All schools are judged against the same standard,state tests. So, some of us give admission tests,discourage some from applying, require repeating a grade, excuse you if your behavior or attitude does not meet the stated standard etc. How nice. The rest of us are required to take all students even those who are transferred to us because of transgressions at another school. We may have as many as 70 or more IEP's to serve in the mix. Please tell me how such diverse schools can be compared? If I could remove as few as 3-4 students from a given class, the entire picture would change. Perhaps KIPP would accept those students? I am in favor of keeping KIPP and any other successful initiative for BCPSS students but eventually all kids must be enrolled somewhere and we are all judges equally. Fair?

To answer that question one would have to first prove that this is in fact happening. And what is considered a sucess?

OverTheTop:

You don't think inner-city black children can actually succeed at least once? That there can't be just one good example?That they will be stuck with low SAT scores, low incomes, and high crime.

Fortunately, not everyone shares such views about less privileged African Americans. Some people look for examples of success rather than just writing off the good news as "too good to be true" since they are black.

Unfortunately, your suspicion against anything other than the complete failure of African American students is just absurd. There ARE examples of success, however much you attempt to quibble by redefining what virtually anyone can see.

Do you really think anyone cares about your attempt to create excuses about why such and such happened? Do you really think those children would enjoy listening to your lectures and attempts to patronize their hard work. If you do, stop wasting your time on a blog and tell the children that their success and hard work is the result of XYZ without knowing their stories.

Get real. I'd like to hear you actually go to the school and lecture those children from your rostrum and downplay their efforts. You must be a GREAT teacher and very inspiring.

First lets be clear, I am NOT A BCPSS TEACHER, never have been, and even when I considered testing the waters I realized my own personal shortcomings would stop me for being successful at that noble profession.
As to the success of MY children. I have tutored, mentored, supported, parented and loved a number of successful CHILDREN, including of course my own, from all over Baltimore. Not limiting myself to the "inner-city", wherever that is. Do I believe that "success" is possible? ABSOLUTELY!!! Do I believe that success is achievable? ABSOLUTELY!!!. Do I believe success is happening? WITHOUT A DOUBT!!!
What causes me to respond the way I do can be found in Erica's question: "So, how do successful PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS bridge the gap between the students they set out on an accelerated path, and the ones who have so far to go to catch up?" A better question would have been, how do successful PUBLIC SCHOOLS bridge the gap? The implied premise is that this is only happening at charter schools and that is not true. There has been a national debate on this topic and it is not limited to non-traditional schools.
So when you see a school such as KIPP with a high attrition rate, one should honesty wonder are they closing the gap or closing the door? As I am constantly reminded, "charter schools are public schools, open to all", but there is the also nearly constant criticism and concern that charters may be controlling enrollment through various means. This story started about KIPP and I applaud KIPP for what it is attempting to do but at the same time realize that, as with schools in general, there is a sifting process. I once heard the proclaimed matriarch of education on Baltimore City, Dr. Anne Emery state on a morning talk show that they "counsel" students out of her charter school who cannot maintain the standards. I have read and heard others comment on similar practices at other non-traditional schools.
So, the reasons for "success" is easy to determine, high standards, engaged adults, additional resources and positive imagery. To blindly put the "gap-closing" crown on the mantle of KIPP or any other charter or contract school without proof that their methods are achieving widespread success does a disservice to the 180 or so other schools where there has also be reported success stories. The true test comes with achieving success when all of these ingredients are not available.