While the recent Duval County FCAT scores have shown the local charter schools to be academic mortals. I would suggest a level of humility as we continue the fight against their right to exist in the academic arena. This is not to suggest that I am for or against charter schools. However, I do believe that if you are for young people and the desire for them to have a quality education at any cost then the opportunity exist for you to support both. The issue that reasonable adults should consider is how can one mechanism given on one day be the barometer by which we state a school is a failing school. Young people deserve our best and if that means they get in a charter school or a public school then so be it. I commend those who have the vision to put their resources into education and thus step out to create charter schools. I also commend those folks who put their resources into public school system as well. When it comes to young people we have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure their academic needs or met and while some charters came up short this year so did some public schools. Therefore, none of us have the right to gloat. Until all schools receive the subjective grade of passing then we have all failed. Not only have we failed children, but we also have failed our collective future and that encompasses students on both sides of the river.
I AM, Irvin PeDro Cohen
Director, New Town Success Zone
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