ProPublica starts test private schools in Arkansas and West Virginia
I've been a reporter for a long time and this might be the strangest thing I've ever done. We've been reporting on privatization of schools this year and found that just about anyone can open a private school in most states. So we asked, Could reporters do it?
Jennifer Smith Richards32With @jodiscohen.bsky.social and @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social and a team of local reporters across three states, we conducted an experiment in establishing private and microschools. And you can see for yourself what it takes -- just take this quiz by @zisiga.bsky.social.
Rob Polk15This greatly disturbs me as an educator, school board member, parent, and citizen. Thanks for your investigation and reportong.
Bonnie McElroy6As we see with MAGA there is no segment of the population easier to manipulate than the poorly educated. The goal of the far right is to have generations of citizens who have no critical thinking skills.
Corbin Coltrane1I know of a private school near me. There is only 1 faculty member and 1 administrator. They are father and son. The son is 18 years old with no college education. Yes, it’s a religious school and a total scam.
Old School Liberal 🇺🇸 🇸🇪 Its time to obliterate the Epstein Class.1Christian supremacists use this to “open” their homeschools.
Route60Plus1Many private schools have LESS academic standards than public schools. They’re corporate greed at its worst! — from a retired public school teacher
My @propublica.org colleagues have no business running a private school for kids. And yet they were easily able to start schools in two states -- with a third ProPublica Academy pending that would be located inside a North Carolina bar.
rickoughta.bsky.social4I don’t know, teachers may be interested in a school located in a bar.
Madeline Layne PHL | KOP | NYC | DC4“State law in Arkansas doesn’t require much to open a private school, nothing about teacher skills or what kids learn. But it does require that all schools display an American flag” Holy shit
Avice Benner Cho3a new journalism school sounds great. what a cool initiative!
John Robinson22“No one from any of the states asked us about our backgrounds or qualifications, though West Virginia did ask for proof of a high school diploma. No one questioned what we plan to teach or how we would measure whether students are learning.”
Melody Joy Kramer17And with The Assembly in North Carolina, we filed an online notice of intent to open a private school at Ponysaurus Brewing Co. in Durham, while perched on its metal bar stools, eyeing glasses of a crisp kolsch.
Holly Brewer3Almost funny if it were not so awful. Laws surrounding charter schools need to be fixed.
It started with a question: If it was so easy to start a private school in some states — and even access public money — could we as @propublica reporters do it? Find out what @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social, @jsmithrichards.bsky.social and I learned: www.propublica.org/article/prop...
Elizabeth Gordon Stilwell13I’d go to Propublica school
TeamGlow5projects.propublica.org/private-scho... I chose the “worst” option to each question. Created a school I can’t imagine anyone any parent finding acceptable. Sadly, it still showed I could open this school in nine states. Would be laughable if it wasn’t so disturbing.
Hipster Dipster5I interviewed to teach English at a microschool. The woman who interviewed me told me she didn't know what English teachers did before she founded the microschool. Not specifically about your article but I thought this was a good thread to share that experience.
Ouisiem2Why does this not surprise me? We are a nation of homeschoolers.
Dr. Quinn2You just have to be a mom and presto chango you’re an expert. My high school dropout nieces did this.
em-g-in-van.bsky.social1And can trust that someone who knows something about education and running a school has vetted them, though, right???
"State law in Arkansas doesn’t require much to open a private school, nothing about teacher skills or what kids learn. But it does require that all schools display an American flag, and we wanted to follow the rules." Unbelievable story. Also, immediately ordering the ProPublica Academy pencils.
Ms Underestimated3I’d send my kid to a ProPublica school, they’d learn critical thinking and research skills - bring it!
defeq79.bsky.social1And after years of rule by the guardians of pedophiles even groomers and traffickers can have control of children for hours at a time with no oversight or accountability
