In Work Hard. Be Nice.: How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America, by Jay Mathews (Algonquin Books, 329 pp., $14.95), Mr. Mathews chronicles the success of David Levin and Michael Feinberg in created the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) model that has turned into the most successful model for charter replication.
It is interesting to note that one of the main reasons for charter legislation was the hope that charters would create successful educational strategies that could be scaled in non-charter public schools. While KIPP has been extremely successful, few districts have attempted to replicate the model. This brings up an interesting question for society. If we have a proven model for success in educating students where non-charter schools have failed, then why aren't non-charter public schools replicating the model?
2 comments:
I ask myself the same question. Since I have worked in private schools all of my professional life, I am baffled as to why public school districts don't work with (instead of fighting against, as they often do in NYC) charter schools to replicate best practices. Private schools (at least the best ones) do share best practices all the time.
Thanks for your comment. It is interesting. I suppose that private schools don't see each other as competitors, even though they are. Hmm. Now, there is something else to think about.
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