Gulen's American Empire

Gulen's American Empire
Gulen Empire map from Turkish Newspaper. DISCLAIMER: If you find some videos are disabled this is the work of the Gulen censorship who have filed fake copyright infringement reports to UTUBE

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Gulen Charter Schools in Tennessee follow Oklahoma for American teacher protection

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A conservative group that has warned of the growing influence of Islam is promoting a bill that would limit how many legal immigrants charter schools can hire, drawing opposition from charter school and immigrant groups.
The Tennessee Eagle Forum, an organization that has criticized U.S. immigration policy and last year pushed for passage of the so-called “Shariah bill,” is pressing Tennessee lawmakers to pass legislation that would cap the number of foreign workers charter schools can hire.
The bill has drawn bipartisan support but has raised the concerns of charter school advocacy and immigrant rights organizations, which say it would place unfair and unnecessary limits on who can be hired or volunteer with charter schools.
The Putting Tennessee First Act, which is scheduled to be heard in two committees this week, makes no reference to religion. But it comes amid worries from some groups about the involvement of Islamic organizations in running charter schools elsewhere in the country, although there are no such schools in Tennessee.
The measure, Senate Bill 3345, says chartering authorities may not approve schools that plan to have more than 3.5 percent of their staff made up of legal immigrants with visa work permits. The bill also calls on authorities to revoke schools’ charters later if they exceed the cap, and it requires schools to disclose the source of all donations from overseas.
There is no record of any schools in Tennessee exceeding that limit, in part because records aren’t maintained on employees’ nationality.
The Tennessee Eagle Forum, which drafted the bill, is affiliated with the Eagle Forum, a national organization that wants to reduce the number of visas available to foreign-born workers and opposes the use of textbooks that it sees as favorable to Islam.
Last year, the Tennessee Eagle Forum urged lawmakers to pass the Material Support to Designated Entities Act, which would have declared some followers of Shariah to be terrorists. Muslim groups vigorously opposed the bill, arguing that Shariah covers a broad set of Islamic traditions, many of which have nothing to do with warfare or secular law.
Legislators later stripped out references to religion.
Like the Material Support to Designated Entities Act, this latest bill is sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tempore Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, and Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro.
Supporters say the measure is meant to encourage the hiring of Tennessee and American-born teachers by charter schools.
“The state of Tennessee is stating a preference that charter schools look to hire U.S. and Tennessee workers as a priority,” said Joanne Bregman, an attorney for the Tennessee Eagle Forum.
But charter school advocates fear the bill’s broad provisions could limit the ability of schools to hire the best instructors. Immigrant groups, meanwhile, fear it could limit participation in charter schools by people living in immigrant communities.
“The intent of this bill is really to put up barriers for anyone with a foreign background to be involved with working at charter schools,” said Remziya Suleyman, director of policy and administration for the American Center for Outreach, a Nashville-based group that lobbies on behalf of Muslims. “The tendency already is that it’s very difficult to get immigrants and refugees to participate.”
Concerns over Islam
The effort comes amid concerns about the involvement of Islamic organizations in charter schools. The Gulen movement, which is affiliated with the moderate Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, operates 120 charter schools in 25 states.
Some critics say the group improperly mixes religion and state government. A New York Times investigation last year questioned whether businesses tied to the movement had profited from the charter schools.
Ketron said ties between charter schools and the Gulen movement or other Islamic groups were not among his reasons for bringing the bill.
“Not at this point, no,” he said.
But Sen. Jim Summerville, R-Dickson, said after discussing the measure with Ketron, he believes worries that Islamist groups might infiltrate charter schools do appear to be among its backers’ motivations.
“I said I’ll help him bring it to the floor,” he said. “I’m not sure whether I’ll vote for it.”
The bill is scheduled to come up for discussion today in the House Education Committee and Wednesday in the Senate Education Committee, which decided to bring the measure back up for discussion after initially rejecting it last week.
Opposition has come from some Republican members of the Senate, who argue the measure unnecessarily hampers charter schools and might violate federal education and immigration laws.
They also have raised philosophical objections to the bill.
“If people are here legally and legally qualified for a job, I have no problem with them,” said Sen. Stacey Campfield, R-Knoxville. “That’s what America is all about.”
Democrats have expressed little opposition to the bill. Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Lowe Finney, D-Jackson, and House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, have filed a bill that is similar to the measure filed by Ketron and Matheny.
But any proposal to limit foreign-born workers is opposed by the Tennessee Charter School Association. The group says its members would have to trace the source of every donation it receives to satisfy the bill’s reporting requirement, and they would have little recourse if they were accused of not doing so.
The group also questioned the need for the legislation.
Of the state’s 52 charter schools, none is backed by an overseas government or entity, said Matt Throckmorton, the group’s executive director. He urged the Senate Education Committee to study the matter further.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Gulen Charter Schools, Rep. Cannaday of Oklahoma Amendment to shine light on charter school practices

Cannaday Amendment Attempts to Shine Light on Charter School Practices
State of Oklahoma
House of Representatives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2012
Representative Ed Cannaday
State Capitol Building Rm. 539B
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
Contact: Eric Russell
405-962-7819
Cannaday Amendment Attempts to Shine Light on Charter School Practices
OKLAHOMA CITY (March 14, 2012) In response to the conduct and execution of taxpayer-funded charter schools, such as bypassing Oklahoma teachers to hire teachers from overseas, Representative Ed Cannaday has filed an amendment to HB 3130 to address these concerns.
The Democrat from Porum has filed an amendment that all charter schools that hire teachers on a H-1B temporary worker visa must file a report with the Oklahoma Department of Education showing proof of recruitment efforts to first hire qualified Oklahoma or U.S. residents.
“I find it hard to believe that given all the Oklahomans with bachelor’s degrees in education, and with the loss of public education jobs due to budget cuts, that any charter school is unable to scout out a teacher in our state and must therefore recruit teachers from the country of Turkey to fill these positions,” said Rep. Cannaday.
These comments reference the four Oklahoma charter schools that employ about 15 percent of their teachers from overseas using temporary nonimmigrant work visas. These schools are privately run by the Sky Foundation, but funded with state tax dollars.
Of the 149 teachers employed at these four charter schools in Oklahoma, 22 are here on H-1B visas.
Federal law allows employers unable to find qualified American employees to fill positions with foreign labor through a visa application process.
Two of the schools are in Oklahoma City: Dove Science Academy, grades six to 12, and Dove Science Academy Elementary, grades kindergarten to fifth. The other two schools are in Tulsa: Dove Science Academy, grades six to 12, and Discovery School of Tulsa, grades kindergarten to eighth.
The superintendent of the four Sky Foundation schools in Oklahoma, Kaan Camuz, said of 35 teachers at Dove Science Academy, 11 are from Turkey, Russia, Turkmenistan or Azerbaijan.
“I know these schools claim that there is a shortage of math and science teachers, so they allege that their only option is to recruit from overseas. Of interest is that the majority of these teachers come from Turkey, the home country of the founders of these charter schools,” said Rep. Cannaday.
More than 120 charter schools nationwide, including the four Sky Foundation schools, were founded by Turkish nationals.
“Turkish teachers are displacing Oklahoman and American teachers, and on the taxpayers’ dime, to boot! I don’t believe they are really making efforts to bring on board local teachers, and as a former educator I am insulted that they make claims when applying for the federal visas that they were unable to find a single qualified candidates from not just our state but in our entire nation!”
According to the US Department of Labor, secondary school teachers were the 5th highest occupation for H-1B visas granted in Oklahoma in 2010.
Rep. Cannaday’s amendment further requires charter schools on the needs improvement list for three consecutive years to have their contract terminated or denied renewal.
“Charter schools receive state funding the same way public schools do. One charter middle school in particular has been on the needs improvement list for three years now, and given that by definition charter schools do not have to adhere to many of the mandates that public schools do, I find it unacceptable that any taxpayer dollars are being funneled to charter schools that can’t meet the bare minimum.”
Unlike public schools, charter schools do not have to require that teachers have valid teaching licenses or certificates, that teacher assistants have a high school diploma, or that students are enrolled in a minimum of six periods of rigorous instruction. Neither do they have to require that the high school offer the mandated 38 units of credit, or have a graduation policy that requires the minimum 23 units or sets of competencies.
Of the 22 charter schools in Oklahoma, 3 were on the Needs Improvement List in 2011: the Justice Alma Wilson SeeWorth Academy in OKC, the Santa Fe South Elementary School and the Santa Fe South Middle School.
The Santa Fe South Middle School has been on the Needs Improvement List every year since 2008, which is considered consistently low performing.
For Fiscal Year 2011 the total state allocations for charter schools was $32,183,444.
“I hope to shed some light on those charter schools that receive public dollars but have very little accountability or oversight in areas that I deem important to me as an educator, a lawmaker, and a father and grandfather. We too often praise charter schools while demonizing public schools, and unfortunately, many people just don’t know what we’ve allowed charter schools to get away with, all on the taxpayer dole.”

Monday, March 19, 2012

Proposed Gulen Charter School in Louisana DENIED, Pelican Education dba Cosmos Foundation

After the scandal at Abramson Science and Technology, and the subsequent takeover of the school by the RSD (Recovery School District)  it is very brazen that this group, part of Cosmos Foundation (Pelican Education) even tried to apply for another school.

http://www.louisianaschools.net/offices/publicaffairs/press_release.aspx?PR=1583


Pelican School of Excellence

not recommended by NACSA and the Louisana Board of Education

http://www.louisianaschools.net/divisions/charters/apps_fall2011.html

The interesting point is, how close after the scandals at Abramson and Kenliworth that this application was pigeon holed in.

reviewing Pelican's IRS 990 Tax return is strange, $1.3 million 2009 for "Travel Expenses" 

Sounds like Louisana is done with the Gulen Movement.   The questions still remain...
where is the state  of LA with the investigation of Pelican?
and how much of this money they are using in Louisana is from Texas Tax payers?  Cosmos Foundation dba Pelican Education

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Gulen Charter School- Fulton Science Academy downgraded by Fitch!!!!


NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Fitch Ratings has downgraded the rating on the $18.9 million of Development Authority of Alpharetta, Georgia educational facilities revenue bonds (Fulton Science Academy project) (the bonds) to 'B' from 'BB-'. The bonds remain on Rating Watch Negative.
SECURITY
Joint and several general obligation of Fulton Science Academy, Inc. (Fulton Science Academy Middle School, or the middle school or FSAMS), Fulton Educational Services, Inc. (Fulton Science Academy High School, or the high school), and Fulton Sunshine Academy (Fulton Science Academy Elementary School, or the elementary school; collectively with the middle school and high school, the borrowers, or the schools or FSA), payable from all legally available revenues and secured by a first mortgage lien on the new campus.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
MATERIAL DEFAULT RISK: The downgrade to 'B' reflects elevated default risk related to the non-renewal of FSAMS' charter by its local school district, a shrinking window to pursue alternative charter renewal options, and further FSAMS leadership missteps in managing key relationships.
POTENTIAL LOSS OF CHARTER: Late last year, the charter authorizer (Fulton County School District, FCSD) rejected the middle school's charter renewal application. FSAMS applied to the state of Georgia's Department of Education (DOE) for a new charter, but a final determination is not expected until the middle of June, just weeks before its FCSD charter expires.
TURBULENT RELATIONSHIPS CAUSE CONCERN: FSA's recent failure to obtain required construction approvals for its project, along with the FSAMS charter non-renewal, highlight an on-going, worrying trend of management inattention to regulatory requirements.
CONCERNS TRUMP INVESTMENT-GRADE CHARACTERISTICS: Fitch notes that on a consolidated basis, the borrowers generated solid debt service coverage in fiscal 2011 and standardized test scores generally exceed state and district averages. However, these factors, which help drive positive enrollment trends, do not fully offset the concerns Fitch has regarding FSAMS' future, and FSA's relationship management.
WHAT COULD TRIGGER A RATING ACTION
FAILED STATE CHARTER APPLICATION: Expiration of the middle school's FCSD charter at June 30, 2012, without a replacement state charter could result in an immediate event of default as defined in bond documents. In such a scenario, Fitch would likely downgrade the bonds to no higher than 'C', with a Negative Rating Watch. According to terms of the loan agreement and indenture for the bonds, the trustee could implement accelerated redemption provisions.
STATE CHARTER WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT: If the middle school wins approval of a state charter, it still faces the challenge of operating without significant revenues currently provided by FCSD. Should proposed legislative remedies fall short of fully replacing the loss of district funding, the middle school plans to rely upon internal resources, potentially diminishing an already modest financial cushion.
FURTHER ASSESSMENT OF REGULATORY RELATIONSHIPS: The elementary and high schools maintain FCSD charters in good standing. Fitch will closely monitor their relationships with FCSD, as well as FSAMS' interactions with DOE regarding its state charter application. Any indications of FSA management continuing to mishandle relationships with regulators could trigger further negative rating action.
CREDIT PROFILE
CHARTER STATUS AT RISK
Following several months of failed negotiations, the FCSD board voted unanimously on Dec. 20, 2011 to reject the middle school's application to renew its charter. The middle school's FCSD charter expires on June 30, 2012. FCSD staff is planning how to redistribute current FSAMS students to other district schools next fall.
In January 2012, FSAMS submitted an application to DOE to become a state-chartered special school (state charter school) on July 1, 2012. DOE staff will make a recommendation on the application to the DOE board in May. Fitch anticipates a DOE board vote on the recommendation at the board's June 14 meeting. If DOE rejects the application, FSAMS management will have very little time to seek alternatives before FCSD closes the school because of charter expiration on June 30.
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES OF A STATE CHARTER
Even if FSAMS wins DOE approval, it faces a potentially significant financial challenge. State-chartered special schools are not eligible to receive local school district funding, and can only receive direct state aid. In its worst-case scenario, FSAMS management estimates it could lose 50% ($1.9 million) of its total fiscal 2012 budget as a state charter school. FSAMS' state charter school application reflects $1.2 million in expense cuts.
FSAMS expects to utilize a portion of its balance sheet resources to make up the potential $700,000 gap. This includes fiscal 2011 available funds of approximately $685,000, additional projected surplus of $150,000 for fiscal 2012, and $270,000 in donations raised to-date by the school since January 2012. Unless the legislative remedies discussed below are successful, FSAMS could face a similar challenge for fiscal 2014, with just $400,000-$500,000 in reserves.
A state appropriations bill for fiscal 2013 recently approved by the House of Representatives includes $8.7 million in supplemental aid for state charter schools. If approved by the senate and governor (who initially proposed the funding), this supplemental aid could provide state charter schools with up to 90% of the per-pupil funding they would have received under district charters. This would temporarily offset the financial disadvantage of a state versus a local charter.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Gulen Charter School proposal Utica Academy of Science Charter School DENIED!!!


DANIEL P. BADER\Observer-Dispatch Tolga Hayali, director of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School and Fehmi Damkaci, president of the board of trustees, pitched their vision for a science based charter School.
LOOK BELOW TO FIND THEIR AFFILIATIONS WITH THE GULEN MOVEMENT

UTICA — One of two proposed charter schools for Utica has gotten the green light to move forward with its application.

On Tuesday, the state Education Department released a list of 13 proposed charter schools whose application was deemed complete and ready to be reviewed. The Mohawk Valley Community Charter School was on the list, The Utica Academy of Science Charter School wasn’t.

There was one part that we did not send in,” said Tolga Hayali, director of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School. “It’s not something major in our educational plan.” Liar, your educational plans are the same as the other charter schools managed by Gulen followers.

What was missing was a second signature page from the proposed school’s board of trustees, the school sent in one, but not the other.

We will just submit this part again with the signatures,” Hayali said.

Six other schools who filed letters of intent in January did not make the cut.

Hayali and the proposed board members for the Utica Academy of Science Charter School have an opportunity in June during a second round of applications. 

Not making the list means waiting longer for a charter from the Board of Regents.

Mohawk Valley Community Charter School and the 12 other schools will have their applications reviewed and could get their charter from the Board of Regents in June. Applications submitted in the June round won’t hear about a charter until the regents meet again in December.

Our plan is to strengthen our community support in Utica,” Hayali said. “I think we’ll be stronger.”  What would that be Hayali? More Turkish Cultural invites, Interfaith dialog free dinners, free trips to Turkey for media, academia and politicians?  

“We’re happy to be on the list,” said Ann Maher, one of the two lead applicants for the Mohawk Valley Community Charter School.

She said she wasn’t worried about not making the list.

“I wasn’t feeling that because I know how strong our application is,” Maher said.

Schools approved in either round would open in fall 2013.

 MORE ON TOLGA HAYALI AND FEHMI DAMKACI  HERE, WHAT LINKS THEM TO THE GULEN MOVEMENT
PROOF HERE:
One of two proposed charter schools for Utica has gotten the green light to move forward with its application.
On Tuesday, the state Education Department released a list of 13 proposed charter schools whose application was deemed complete and ready to be reviewed. The Mohawk Valley Community Charter School was on the list, The Utica Academy of Science Charter School wasn’t.
“There was one part that we did not send in,” said Tolga Hayali, director of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School. “It’s not something major in our educational plan.”
What was missing was a second signature page from the proposed school’s board of trustees, the school sent in one, but not the other.
“We will just submit this part again with the signatures,” Hayali said.
Six other schools who filed letters of intent in January did not make the cut.
Hayali and the proposed board members for the Utica Academy of Science Charter School have an opportunity in June during a second round of applications.
Not making the list means waiting longer for a charter from the Board of Regents.
Mohawk Valley Community Charter School and the 12 other schools will have their applications reviewed and could get their charter from the Board of Regents in June. Applications submitted in the June round won’t hear about a charter until the regents meet again in December.
“Our plan is to strengthen our community support in Utica,” Hayali said. “I think we’ll be stronger.”
“We’re happy to be on the list,” said Ann Maher, one of the two lead applicants for the Mohawk Valley Community Charter School.
She said she wasn’t worried about not making the list.
“I wasn’t feeling that because I know how strong our application is,” Maher said.
Schools approved in either round would open in fall 2013.

DANIEL P. BADER\Observer-Dispatch Tolga Hayali, director of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School and Fehmi Damkaci, president of the board of trustees, pitched their vision for a science based charter Jr.-DANIEL P. BADER\Observer-Dispatch Tolga Hayali, director of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School and Fehmi Damkaci, president of the board of trustees, pitched their vision for a science based charter Jr.-Sr. high DANIEL P. BADER\Observer-Dispatch Tolga Hayali, director of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School and Fehmi Damkaci, president of the board of trustees, pitched their vision for a science based charter Jr.-Sr. high DANIEL P. BADER\Observer-Dispatch Tolga Hayali, director of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School and Fehmi Damkaci, president of the board of trustees, pitched their vision for a science based charter DANIEL P. BADER\Observer-Dispatch Tolga Hayali, director of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School and Fehmi Damkaci, president of the board of trustees, pitched their vision for a science based charter DANIEL P. BADER\Observer-Dispatch Tolga Hayali, director of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School and Fehmi Damkaci, president of the board of trustees, pitched their vision for a science based charter DANIEL P. BADER\Observer-Dispatch Tolga Hayali, director of the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School and Fehmi Damkaci, president of the board of trustees, pitched their vision for a science based charter