On another post Anonymous wrote:
"New post?
Not sure where to put this? I'm confused after reading
this article. Does "chartered by PPS" mean that PPS owns this school?
So they get the money from the students who attend from other districts?
Does anyone know anything about this school? This is the first I've
heard of it,
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/11/29/Passport-Academy-Charter-School-opens-to-help-high-school-dropouts-earn-diplomas/stories/201411270007
"
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11 comments:
Students from any district can apply to attend charters. When Passport Academy was first proposed, people thought it was for students older than traditional high school age (aiming at early 20's) who had dropped out, and so would not compete with regular district schools.
According to the article, though, students must be between 14 and 21 to enroll (so if they enroll at age 20 and turn 21, or 22, must they leave? Or can they stay until age 24 or 25, and be attending school with 14 year olds? Does anyone remember hearing the Board discuss this school?
Is it owned by PPS? Does the tuition money go to PPS?
It says students must have withdrawn from their previous school to be eligible to attend. Maybe this is an option for U Prep students? They can withdraw and attend Passport, it is in the neighborhood.
Here is the website, it is apparently owned by the Hill House:
http://hhpa.k12.com/
Tuition money goes to the charter operator. It can be profitable since charter schools, especially schools like this one featuring online earning in part, tend to be much less expensive to operate.
I am a parent and I was in UPrep today. It is beyond bad. I saw one student running around and knocking people into the walls. The other students were cursing out teachers and they were obviously skipping class. I cannot believe what I saw. When this hits the news after a disaster Mr. Hardy and Mr. Esoldo will be held accountable.
4:49
It can hit the news now. It already is a disaster. Contact reporter Rebecca Nuttall anonymously. She wants to write a story about what is happening at U Prep and of the people who post on this blog, NO ONE will talk to her. Please don't wait until another student is killed, hurt, or emotionally broken down, not to mention the loss of learning! Please contact her and share what you saw. We have a responsibility to help those children by reporting what we see. We are allowing this to continue and permitting them to abuse the children who attend that school. It is unsafe and no learning is taking place but we are allowing it to continue. It must be exposed to the public!
Please say you'll contact her!
"She has permission from her editor to keep you anonymous.
Rebecca Nuttall
Staff Writer
Pittsburgh City Paper
650 Smithfield Street
Suite 2200
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-316-3342 x. 175
rnuttall@steelcitymedia.com
@PGHReporter "
No one is going to talk to a reporter. Why is that so difficult to understand? Threaten all you want, but it does not make sense to put yourself or your kids at further risk. The already reported incidents at this school are beyond belief, yet they have been reported, huge numbers of complaints have been made and recorded---TO NO AVAIL---absolutely none. And, the incidents have been even more OUTRAGEOUS! This has been ongoing for more than six years! So? Don't put the burden on new people when what they have witnessed pales by comparison to what has already gone on WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE!
There must be families who have left the school and even the district and know they are not returning; why would speaking to a reporter, who can keep your name confidential, be a problem?
And who were the incidents reported to, and who recorded the complaints?
This is exactly why PPS gets away with these things. Because no one will report it out to the public. Complaining to the school board, superintendent, etc will get you nowhere. That is why you haven't been helped. They know what is going on and have a lot invested in covering it up. If the incidents were publicized they would have to be held accountable! And if they try to target you, then tell the reporter, she can write a story about how the people who spoke out are being targeted! This is classic bully behavior and they think we are too scared to talk out because then we will get it even worse. It is time to stand up to them. Also you are afraid to speak out bc your child might be targeted by PPS?!! Your child could die as a result if their shenanigans! What could be worse than that? Unbelievable!
What I don't get from this thread is what is the teachers union doing about this? I thought that your union was very strong or is that only regarding fiscal issues? Does the rank and file have meetings where this is discussed and solutions are brought forward?
Right now, the PFT leadership Nina Visgitis IS ALL IN with the PR campaign. The focus for the district, at every event, is the PPS is doing great and wonderful things to the exclusion of all other incidents which are being strategically covered up for the good of the positive P.R. campaign ($205.000 for a parade! etc.
To be sure there are many very good teachers and very good students doing very good things and it is fine to highlight these wherever they are happening.
However, these are just a drop in the bucket of the poor curricula, poor achievement in all subjects, poor climates, poor teaching, and very poor leadership that is failing daily to improve attitudes, academics, achievement, activities, environment, climate, leadership, respect, rigor, relationships, rights, etc.
The steadily downward trend at all levels is clear evidence that things are not as they should, would and could be in PPS if leadership at every level were problem-solvers, creative thinkers, and often just demonstrated plain good-old common sense.
The cover-ups only exacerbate serious and too often dangerous situations. If our schools cannot combat "ignorance" in all of the aforementioned areas, then who can?
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