From the Wall Street Journal:
The demand for more educational choice in predominantly minority South Los Angeles is pronounced. The waitlist for existing ICEF [Inner City Education Foundation] schools has at times exceeded 6,000 kids. And no wonder. Like KIPP, Green Dot and other charter school networks that aren’t constrained by union rules on staffing and curriculum, ICEF has an excellent track record, particularly with black and Hispanic students. In reading and math tests, ICEF charters regularly outperform surrounding traditional public schools as well as other Los Angeles public schools.
ICEF has been operating since 1994, and its flagship school has now graduated two classes, with 100% of the students accepted to college. By contrast, a state study released in July reported that one in three students in the L.A. public school system — including 42% of black students — quits before graduating, a number that has grown by 80% in the past five years.
Of course, the California Teachers Association is doing everything in their power to make sure that inner-city kids are stuck in failing government schools. I call that cruel. Others call it ideal.
HT: JC
