Catherine Ferguson Academy
Encyclopedia
Catherine Ferguson Academy (CFA) is a charter-operated
high school in Detroit, Michigan
for pregnant girls and teen mothers. The school has an urban farm in its backyard, and provides day care and pre-school education for the students' children.
CFA received awards and was the subject of documentaries and media coverage due to its academic success. During 2010, its last full year of operation as a public school, it boasted a 97 percent attendance rate and a 90 percent high school graduation rate, with the vast majority of students going on to either a two or a four year college.
As a Detroit Public School, it was under control of an Emergency Manager
and scheduled to be shut in June 2011 as part of a system-wide deficit reduction plan. Protests and national media attention focused on keeping the school open, and the school's operations were privatized
under a new district created for a charter operator with local ties. As of August 2011, state and federal funds amounting to $13,500 per student will be going to the charter operator who will be running the school on a for-profit basis.
in 1986 as a public school for pregnant girls and teen mothers. It is named after a freed slave who dedicated herself to education, though she was never allowed to learn to read or attend school as a child. CFA is housed in a former elementary school building which is about 90 years old, and has an urban farm in its backyard where the students learn to grow vegetables as well as other skills required for self-sufficiency. Most students come from lower income backgrounds—about 78 percent qualify for free or reduced meal programs—and 97 percent are of African American descent. During the 2010 school year, CFA had a 97 percent attendance rate and a 90 percent high school graduation rate, with the vast majority of students going on to either a two or a four year college. CFA was converted from a public to a charter school in the fall of 2011.
The Academy was profiled in Oprah Magazine in 2008, and on the Rachel Maddow Show
of April 22, 2011. It won the Breakthrough High School award in 2004 given by the National Association of Secondary School Principals
for outstanding achievement among schools with high poverty rates. CFA was the subject of a 2010 award-winning documentary, "Grown in Detroit" by Dutch filmmakers Mascha and Manfred Poppenk in 2010. In 2010 Rev. Jesse Jackson honored the film with the NCRC 'Community Empowerment Film Award'.
of the Detroit Public Schools
, Robert Bobb
, if a buyer could not be found. The closure or sale was part of the Emergency Manager's deficit reduction plan to consolidate public high schools and increase class sizes to 60 students by 2013.
A buyer was not found by the spring of 2011, and the school was scheduled to be shuttered. CFA students and teachers protested the decision by staging a sit-in and occupying the school during spring break, with 10 of the protesters arrested by the Detroit Police on April 16, 2011. Several of those arrested were charged with trespassing, but all charges were dropped in August 2011. Additional community reaction to the announced closing of CFA, and national media publicity, resulted in weeks of protest. Staff from CFA were promised 20 minutes to present their arguments for keeping the school open at a meeting to be held before Emergency Manager Bobb in early May— but the meeting was cancelled.
On June 16, one hour before a public protest and rally, which included Danny Glover
, was to begin, it was announced that CFA would remain open as a charter school
. Critics called the decision a partial victory only because the school would no longer be subject to the legal requirements of public schools. Evans Solutions, a for-profit educational management organization will be running the school as part of its Blanche Kelso Bruce School District which runs charter schools in juvenile detention facilities and involuntary residential facilities. CFA will remain tuition-free to students with operating funds of approximately $13,500 per student provided to the charter operator by state and federal programs.
Blair Evans, CEO of Evans Solutions, announced that the school's programs would continue unchanged, however, the staff would have to work in a "non-union environment". Several teachers would not be returning to the school because it would no longer be part of the Detroit Public Schools system. G. Asenath Andrews, the school's principal since 1986, said new teachers would be hired and that as a result of the school's privatization, the students would have more access to funds and services than before. The school already has farm animals such as goats, chickens, roosters and seasonally a horse.
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
high school in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
for pregnant girls and teen mothers. The school has an urban farm in its backyard, and provides day care and pre-school education for the students' children.
CFA received awards and was the subject of documentaries and media coverage due to its academic success. During 2010, its last full year of operation as a public school, it boasted a 97 percent attendance rate and a 90 percent high school graduation rate, with the vast majority of students going on to either a two or a four year college.
As a Detroit Public School, it was under control of an Emergency Manager
Emergency management
Emergency management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause events like disasters or catastrophes and to ensure the continuance of the...
and scheduled to be shut in June 2011 as part of a system-wide deficit reduction plan. Protests and national media attention focused on keeping the school open, and the school's operations were privatized
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
under a new district created for a charter operator with local ties. As of August 2011, state and federal funds amounting to $13,500 per student will be going to the charter operator who will be running the school on a for-profit basis.
Background
Catherine Ferguson Academy was founded in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in 1986 as a public school for pregnant girls and teen mothers. It is named after a freed slave who dedicated herself to education, though she was never allowed to learn to read or attend school as a child. CFA is housed in a former elementary school building which is about 90 years old, and has an urban farm in its backyard where the students learn to grow vegetables as well as other skills required for self-sufficiency. Most students come from lower income backgrounds—about 78 percent qualify for free or reduced meal programs—and 97 percent are of African American descent. During the 2010 school year, CFA had a 97 percent attendance rate and a 90 percent high school graduation rate, with the vast majority of students going on to either a two or a four year college. CFA was converted from a public to a charter school in the fall of 2011.
The Academy was profiled in Oprah Magazine in 2008, and on the Rachel Maddow Show
The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)
The Rachel Maddow Show is a news and opinion television program that airs weeknights on MSNBC at 9:00 p.m. ET. It is hosted by Rachel Maddow, who gained popularity with her frequent appearances as a liberal pundit on various MSNBC programs. It is based on her former radio show of the same name...
of April 22, 2011. It won the Breakthrough High School award in 2004 given by the National Association of Secondary School Principals
National Association of Secondary School Principals
The is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world...
for outstanding achievement among schools with high poverty rates. CFA was the subject of a 2010 award-winning documentary, "Grown in Detroit" by Dutch filmmakers Mascha and Manfred Poppenk in 2010. In 2010 Rev. Jesse Jackson honored the film with the NCRC 'Community Empowerment Film Award'.
Curriculum
The school has a traditional core curriculum of English, math, science and social studies combined with classes in child care, and how to provide for the basic needs in life. In addition, it provides child care for infants and early education for toddlers.Closing controversy and conversion
CFA was slated to close at the end of the 2010-2011 school year by order of the Emergency ManagerEmergency management
Emergency management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause events like disasters or catastrophes and to ensure the continuance of the...
of the Detroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools is a school district that covers all of the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The student population of the Detroit Public Schools is about 65,971 , which is down about 9.7% from the previous school year. Detroit Public Charter Schools educate an additional 56,000...
, Robert Bobb
Robert Bobb
Robert C. Bobb is an appointed official who has been the Emergency Financial Manager for the Detroit Public Schools since 2009. In addition to being employed by the school district, he receives a salary from private foundations that promote school choice and privatization, and is the owner of a...
, if a buyer could not be found. The closure or sale was part of the Emergency Manager's deficit reduction plan to consolidate public high schools and increase class sizes to 60 students by 2013.
A buyer was not found by the spring of 2011, and the school was scheduled to be shuttered. CFA students and teachers protested the decision by staging a sit-in and occupying the school during spring break, with 10 of the protesters arrested by the Detroit Police on April 16, 2011. Several of those arrested were charged with trespassing, but all charges were dropped in August 2011. Additional community reaction to the announced closing of CFA, and national media publicity, resulted in weeks of protest. Staff from CFA were promised 20 minutes to present their arguments for keeping the school open at a meeting to be held before Emergency Manager Bobb in early May— but the meeting was cancelled.
On June 16, one hour before a public protest and rally, which included Danny Glover
Danny Glover
Danny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
, was to begin, it was announced that CFA would remain open as a charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
. Critics called the decision a partial victory only because the school would no longer be subject to the legal requirements of public schools. Evans Solutions, a for-profit educational management organization will be running the school as part of its Blanche Kelso Bruce School District which runs charter schools in juvenile detention facilities and involuntary residential facilities. CFA will remain tuition-free to students with operating funds of approximately $13,500 per student provided to the charter operator by state and federal programs.
Blair Evans, CEO of Evans Solutions, announced that the school's programs would continue unchanged, however, the staff would have to work in a "non-union environment". Several teachers would not be returning to the school because it would no longer be part of the Detroit Public Schools system. G. Asenath Andrews, the school's principal since 1986, said new teachers would be hired and that as a result of the school's privatization, the students would have more access to funds and services than before. The school already has farm animals such as goats, chickens, roosters and seasonally a horse.
See also
- Catherine Ferguson (educator)Catherine Ferguson (educator)Catherine "Katy" Ferguson was an African American pioneer, philanthropist, social worker and educator who founded the first Sunday school in New York City.-Early life:...
- Charter schoolCharter schoolCharter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
- Urban agricultureUrban agricultureUrban agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around, a village, town or city. Urban agriculture in addition can also involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, agro-forestry and horticulture...
- Small house movementSmall house movementThe small house movement is a popular description for the architectural and social movement that advocates living in small homes. It is particularly vocal in the USA, where the book The Not So Big House is credited with starting the backlash against supersized homes.-Background:While in developed...
External links
- Official website of documentary 'Grown in Detroit' ©2010 filmmij.
- Some pictures of the school and urban farm , DetroitFunk (blog), 2011.
- "Connecting with at-risk kids is the key to DPS turnaround", The Detroit Free Press, April 23, 2010.
- "Garden sale at the Catherine Ferguson Academy", The Detroit News, September 17, 2009.
- "Parent reviews,", Great Schools, Detroit City School District.
- "School of life", Metro Times, November 24, 2004.
- John M. Glion. "Teen-age mothers build houses and better lives in the process," Los Angeles Times, June 23, 1993.