Dean Increases Volume on Call for Charter School Law

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean gave a glowing endorsement of the charter schools established in New York City by Geoffrey Canada. The education reformer spoke to non-profit leaders in Nashville Tuesday.

Geoffrey Canada has helped low-income kids make what researchers call “enormous” gains in reading and math. Other charter schools have produced mediocre results by comparison. Canada says his 5-year-old Promise Academy immerses students in an intellectual setting.

“In order for those kids to catch up, they’ve got to have a longer school day. They’ve got to have a longer school year. You’ve got to get them the best instructors. You’ve got to give them more time on task, and our education system just ignores that.”

The Harlem charter schools also offers health and psychological services, along with parental training.

Mayor Karl Dean says Nashville needs such drastic reforms but is limited by state law.

“For us to position ourselves the same way that New York and Boston and Chicago and now L.A. and other cities that have seen a lot of progress, we need to get a modern, good, charter law.”

It now restricts attendance to students zoned for “failing” schools. Dean supports a law passed by the State Senate and working its way through the House that would expand enrollment.