CONCEPT-MANAGED SCHOOLS ARE NOT TURKISH OR GULEN CHARTER SCHOOLS
Neither Concept nor the schools it manages can be named “Turkish Schools” or “Gulen Charter Schools.” They are schools that contract with a government entity or charter school board and operate under the applicable state laws in which they are located. In this respect, charter schools are highly regulated and very accountable organizations. Just because some of the founders of those organizations happen to be Turkish Americans, they do not automatically become “Turkish Schools” or “Gulen Charter Schools.”
- More than 90% of teachers who are employed at these schools are local teachers.
- All of the teachers are highly skilled and dedicated teachers who make a huge difference in the lives of many children everyday.
- Some personal blogs and web sites imply that most of their teachers are Turkish. This is misleading, incorrect, and ill-intended.
- Nevertheless, being Turkish or Turkish American is not a crime either.
94% OF THE STAFF AT THE CONCEPT-MANAGED SCHOOLS ARE LOCAL TEACHERS
Our priority is our students and their success. Therefore, our schools make it their goal to find and place the best teachers that they can in the classroom. Therefore, Concept and the managed schools recruit employees locally, nationally, and internationally, independent of any other charter schools or networks. Only 6% of the 916 employees at the Concept-managed schools were on H1B non-immigrant visas last year. Below is the list of Concept-managed schools with the breakdown down of staff numbers with H1B visas.
| Name of School | Total # of Employees | Employees with H1B (non-immigrant Visas) | % of Employees with H1B (non-immigrant Visas) |
| Milwaukee Math & Science Academy | 20 | 0 | 0% |
| Minnesota School of Science | 22 | 0 | 0% |
| Horizon Science Academy Dayton III-Downtown | 24 | 0 | 0% |
| QUEST Charter Academy | 33 | 0 | 0% |
| Horizon Science Academy Denison Middle | 37 | 0 | 0% |
| Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 44 | 1 | 2% |
| Noble Academy Columbus | 27 | 1 | 4% |
| Horizon Science Academy Toledo Downtown | 24 | 1 | 4% |
| Gateway Science Academy | 47 | 2 | 4% |
| Horizon Science Academy Denison Elementary | 21 | 1 | 5% |
| Horizon Science Academy Cleveland Middle | 19 | 1 | 5% |
| Indiana Math & Science Academy West | 57 | 3 | 5% |
| Horizon Science Academy Cleveland Elementary | 18 | 1 | 6% |
| Horizon Science Academy Lorain | 36 | 2 | 6% |
| Horizon Science Academy Dayton High | 32 | 2 | 6% |
| Chicago Math & Science Academy | 62 | 4 | 6% |
| Horizon Science Academy Columbus Elementary | 44 | 3 | 7% |
| Michigan Math & Science Academy | 29 | 2 | 7% |
| Horizon Science Academy Columbus High | 43 | 3 | 7% |
| Horizon Science Academy Youngstown | 36 | 3 | 8% |
| Horizon Science Academy Cleveland High | 47 | 4 | 9% |
| Horizon Science Academy Springfield | 35 | 3 | 9% |
| Horizon Science Academy Toledo High | 34 | 3 | 9% |
| Indiana Math & Science Academy North | 39 | 4 | 10% |
| Noble Academy Cleveland | 28 | 3 | 11% |
| Horizon Science Academy Dayton Elementary | 24 | 3 | 13% |
| Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle | 34 | 7 | 21% |
| Total | 916 | 57 | 6% |
RETENTION RATES OF THE SCHOOLS SPEAK VOLUMES
Concept-managed schools have high staff and student retention rates. Along with the retention rates, which speak volumes about the schools, annual surveys given to parents, staff, and students within the network exude satisfaction with the quality of education provided at the schools. Below is the list of schools with their staff and student retention rates within the last two years.
It is absurd to think those 1,000 employees, 8,200 students, and 8,000 parents are duped into some kind of international conspiracy as if they had no ability to make a judgment of their own about whether any of these accusations is true.
The fact that so many parents, staff and students choose to attend Concept-managed schools and choose to stay speaks volumes about them.
|
RETENTION
|
|||||
|
STUDENT
|
TEACHER
|
||||
| SCHOOL |
2009-10
|
2010-11
|
2009-10
|
2010-11
|
|
| HSA- CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY |
71%
|
92%
|
100%
|
80%
|
|
| HSA- YOUNGSTOWN |
NR
|
79%
|
NR
|
86%
|
|
| HSA- LORAIN ELEMENTARY |
70%
|
88%
|
100%
|
100%
|
|
| NOBLE ACADEMY CLEVELAND |
85%
|
86%
|
100%
|
80%
|
|
| HSA- SPRINGFIELD |
86%
|
71%
|
88%
|
88%
|
|
| HSA- TOLEDO DOWNTOWN |
NR
|
58%
|
NR
|
|
|
| NOBLE ACADEMY COLUMBUS |
68%
|
72%
|
68%
|
74%
|
|
| HSA- DENISON ELEMENTARY |
69%
|
71%
|
92%
|
75%
|
|
| IMSA NORTH-INDIANA |
NR
|
78%
|
NR
|
73%
|
|
| IMSA WEST-INDIANA |
64%
|
67%
|
84%
|
89%
|
|
| GATEWAY SCIENCE ACADEMY |
NR
|
93%
|
NR
|
84%
|
|
| HSA- COLUMBUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL |
83%
|
92%
|
85%
|
62%
|
|
| HSA- CINCINNATI |
59%
|
75%
|
57%
|
79%
|
|
| HSA- DAYTON ELEMENTARY |
53%
|
67%
|
83%
|
69%
|
|
| HSA- DAYTON DOWNTOWN |
NR
|
76%
|
NR
|
86%
|
|
| HSA- DENISON MIDDLE SCHOOL |
79%
|
82%
|
88%
|
91%
|
|
| HSA- CLEVELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL |
80%
|
83%
|
100%
|
87%
|
|
| MICHIGAN MATH AND SCIENCE |
77%
|
78%
|
83%
|
94%
|
|
| QUEST PEORIA |
NR
|
89%
|
NR
|
93%
|
|
| HSA- COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOL |
78%
|
82%
|
83%
|
78%
|
|
| CHICAGO MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY |
86%
|
87%
|
70%
|
87%
|
|
| HSA- DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL |
73%
|
76%
|
68%
|
74%
|
|
| HSA- COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL |
72%
|
70%
|
89%
|
82%
|
|
| HSA- TOLEDO HIGH SCHOOL |
70%
|
72%
|
88%
|
67%
|
|
| HSA- CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL |
85%
|
86%
|
73%
|
86%
|
|
| MILWAUKEE MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY |
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
| MINNESOTA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE |
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
|
| Total (Network Average) |
74%
|
79%
|
84%
|
81%
|
|
Staff Gender Equality
| Schools | Male% | Female% |
| Chicago Math & Science Academy | 28% | 72% |
| Gateway Science Academy | 22% | 78% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Cincinnati | 44% | 56% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Cleveland Elementary | 8% | 92% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Cleveland High | 49% | 51% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Cleveland Middle | 11% | 89% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Columbus Elementary | 18% | 82% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Columbus High | 44% | 56% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Columbus Middle | 35% | 65% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Dayton Downtown | 24% | 76% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Dayton Elementary | 24% | 76% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Dayton High | 39% | 61% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Denison Elementary | 28% | 72% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Denison Middle | 31% | 69% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Lorain | 27% | 73% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Springfield | 29% | 71% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Toledo Downtown | 26% | 74% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Toledo High | 29% | 71% |
| Horizon Science Academy – Youngstown | 26% | 74% |
| Indiana Math & Science Academy – North | 65% | 35% |
| Indiana Math & Science Academy – West | 35% | 65% |
| Michigan Math & Science Academy | 36% | 64% |
| Milwaukee Math & Science Academy | 22% | 78% |
| Minnesota School of Science | 23% | 77% |
| Noble Academy – Cleveland | 19% | 81% |
| Noble Academy – Columbus | 15% | 85% |
| Quest Charter Academy – Peoria | 28% | 73% |
| Total (Network Average) | 29% | 71% |
CONCEPT-MANAGED CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE HIGHLY REGULATED
AND TRANSPARENT ENVIRONMENTS
Charter schools are highly regulated environments. There is oversight on charter schools by their authorizers, the state and federal governments. They are bound by many of the federal and state laws that apply to traditional charter schools other than the freedom and autonomy given to them again by the law. Below is a list of regulations and oversight that the charter schools have:
- Annual audits by the states or independent auditors on financials and compliance
- Financial, employment, and compliance reports to authorizers and states
- Federal audits on special education and Title I
- Board meetings are open to public
- Reports of board minutes to their authorizers
- Their charter, 501 c 3 applications, annual tax returns, audit reports and other documents are public documents and may be requested from the schools by anyone
- They comply with the FOIA regulations
- Representative from the authorizers attend the board meetings
- Regular school visits and audits by authorizers
- Annual or end of the term evaluations for renewal by their authorizers
- Parent, staff, and students surveys given by their authorizers…and more
Any of the aforementioned information and documents could be requested from the school. The schools are committed to full transparency and will be happy to provide anyone any information requested. Please contact each school individually for any information or public file requests. There may be a minimal copying and shipping fee, though.
Concept has schools recognized by their state auditors for exemplary financial reportings such as HSA-Youngstown. Below is the certificate that HSA-Youngstown received from the Ohio State Auditor in 2011
ACCOUNTABILITY IS AT THE CORE CHARTER SCHOOLS
Charter schools are about accountability. They sign a charter agreement with their authorizers; based on the states in which they are located, this could be local school districts, state universities, mayors, and non profit organizations. The charter agreements include performance matrixes, compliance requirements, and other regulations that they must abide by. At the end of their terms, which is generally for 5 years, they are evaluated by their authorizer and renewed based on their performance on academics, finance, and compliance.
Concept-managed schools have had no termination or non-renewal in its 13 years of history, nor have they had performance deficiencies or compliance violations that led to formal authorizer interventions. In addition, Concept never had termination or non-renewal of its management contract with any school board .
Below is the list of authorizers that Concept-managed schools have been working with successfully for the past 13 years in 7 different Midwest states:
1- Buckeye Hope Foundation (sponsoring 11 schools in Ohio)
Peggy Young
Director, Community School Division
Office: (614) 942-2002
Email: pyoung@buckeyehope.org
3021 East Dublin-Granville Rd
Columbus OH 43231
Phone: (614) 942-2002
Fax: (614) 942-2000
2- Lucas County Educational Service Center (sponsoring 8 schools in Ohio)
Jim George, Director, Community Schools Center
419.724.4288
Email: lcesc_jg@nwoca.org
4955 Seaman Road
Oregon Ohio 43616
Telephone: 419.246.3137
Fax: 419.246.3127
3- Ball State University (sponsoring Indiana Math and Science Academy West in Indianapolis)
Robert Marra, Director, Office of Charter Schools
Email: ramarra@bsu.edu
Phone: 765-285-1336
Fax: 765-285-9873
http://www.bsu.edu/teachers/charter
4- Chicago Public Schools (sponsoring Chicago Math and Science Academy in Chicago)
Oliver Sicat, Chief Portfolio Officer
Email: OSicat@cps.k12.il.us
125 South Clark Street
5th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Phone: (773) 553-1530
Fax: (773) 553-1559
5- Grand Valley State University (sponsoring Michigan Math and Science Academy in MI)
Tim Wood, Director of Charter School Office
Email: woodth@gvsu.edu
201 Front Ave. SW, Suite 310
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
ph. 616-331-2240
fax 616-331-2085
6- Lindenwood University (sponsoring Gateway Science Academy and GSA-South in St. Louis)
Amanda N. Aldridge Coordinator, Charter School Sponsorship
E-mail: AAldridge@lindenwood.edu
Lindenwood University
209 S. Kingshighway
St. Charles, Missouri 63301
Phone: (636) 627-2559
7- Minneapolis Public Schools (sponsoring Minnesota School of Science)
Bernadeia Johnson
Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools
E-mail: mpssup@mpls.k12.mn.us
807 Broadway St. NE. Room 109
Phone: 612.668.0200
8- City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Common Council (sponsoring Milwaukee Math and Science Academy)
Cindy Zautcke,
Charter School Specialist
Institute for the Transformation of Learning
E-mail: cindy.zautcke@marquette.edu
Phone: (414) 288-1540
9- Peoria School District, PSD 150 (sponsoring Quest Charter Academy in Peoria, IL)
Grenita Lathan
Superintendent,
Peoria Public Schools District 150
3202 N. Wisconsin Ave.
Peoria, IL 61603
Email: grenita.lathan@psd150.org
Phone: (309) 672-6768
10- Indianapolis, Office of the Mayor (sponsoring IMSA-North in Indianapolis)
Beth Bray
Director of Charter Schools
2501 City County Building
200 E. Washington Street
Indianapolis IN 46201
Phone: 317.327.3621
E-mail: beth.bray@indy.gov
As these authorizers are very familiar with our schools, any one may contact them to hear more about the Concept-managed schools.
CONCEPT WAS FOUNDED BY TURKISH AMERICAN EDUCATORS
WHO WERE ALREADY IN THE USA AS PART OF THEIR COMMUNITIES
In contrary to the picture being depicted intentionally, founders of Concept schools or Concept-managed schools have been in the US for a long time. They were established Turkish Americans, studying, working and raising their families here. They were part of the communities in which they lived. Their motivation was to make a difference in education in cities and communities in which they lived. Today, the board of directors of Concept-managed schools are made up of local individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise who are committed to providing great opportunities to the students in their communities. They represent various heritages and come from different racial and professional backgrounds. All of the Board of Directors of both Concept and Concept-managed schools are volunteers.
CONCEPT AND CONCEPT-MANAGED SCHOOLS HAVE NO AFFILIATION
WITH ANY POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR ANY OTHER MOVEMENT
The only movement we are part of is the charter school movement, which is getting bigger every year with the superior results of student achievement at charter schools.
Public charter schools are free, open enrollment schools that give communities and families educational options. The charter school model involves parents, teachers , the board of directors, and community and civic leaders in their programs. Public charter schools are given a level of autonomy or freedom to innovate around curriculum, staffing, and other areas, in exchange for a strong degree of accountability. The “charter” belongs to a local non-profit organization. This entity may choose to hire a Charter Management Organization to help them meet their mission. Concept is proud to be such a charter management organization.
Charter schools are changing the way public education takes place in this country and that upsets many defenders of the status quo. However, any objective analysis will show that change is needed if we want to fulfill the American promise and educate our next generation of leaders and citizens.
Concept is independently operated with no affiliation or ties with any other charter school or management organizations around the country. Concept Schools is an Illinois-based not-for-profit charter school management organization. Concept is not a charter holder. It contracts with local Board of Directors to manage the schools on their behalf. Each school that we manage is a separate 501 c 3 organization with their local board of directors. Concept is accountable to the local boards for financial management, student performance, reporting, compliance and more. Concept’s management agreement gets renewed (like the charter agreement) on an annual basis upon performance evaluation by the local Board of Directors.
NEITHER CONCEPT NOR THE SCHOOLS WE MANAGE ARE PERFECT ORGANIZATIONS
With almost 1,000 employees in schools that are located in large urban centers, the staff of Concept’s schools is very diverse, including teachers from many different races, religions, backgrounds, and nationalities. In fact, it is partly due to the very diversity among our staff that helps make our schools so successful.
However, it is natural that when you deal with about 1,000 staff, 8,000 parents and more students that mistakes, disagreements, disputes, and resentments sometimes arise. Such cases are always handled properly through legal means.
Concept is still considered a nascent organization with 13 years of history. We have made mistakes, though unintentional, in the past. We always value feedback from our staff, parents, students, and other stakeholders and corrected our mistakes both at management and school levels. We still value feedback and opinions of those who in their heart have the intentions of helping us help students. Please contact us with any concerns, feedback, ideas, and thoughts.