In New York City, a United Federation of Teachers founded charter school is closing for poor performance.

In 2014, 1.2 percent of seventh-graders at the school scored proficiently on state reading tests. 2 percent of eighth-graders reached proficiency in math.

In arguing that the school should stay open, the head of the union stated: “a student or a school is more than a test score.”

Perhaps. But a school’s quality is reflected, in part, by its test scores. And this school appears to be terrible.

Reflections

1. The fact that the UFT cannot operate a school does not mean it can’t be a credible voice for its members. Labor should have a voice, even if the body for this voice is a poor school manager.

2. The UFT is  consistent in its fighting against school closures. It also argues that poor performing district schools should remain open.

So what have we learned?

We’ve learned that the UFT is a bad manager of schools and that it does not support the closure of failing schools.

Neither of these facts is surprising to me.

I hope the students find better opportunities elsewhere, like here.