Thoughts Without Words: KIPP schools

I was reading on Coach Brown's blog about the Newsweek article running this week(HERE); Why We Must Fire Bad Teachers.

One thing that jumped out at me during the article, which basically says teachers are to blame for all of the failures of education, was this little blurb

Generally operating outside of school bureaucracies as charter schools, programs like KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) have produced inner-city schools with high graduation rates (85 percent). KIPP schools don't cherry-pick—they take anyone who will sign a contract to play by the rules, which require some parental involvement. And they are not one-shot wonders. There are now 82 KIPP schools in 19 states and the District of Columbia, and, routinely, they far outperform the local public schools. KIPP schools are mercifully free of red tape and bureaucratic rules (their motto is "Work hard. Be nice," which about sums up the classroom requirements). KIPP schools require longer school days and a longer school year, but their greatest advantage is better teaching.

Now it sounds like these KIPP schools are where it is at. They mention the teacher's longer hours and how they outperform local public schools. But read closer and you see this line

KIPP schools don't cherry-pick—they take anyone who will sign a contract to play by the rules, which require some parental involvement.

It's a quick one sentence statement, but notice the "sign a contract"? So I researched to see what is in the contract" Here it is;

TEACHERS' COMMITMENT:

We fully commit to KIPP in the following ways:

• We will arrive at KIPP every day by 7:25 A.M. (Mon. - Fri.)
• We will remain at KIPP until 5:00 P.M. (Mon. - Thurs.)
• We will come to KIPP on appropriate Saturdays at 9:00 A.M. and remain until 1:00 P.M.
• We will teach KIPP during the summer (July 12 - August 30)
• We will always teach in the best way we know how and we will do whatever it takes
• for our students to learn.
• We will always make ourselves available to students, parents, and any concerns they might have.
• We will always protect the safety, interests, and rights of all individuals in the classroom.

Failure to adhere to these commitments can lead to our removal from KIPP.

Nothing too bad from a teacher's point of view. Yes, the "quit" time is new, although most teachers don't leave until 4 or later. Saturdays are new as well, plus the whole available 24/7. BTW, I know of at least one teacher that does this now.

Let's look at the parent's contract (I have bolded my favorite ones);

PARENTS'/GUARDIANS' COMMITMENT:

We fully commit to KIPP in the following ways:

• We will make sure our child arrives at KIPP every day by 7:25 a.m. (Mon. - Fri.)
• We will make arrangements so our child can remain at KIPP until 5:00 p.m. (Mon. - Thurs.)
• We will make arrangements for our child to come to KIPP on appropriate Saturdays at 9:00 A.M. and remain until 1:00 P.M.
• We will ensure that our child attends KIPP summer school (July 12 - August 30).
• We will always help our child in the best way we know how and we will do whatever it takes for him/her to learn. This also means that we will check our child's homework every night, let him/her call the teacher if there is a problem with the homework, try to read with him/her every night, and limit the amount of television they watch.
• We will always make ourselves available to our children, the school, and any concerns they might have.
• This also means that if our child is going to miss school, we will notify the teacher as soon as possible and we will read carefully all the papers that the school sends home to us.
• We will allow our child to go on KIPP field trips.
• We will make sure our child follows the KIPP dress code.
• We understand that our child must follow the KIPP rules so as to protect the safety, interests, and rights of all individuals in the classroom. We, not the school, are responsible for the behavior and actions of our child.

Failure to adhere to these commitments can cause my child to lose various KIPP privileges and can lead to my child's expulsion from KIPP.

A bit more strict. This is what is lacking in public education, parental responsibilities. I think if all parents were held to these levels you would see improvement.

Finally, the student's contract (bolded again);

STUDENT'S COMMITMENT:

I fully commit to KIPP in the following ways:

• I will arrive at KIPP every day by 7:25 A.M. (Mon. - Fri.)
• I will remain at KIPP until 5:00 P.M. (Mon. - Thurs.)
• I will come to KIPP on appropriate Saturdays at 9:00 A.M. and remain until 1:00 P.M.
• I will attend KIPP during summer school (July 12 - August 30).
• I will always work, think, and behave in the best way I know how and I will do whatever it takes for me and my fellow students to learn. This also means that I will complete all my homework every night, I will call my teachers if I have a problem with the homework or a problem with coming to school, and I will raise my hand and ask questions in class if I do not understand something.
• I will always make myself available to parents, teachers, and any concerns they might have.
• I will always behave so as to protect the safety, interests, and rights of all individuals in the classroom.
• This also means that I will always listen to all my KIPP teammates and give everyone my respect.
• I will follow the KIPP dress code.
• I am responsible for my own behavior.

Failure to adhere to these commitments can cause me to lose various KIPP privileges and can lead to my expulsion from KIPP.

Note that all of them have the threat of getting removed from KIPP?

Newsweek is a joke for comparing public schools to this. In fact, it strengthens teachers' arguments that parent involvement is vital to student success.