns about the Gulenist Agenda ............................... 17 Der Spiegel Accusations ...................................................................... 19 The Gulen Movement in the U.S. ....................................................... 21 The Charter Schools ..................................................................................... 21 Allegations and Investigations .........................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Charter Renewal Contract Commissioner
    ATTACHMENT A OPEN-ENROLLMENT CHARTER CONTRACT RENEWAL PETITION Current Information in Charter School Tracking System Charter Holder Name: HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Charter School Name: HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY (HOUSTON) Charter School County/District #: 101-846 Generation: 04 Maximum Approved Enrollment: 7000 Grades Approved: PK3,PK4,K, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, i 0,11,12 Campuses'. 7o7846ob7 101846002 101846003 HARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY HARMONY SCHOOL OF INNOVATION­ HARMONY SCHOOL OF 9431 W SAM HOUSTON PKWY S HOUSTON INGENUITY I IOUSTON, TX 77099 9421 W SAM HOUSTON PKWY S 10555 STELLA LINK RD HOUSTON, TX 77099 HOUSTON, TX 77025 Grade Levels Currently Served: 9,10.11,12 Grade Levels Currently Served: Grade Levels Currently Served: 4.5.6.7.8 _3.4.5.6.7.H.9.U).V1.12 101846006 1IARMONY SCIENCE ACADEMY­ HARMONY SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS AND HARMONY SCHOOL OF HOUSTON TECHNOLOGY EXPLORATION-1 IOUSTON 5435 S BRAESWOOD BLVD 91I5K1RBYDR 9305 W SAM HOUSTON PKWY S IIOUSTON, TX 77096 110USTOR TX 77054 HOUSTON. TX 77099 Grade Levels Currently Served: Grade Levels Currently Served: K.I,2.3.4,5.6.7.8 K. 1.2.3,4.5.6.7,8 Geographical Boundary: The original charter application and amendment history reflects that the following district(s) comprise the charter school' geographic boundary; ALDINE ISD CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS ISD K1RBYVILLECISD PORT ARTHUR ISD ALIEFISD EVADALEISD KLEIN ISD PORT NECHOS-GROVES ISD ALVIN ISO FORT BEND ISD KOUNTZG ISD SABINB PASS ISD BEAUMONT ISO HARDIN-JEFFERSON ISD LAMAR CISD SHELDON ISD BRAZOS ISO HIGH ISLAND ISD LUMBERTON ISD SILSBQUSO BROOKELAND ISO HOUSTON ISD NEDERLAND ISO SPRING BRANCH ISD BUNA ISO HUMBLE ISD NORTH FOREST ISD SPRING iSD CHANNELVIEW LSD JASPER LSD PASADENA ISD STAFFORD MSD CLEAR CREEK ISO KATY ISD PEARLAND ISD TOMBALL ISD WEST HARDIN COUNTY CISD Section I.
    [Show full text]
  • 161807 1.Pdf
    OPEN-ENROLLMENT CHARTER CONTRACT RENEWAL APPLICAnON Sectio" I. Cllrrellt (nformation in Charter School Trucking System -< rn ><: ~ COl ::> ::c en ::> :l> rM :o:D ltd-SO; = '"= rn -i =c:> I C")rn IZ :t>- V> m= -< <en rnC"J = ::Ji ::r: 0= en==- ~ = N .­ =c-.> CO en -< ledi¢f;7r"n ! td UJ1{)!iJ H./\RMONY SOtNCE ACAur;.M__V. OAUA<i iLARMONYSL1iOOLOf lN~{jVAiiON· nAl_LA~ 1 il)Q5 F'ttf~"U: Om-': lti14WR~n:t'"''Zy &lbL IX i5::~3 C;t,"llil~ TX ''!!Xi; I Gra&: L..-.-,!h: Ctmt:!IlHy Sawd G~ ~d$ Curremiy S(:!'\"t:Jl I KnJl t,U1.(t';.O·t05JJtd:l7J}S319 < ittI L i.2 H\IWJ1f41: !Mw7001 HAi{lI.-!ONY S-OUiCt ACAllCMY ~ GAkLAND R~R:MONY SCltNcr ACAOlWACOj :!yfl:! Faev.heci Patt.%1W j'f(}(j N@Fd!VzHcy Milb Dn..~ Gnhr,iL -1;';: 7514;1 W;::,xl.TX1tpm Grm.k b:: ..cl£ Currcrniy Served KG,OUJ2JJ3JtH5JJ(dJ731!U..19.1 i} ~ 11 (;flt1!Olphkaf 8uuad~: Thr: 'lugwd ch~cr Jt1!ht'MMfl;;G,J: imk:n~ nti1my tctl¢l:ti th::u dN! jO!hjt\l~ dt'tttlClisl U.m1prl~ Irn:- dune "elk"'.!!'''' @"c",~hh,: ht,gm1.w), !W.!lII 1$1), _ 1$1), ~I$I), ~ 1$1), _1$1), JOC!1i!LI$I), lim!1$1) , -.u!1$1), IIWIt_ ~ ~5Dp ~S)£! ~~f'.~~~1;~51*~mu.m$~.IiD;Ii _1m,_1$1) , -=1$1), _1$1) , IAU_I$I) , iMElIIIlJii'!H 1$1) , ~ 1$1) , IA_1$1) , ~5D# ~e.MW# ~9} ji ~., # lWUi£JJ)9) j ~B)c@ Mt S1m5li r MCWtEfSJp ~I$I), 2 Section II.
    [Show full text]
  • CHARTERS and CONSEQUENCES: an Investigative Series by the Network for Public Education
    THE NETWORK FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION We are many. There is power in our numbers. Together we will save our schools. CHARTERS AND CONSEQUENCES: An Investigative Series by the Network for Public Education www.networkforpubliceducation.org November, 2017 THE NETWORK FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION We are many. There is power in our numbers. Together we will save our schools. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction by Carol Burris, Executive Director, NPE . 1 California Charter Schools: California Charters Gone Wild . 3 California Charter Schools: The False Promise of Storefront Charters . 7 California Charter Schools: For-Profit Chains Cash in Behind Not-For-Profit Fronts . 11 California Charter Schools: Fighting Back Expansion and Abuse . 13 Charter High Schools and the Best High Schools List: Reality or Marketing Hype? . 17 The Charter Chains: Risk, High-Costs and Consequences . 21 Draining the Coffers: The Fiscal Impact of Charters on Public Schools . 25 Public Funding with Private-School Advantage: How Some Charters Try to Have It Both Ways . 29 Ignoring Community Voice: The Demise of a Philadelphia Elementary School . 33 Testing the Claim: Are Charter Schools Public Schools? . 37 Have the Concerns of the NAACP Been Addressed? . 41 Charters and Consequences: NPE Statement on Charter Schools . 47 Charters and Consequences: An Investigative Series www.networkforpubliceducation.org THE NETWORK FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION We are many. There is power in our numbers. Together we will save our schools. n 1988, American Federation of Teachers President, Al Shanker, voiced his support for charter schools. His hope Iwas that a new school model, judiciously used, could be an incubator of innovation. Freed from district rules and red tape, charters would be a place where teachers could try new approaches with hard to reach kids, and then share what worked (or did not) with their neighborhood public school.
    [Show full text]
  • Learner- Centered STEM
    GETTING SMART ON Learner- Centered STEM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: PUBLISHED BY: 01 #STEMSOS #STEM #EdLeaders #SmartBundle June 2016 Introduction Tom Vander Ark, CEO, Getting Smart Learner-Centered STEM: Meet Harmony Public Schools What do you get when you mix college prep, personalized, blended learning, project- based STEM learning and a small, supportive environment? You get the largest high performing school network you’ve probably never heard of: Harmony Public Schools. The first Harmony school opened Houston in 2000 with 200 students. The network started with grades 6-12 and added elementary schools in 2005. Now, 46 schools serve over 30,000 students (and even more than that on the waiting list). TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 ........ INTRODUCTION - Learner-Centered STEM: Meet Harmony Public Schools 05 ........ 11 Key Elements of Learner-Centered STEM Two Harmony School of Excellence student tour guides 10 ........ Putting the “Learner” in Learner- In February, I visited Harmony School of Centered STEM Excellence in Austin, a 6-12 school opened 13 ........ 7 Traits of Learner-Centered in 2009 in a South Austin business park. The Teachers converted office warehouse is a welcoming space that serves mostly low-income Hispanic 18 ........ Learner-Centered Leadership Means students. Like the tour pictured above, mine Teachers and Students Lead, Too was led by two capable students, Abraham 21 ........ 18 Ways to Power Learner-Centered Medrano (sophomore) and Zakya Anwar STEM Partnerships (senior). The lobby is filled with pictures of graduates that have all gone on to college. 24 ........ CONCLUSION - Redesign Schools with Learner-Centered STEM 02 The student-centered, project-based, STEM-focused school has become one of the largest and highest performing in the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Entire Issue (PDF)
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 113 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 160 WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 No. 70 Senate The Senate was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Monday, May 12, 2014, at 2 p.m. House of Representatives FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 The House met at 9 a.m. and was Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- loved ones are threatened to be sold called to order by the Speaker. nal stands approved. into slavery. The international com- f f munity cannot sit idly by while these atrocities occur. PRAYER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE I applaud the steps taken by the ad- The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman ministration to send resources to the J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: from Minnesota (Mr. PAULSEN) come Nigerian Government to aid with the Eternal God, we give You thanks for forward and lead the House in the search, but more can still be done. The giving us another day. Pledge of Allegiance. President needs to push for Boko Once again, we come to You to ask Mr. PAULSEN led the Pledge of Alle- Haram to be added to the United Na- wisdom, patience, peace, and under- giance as follows: tions Security Council’s al Qaeda sanc- standing for the Members of this peo- I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the tions list to weaken their power in the ple’s House. The words and sentiments United States of America, and to the Repub- region.
    [Show full text]
  • Harmony Public Schools
    COMPLAINT TO TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COSMOS FOUNDATION, INC. D/B/A HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS This brief in support of the complaint against Cosmos Foundation, Inc., d/b/a Harmony Public Schools, (collectively “Harmony”) is submitted to the Texas Education Agency (“TEA”) with a request for a comprehensive investigation and sanctions as appropriate. Harmony operates seven open-enrollment charter school districts that serve a total of forty-six campuses in Texas.1 Harmony is required by both state and federal law to use non-discriminatory employment practices and ensure the same of their vendors and subcontractors; ensure that its schools are open to all students; select vendors using open and competitive bidding processes; prohibit transactions that pose conflicts of interest and self-dealing; and to use public funds solely to support the public function of education. Though Harmony has been the subject of federal and state investigations in the last five years, each has been limited in scope and none has focused on Harmony’s employment, procurement, or operational practices. We therefore urge the TEA to conduct a comprehensive investigation of Harmony to ensure that 1) its employment practices are consistent with federal law; 2) its procurement and operational practices are consistent with state and federal law regarding competitive selection and conflicts of interest; and 3) its past legal violations in the areas of Special Education, English-Language Learners, and use of federal funds have been rectified. The need for a thorough TEA investigation of Harmony is even more pressing given Harmony’s aggressive growth plans. Taking advantage of Texas’ permissive replication rules, Harmony is rapidly expanding throughout the State by opening new campuses with limited state involvement or oversight.2 With forty-six campuses already, Harmony is poised to open up to fifteen new campuses over the next two school years serving an estimated additional 10,000 students.3 These expansions, if allowed to proceed, will cost Texas millions of taxpayer dollars per campus.
    [Show full text]