Crosscut - a new online newspaper

There's a new on-line newspaper called Crosscut (crosscut.com) started by a couple of local journalists. It's a good place that gathers stories from across the Northwest (very handy if you don't have time to read both the PI and the Times) plus their own editorial outlook. It's in its early stages so hard to know if it will last.

They had a story about a charter school in Portland that is a former Portland school trying to reopen as a charter. It's an interesting article because of our issue of what happens to closed school buildings and the dynamics of charter schools. I am personally against charter schools (for various reasons, another topic) but this was good reading.

These parents attempted to save their school from closing but it did anyway and so they are attempting to reopen it as a charter. The Portland School Board (who has to approve it) said no, its curriculum wasn't good enough. The parents could (and did) appeal to the State Board of Education to sponsor it. The appeal will be heard on April 19th. This building has been just sitting there and these parents, bless their hearts, got it together to try to make something of it (and would directly compete with the district for those children in that area).

Comments

Michael Rice said…
Crosscut is also taking aim at the "institutional racism" of the Seattle Schools and instead of just talking about it, how about doing something about it.

I'm not a big fan of Mr. Brewster and Mr. Burger but anything that shines more light on SPS will be a good thing.
4/3/07, 9:47 AM
Anonymous said…
Two points on charters:
1. Public charter schools are not a silver bullet, but it is worth thinking about whether mechanisms like charters can help our communities get the schools they need. Charters are very successful at serving the needist students in cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, and NYC. As a parent in SE Seattle, I don't think any of us should write off options for creating effective new public schools without having very good reason.

2. There is a HUGE amount of misinformation circulating about charters. Be absolutely sure you have the right info before you dismiss chartering. Email me at rlake@u.washington.edu if you want to discuss further. I spend every day on this issue.
4/3/07, 9:55 PM
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