I recently spoke at the Schools That Can annual confab:

Many of these disagreements are important, but there is an alternative approach: Put the political bickering on the back burner and focus on successful schools - whether they're public, charter, private or faith-based - and do all that is possible, working together, to help spread their success.

Most children don't know or care about the governance structure of the school they attend. They simply know whether they're learning. If they're learning - in a productive, respectful, nurturing environment - there are lessons to be shared across lines that tend to divide us.

That is exactly what we're doing at Schools That Can, a not-for-profit network of high-performing urban schools in low-income communities. STC is made up of independent, charter, district and faith-based schools that share common track records of academic achievement, impressive student outcomes, strong leadership and can-do cultures.

We're tired of the old oppositional approach - and interested in focusing on common attributes that produce excellent learning environments.

---------------------

Expel politics, promote success: Charters, district schools, parochial schools should work together

By Michael Druckman and A.B. Whitfield



Friday, May 28th 2010, 4:00 AM



http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/05/28/2010-05-28_expel_politics_promote_success_charters_district_schools_parochial_schools_shoul.html#ixzz0pN2bqqbD