Posts Tagged ‘California Department of Education’

11 Apr

Gulen charter school claims are not a surprise | Busting Gulen charter schools myths

Posted by jr1977 in Charter schools, Diversity, Gulen charter schools, Magnolia Science Academy, School activities, Teachers, Testimonials. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Parents4Magnolia>>Gulen charter schools>> Testimonials

 

Gulen charter schools claims are not a surpriseMy son enrolled Magnolia Science Academy last year. We moved in from another state and we were a little worried whether our son could adapt to his new environment and his new school. Before coming to Southern California, we did our research on schools just like any other concerned parent would do. We decided where we will move. We looked for a great school on California Department of Education websites to learn more about schools’ academic successes and wanted to learn about the school’s social and cultural options. We found out that MSA was one of the most successful schools within our neighborhood. It was offering free HIGH quality after-school programs and clubs.

We also found out some websites claiming MSA to be part of a network. We came from a state and a town where there wasn’t much diversity. So, I understand clearly how some of these folks could be paranoid, suspicious and mongering hatred towards any foreign national. I tried to understand what these folks claim and wanted to further investigate while I try to find out the best school for my son. We visited MSA and met with the school principal and the assistant principal. We were glad that there was an opening in my son’s grade. We learned the school’s philosophy, approach to learning, and its programs. I also asked about couple of Gulen charter schools allegations I learned from the website. The principal wasn’t surprised that much. He explained that their staff is diverse and they serve a very diverse student body.

My son’s educational experience at MSA has been phenomenal so far. He adapted to his school, teachers, and friends. The classes are small so all of his teachers know him pretty well. We get periodic updates about his grades and behaviors from school’s information system. Whenever I find time, I visit the school and volunteer. I may say that, I observed my son’s school pretty well this year. I am glad that we did the right decision by selecting MSA for our son. I believe MSA will grow academically as they often did in the past.

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23 Feb

Magnolia Science Academy is beating the Odds.. | Busting Gulen charter schools myths

Posted by iamaparent in Charter schools, Diversity, Education, Gulen charter schools, Magnolia Science Academy, Success, Teachers. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Magnolia Science Academy is beating the odds while dealing with baseless allegations such as being part of “Gulen Charter Schools”. While no other school in the nation has to prove themselves for employing people from different faiths for not teaching that faith, some charter schools are being asked to prove the impossible by a group of “ideological and paid social media engineers”.

Established in 2002-2003 school year, MSA-1 has continuously attracted the interest of the parents in a competitive charter school landscape. MSA-1 started out with 150 students in 2002 and grew to 500 students, largest capacity, in 2010. In this timeframe, the school, its teachers and leadership had to deal with baseless allegations and attacks unlike any other school. The student growth over the years is a clear signal that the community is supporting the school. Here is a chart I came across at the California Department of Education Dataquest website for the sustained increase in MSA-1 student population:

The chart generated on California Department of Education Dataquest website at http://data1.cde.ca. gov/dataquest/ is a clear proof that despite all the baseless “Gulen charter schools” allegations, Magnolia Science Academy is beating the odds and parents are clearly preferring this school. If this school was not any better than the schools that it neighbored, the government would have closed it a long time ago.

These allegations are nothing but an insult to the students attending Magnolia Science Academy and the teachers teaching there. If the students felt that they were being proselytized which is a farce allegation, they would have left this school long time ago, along with the diverse teaching staff from all faith groups and nationalities. With 100% graduation rate and high API score in a relatively disadvantaged neighborhood, Magnolia Science Academy is providing valuable and excellent education to diverse population where teachers from different backgrounds come together to make a change. As a parent, I cannot sit and follow how this school is being labeled as “Gulen charter school”. Magnolia Science Academy is a great school where students and their success is the most important priority of the teachers and staff, and this fact alone is more than enough to make me one happy parent among many others.

And lastly, it is just unfortunate that the teachers and administrators still have to put up with these outrageous allegations while they could have given their attention  to their academic work. These social media engineers who have nil knowledge of the school, its students and teachers, and their commitment to each other despite many socioeconomic challenges are just ideologists who embrace nothing but lies with their own hidden agenda.

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