Fulton Science Academy in Atlanta, Georgia A GULEN CHARTER SCHOOL
With new immigration laws that have caused outcry among advocacy groups, Georgia's reputation for diversity has seen better moments. But over the past few years, the state's education system has made quiet but steady strides in helping students build cultural competency and language proficiency. Nearly 380,000 students in grades 6-12, about 23 percent of all students enrolled in public schools, were taking world language courses in 2010. The total increased by 39 percent from 272,613 during the previous year, according to Jon Valentine, program specialist for world languages and international education at the Georgia Department of Education. The fact that the passionate 38-year-old's position even exists is a testimony to how forward-looking the state has been on the subject, he said. Perhaps because he knows first hand how studying a language and culture can change a student's outlook, Mr. Valentine describes his job in the same way a satisfied customer talks about his favorite product. As a high schooler in Mansfield, Ohio, who had never considered crossing the pond, he won a scholarship to spend his senior year in Germany. "Living abroad changed everything in my life," said Mr. Valentine, who now speaks advanced German. He's dedicated to bringing similar opportunities to students in Georgia schools, not just for the sake of knowledge, but because he believes the jobs of the 21st century require not only language skills, but also a willingness and ability to collaborate cross-culturally. In a global economy, unprepared students will hit a "glass ceiling" in their careers, he said, noting that Spanish has become essential for Georgia farmers and that nurses, police officers and members of the military can get signing bonuses if they can speak the language. Mr. Valentine feels that the state's significant progress in language instruction has gone largely unnoticed. Sixteen languages are now taught in Georgia, mostly in high schools. Though the state requires no foreign-language instruction for high school graduation, students at public universities need two years of credit to get a degree. The fact that colleges consider language proficiency in their admissions decisions has driven interest in high schools, Mr. Valentine said. The next frontier is to introduce more middle-school programs, as two years just isn't enough to bring students to the level where they can accomplish things in a language. "What if I told you you only needed two years of math? How much math could you do?" Mr. Valentine said. Still, most education decisions are out of the state's control. Language programs are funded solely at the local level, so the state has no direct say over which ones are taught where, Mr. Valentine said. Passionate teachers or a large number of native speakers in an area often drive interest and funding for a language. Around the state, Spanish still dominates, making up more than two-thirds of foreign-language enrollment at 284,200, counting students in middle school and up. French is a distant second at 62,929, followed by Latin at 15,367 and German at 11,753. Mandarin Chinese is coming on strong at 2,474, and brand new programs have been launched in Korean and Arabic. Nearly 200 students at Fulton Science Academy are learning Turkish. German has been a bright spot, with 10,677 students taking the language in 2010. Chamblee High School is one of 20 schools in the nation to offer the test for the German Language Diploma, which is issued directly from Berlin. More than 20 Georgia students scored at the highest level in 2010, allowing them to study at German universities for free if they choose. Georgia education Superintendent John Barge in June traveled to Saxony to sign an agreement with the German state to increase teacher and student exchange. Also, the German government is relocating Petra Reuter, its Southeastern educational consultant, from Miami to the Atlanta consulate in August. That's partly thanks to the large number of German programs and companies here, Mr. Valentine said. A fountain of information about language education in the state, Mr. Valentine cited other innovations like the Georgia Virtual School, an online program that allows high school students to take courses that augment or replace classroom studies. Language classes account for more than half the enrollment. "They have to shut down Chinese every year because it fills up so fast," he said. Contrary to popular belief, student interest in languages isn't waning in Georgia. The gap is on the teacher side, Mr. Valentine said, pointing to nine positions he says he could fill right now if qualified applicants came along. As for Mr. Valentine, he has no plans to leave a position where he can influence so many lives. "I love this job. I will do this job for as long as I can," he said.
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Fulton County school board members have denied renewal of charters for a high school and elementary school in the district, citing weaknesses with governance and problematic finances.
In a unanimous vote at a board meeting Thursday night, members decided to cut ties with charter schools Fulton Science Academy High and Fulton Sunshine Academy elementary by the end of this school year — leaving the future of 800 students who attend the schools in question.
Fulton school district staff cited poor governance that has “resulted in the default on a $19 million bond, a self-perpetuating board membership structure that has been dominated by individuals who did not represent the community,” and a “general lack of transparency,” according to a released statement from the school system.
Representatives of the charter schools have fought against the criticism in an attempt to keep the schools operating. In a statement to parents this week, high school board chairwoman Maria Beug-Deeb, who has two children at the school, said they “have been responsive and transparent communicating with Fulton County” about how the schools operate.
“We have overhauled our board and adopted new bylaws that go into effect in 2015,” she stated. “The county has expressed concern about our school’s board. In response to their concerns, the FSA High School board members have all agreed to resign their posts if this removes the impediment to receiving our renewed charter.”
Fulton school superintendent Robert Avossa has directed district staff to “investigate a path forward” for students. The schools are expected to remain open until the end of the school year.
“After years of opportunities to improve, it has become clear that the governance boards of these schools are either unable or unwilling to be sufficiently transparent in their governance practices to justify their continued funding by taxpayers,” Avossa said in a statement.
The board’s action Thursday follows the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia’s decision in August to deny authorization of both schools’ continued operation. The commission’s vote to deny the charter petitions was based on recommendations from the commission staff, which said the elementary school administration and governing board “failed to adequately address how the school would operate” and the high school’s governing board had “consistent problems” in its oversight of school administration.
In 2012, Fulton revoked the charter of a related middle school and tried to revoke
the high school’s charter but was overruled last year by the state board of education.
Fulton shut down the middle school after an audit raised questions about finances and management. The district criticized the school’s board for borrowing nearly $19 million for construction without knowing whether the charter would be extended. The bonds, issued by the Alpharetta Development Authority, subsequently went into default. School officials have challenged the accuracy of many of the audit’s findings.
The middle school closed in July 2012 and reopened as the Fulton Science Academy Private School, serving students as young as pre-kindergarten.
One of the problems Fulton had cited when it tried to revoke the high school’s charter was low enrollment. Fulton also alleged the public school required seniors to pay for online courses needed for graduation, but the school has denied that.
The school, which auditors found had some connections to supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a prominent Turkish imam, had been unable reach the enrollment goal of 350 promised in its charter application nearly a decade ago, Fulton officials said at the time.
School officials have denied a relationship with Gulen. Nationally, some charter schools with ties to the Gulen education movement have faced criticism for contracts with businesses and groups tied to the movement and money spent to bring in teachers and other workers from Turkey.
The Fulton high school has 280 students, including 125 ninth-graders, and the elementary school 564, according to a spokesman for both schools.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/fulton-county-school-board-votes-to-end-ties-with-/njCfP/
