By DAVID BOYLE
Anchorage School Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt is recommending the termination of the Family Partnership Charter School’s charter.
Bryantt, according to a memo, wants to transition the school from its current charter status to an alternative correspondence school, which would give the district total control over the operation of the school, its textbooks, and its curriculum.
The superintendent’s memo to the Anchorage School Board states that, “Unfortunately, for a number of years, Family Partnership’s Academic Policy Committee has been engaged in repeated breaches of its charter and other unacceptable behavior. The APC has violated the laws, regulations and rules that govern the operation of charter schools. The Anchorage School District has repeatedly admonished the APC to take corrective action.”
The memo states the Academic Policy Committee members are incessantly fighting about the proper role of the school and they are interfering with the principal’s operation of the school.
This debate on the role of the Family Partnership Charter School has also resulted in the Association of Alaska School Boards ending its assistance to the charter school’s board.
The Association of Alaska School Boards is a member of the National School Boards Association which has caused controversy by calling concerned parents “domestic terrorists.”
The AASB also receives $8,600 from Anchorage taxpayers.
This appears to be a power play by the superintendent to control the curriculum, staff assignments, and overall operation of the Family Partnership School.
One reason for revocation of the school’s charter is one of the Academic Policy Committee members is also a teacher at the school. This person was allowed to evaluate the principal, which is a violation of district rules.
ASD Administrative Regulation AR 6181f states, “The charter school APC shall supervise the operation of the charter school and shall ensure the fulfillment of its mission.”
This district regulation seems to conflict with Alaska law. AS 14.03.255(a)(2) says, “The principal, not the APC, is in charge of operations of the school, including the decision to hire teachers and staff.”
This leads to ambiguity in who is responsible for the operation of the charter school.
There does seem to be some infighting with the Academic Policy Committee members, which has caused it to be somewhat dysfunctional. But this could be remedied; the charter does not need to be revoked.
The Family Partnership students perform much better than the average of district students. The proficiency percentages for all students in the district compared to the Family Partnership students:
| School | English Language Arts | Math |
| Family Partnership | 60% | 40% |
| ASD | 34% | 27% |
The results speak for themselves. Family Partnership Charter School is excelling in educating its students. Why would the district want to close an excellent school?
It appears as if the district may be filling its budget hole of $48 million, using the closure of the Family Partnership Charter School. If this charter school is closed, the district stands to gain about $2,000 dollars per enrolled student.
Currently, a family whose student is enrolled in FPCS gets about $4,000. When the FPCS charter is revoked and the school is turned into a correspondence school, that same family would only receive about $2,000. The district would gain another $2,000, while taking away some the best education being provided in the district.
The issue will come before the school board during Monday’s meeting, which starts at 6 pm at the Anchorage School District building at 5530 E. Northern Lights Blvd. Access the agenda at this link. Watch the meeting online here.
