We've talked before on this blog about the reasons for the success of the 60-plus schools in the Knowledge is Power Program, or KIPP, which runs Baltimore's highest-performing middle school. Now, the research group SRI International is releasing a three-year study of KIPP schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, analyzing why their students outperform their peers in other public schools. The study, commissioned by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, cites four factors: 1) a culture of high expectations; 2) more time in school and more support for struggling students; 3) a focus on tracking student progress and careful instructional planning; 4) a philosophy of continuous improvement, where school leaders and teachers often revise their strategies.

We've seen all these things before at KIPP Ujima Village in Baltimore. To me, the more interesting question that the study poses is not what causes KIPP to be successful, but whether its success can be replicated on a large scale. And its answer to that is maybe not: It's a lot harder when the students and parents aren't choosing to be at the charter school, making a commitment to do the work. It's a lot harder when teachers aren't choosing to work many extra hours and be available for their students around the clock.

It's not that KIPP students are coming in more able, as is often alleged. In fact, the report found that the Bay Area KIPP schools tend to attract lower-performing students than the traditional public schools in their areas. Perhaps these students and their parents feel desperate that the traditional public schools aren't working for them. In any case, they're choosing to be at KIPP.

The report concludes that KIPP's experiences "don't directly map onto those of other schools and districts," but they demonstrate a lesson relevant to everyone: "High expectations and hard work pay off. There are no shortcuts."

The study's findings are similar to those of another report released in by Johns Hopkins researchers about KIPP Ujima Village last year. An article we wrote about the report at the time said KIPP was transforming the lives of its students, but "translating the methods and successes of KIPP to other middle schools in the city probably would be challenging and costly."

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Just got word that Baltimore County's first charter school will be closed for the first day of classes - Monday, Aug. 25. 

The reason?  Pat Crain, the regional director for Imagine Schools, tells me that the school just needs a final inspection from the fire marshal to get its occupancy permit.  The fire marshal couldn't get out there today - which is why they won't be opening Monday.  But they're hoping the inspection will take place on Monday, Crain said, so the students can start Tuesday. 

The school, Imagine Discovery, is located in renovated office space in a building in the Woodlawn area. Crain said completion of the gymnasium kept them from getting the inspection done earlier.

Parents will be notified to verify opening day - and we'll also keep you posted here.

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This is National Charter Schools Week (as well as National Teacher Appreciation Week). Charter advocates are going to meet with politicians, and think tanks are releasing studies about the effectiveness of these independently run public schools of choice.

While it may be a good time to spread awareness in most of Maryland, it seems like every week is charter school week in Baltimore. (I don't know that we could say the same about teacher appreciation.) Technically, the city has about 25 charter schools, more than the rest of the state combined. There are also several "charter-like" schools, which operate independently but are not technically charters. And now, the principles of charters are spreading to the whole city. Dr. Alonso has said he wants to see every city school have a community governing board and an outside partnership, just as charter schools do. The cornerstone of his reform this year is allowing principals to craft their own budgets, just as charter principals do. The city's charter school leaders are helping to train principals at regular city schools in how to handle their new responsibilities.

Increasingly, the lines between charter and non-charter are blurring in Baltimore. The city's six new middle/high schools are not technically charter schools. Except for Baltimore Freedom Academy, which is a charter high school already but may not be considered a charter in its new middle school wing. The new school that's caused all the fuss in Canton will be run by the Friendship Public Charter School company, but it is not a charter (a point that required a correction in The Sun last week).

The differences lie in how funding is distributed, in the contract with the outside organization running the school, and in whether or not the system is required to provide the school with a facility. (Charters are often on their own to find a building.) But to parents and students who see their school choices growing, there is no difference. And to the city's charter advocates, that's a big victory.

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This article from today's New York Times features a charter school in New York City that will pay teachers $125,000 a year, testing the theory that having a great teacher in every classroom is more important than anything else, and that truly competitive salaries will attract great teachers. Making the structure even more radical: The school's principal will start out earning just $90,000. For the school to afford the salaries, classes will have 30 kids apiece, teachers will work longer days and have responsibilities outside the classroom, and there will be fewer social supports.

Want to apply? The Web site for the school, called The Equity Project Charter, is here.

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Ever wanted to start your own charter school? The 5th Annual Maryland Charter School Conference will give you the goods.

Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon; Joni Berman, president of the Maryland Charter School Network; and Kate Sullivan, founder of the Chesapeake Public Charter School, are just a few of the guests scheduled to appear at the conference.

Information sessions include: teacher exchanges about best practices; special education done right in charter schools; financing charter school facilities; and accountability.

The conference is free and will be held on Oct. 19 at Sojourner-Douglass College.

Did I mention that a complimentary continental breakfast and lunch will be provided?

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