Falun Gong-associated charter school chain (attempt)

“Falun Gong follower behind attempt to open six charter schools.” New York Daily News, 3/6/2013

A follower of a controversial Chinese movement whose last attempt to open a school was rejected is now seeking approval for six bilingual charters — even though her name isn’t on the application.

Lotus King Weiss is trying to open Confucius Teachings elementary, middle and high schools in Flushing and three others in Manhattan’s Chinatown in 2014. Applications are due April 15.

Weiss isn’t one of the 21 names on the letter of intent submitted last month to the SUNY Charter Schools Institute.

But Weiss told the Daily News on Wednesday that she suggested the idea to fellow Falun Gong practitioner Xiaoming Xu, the lead applicant for the Flushing schools. Since Xu doesn’t speak English well, Weiss said she’s working with Xu and will write the roughly 500-page application...

Xu confirmed in broken English that Weiss is the “manager” of the charters. But she denied the schools would teach Falun Gong.

“Not any religion here,” she said. “Not any political [sic] here.”

She also said some students could board there...

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Career Success Schools (6 schools)

“Phoenix Schools Under Fire For Program Linked To Scientology.” NPR, 3/27/2013

A group of Phoenix charter schools is facing criticism for using a teaching tool based on the work of L. Ron Hubbard, best known for founding the Church of Scientology.

Teacher Katie Donahoe says that shortly after she was hired in 2010, she went to a memorable training session on the teaching method, called Applied Scholastics. The session was held at the Applied Scholastics headquarters near St. Louis...

Applied Scholastics is a program based on something Hubbard called "study technology." The idea is that some kids struggle because they can't overcome learning barriers. They misunderstand words or progress through the content too quickly. The Church of Scientology makes no secret of its support for the program. It even distributes highly produced videos on it...

Robert L. Duffy High School is home to mostly minority, low-income students who've struggled academically. Robert Duffy, the man who runs the six-school charter district of about 1,000 students, says Hubbard's work is effective here...

"It's very basic stuff. It has nothing to do with church or religion. Believe me, I am not a Scientologist. I hear things about them, and I don't support that at all," Duffy says...

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“Scientology, "Study Tech," and an Arizona Charter School District.” Slate, 3/27/2013 

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From http://sites.myhomepage.org/robertduffy/myself.htm

Click on image for larger view

Career Success Schools > http://csschools.com/

More about Scientology's Study Tech program @ Life Force Arts and Technology Academy 

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Estancia Valley Classical Academy

“PED warns charter school against religious teachings.” KRQE (NM), 11/2/2012

A letter from the Public Department of Education says some parents have complained a new charter school in Moriarty is using taxpayer dollars to teach religion.

The letter was sent less than a month ago by Secretary-designate of Education Hanna Skandera, reminding school officials to follow state law.

“What we provide here is a rigorous academic alternative,” says Roger Lenard, president of the Estancia Valley Classical Academy (EVCA) Governing Council...

The state sent a letter telling the school it "must immediately cease using any biblical or religious-based curriculum and/or instructional activities, if it is indeed doing so."...

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“Monkeys On Trial In The Estancia Valley?” New Mexico Central, 11/3/2012

We found ourselves not-too-terribly surprised to read recent articles (“Charter School Warned,” “PED warns charter school against religious teachings“) regarding accusations by the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) that the Estancia Valley Classical Academy (ECVA) may have strayed over the line between religious and secular education. Our lack of surprise – and, to some extent, our amusement – stems from the fact that both articles mention an individual who was featured in the context of his views on “science” (including an apparent bent toward creationism or, at least, anti-evolutionism) in one of our previous articles (See our August 11, 2011 article, An Article About Articles). That individual, Roger Lenard, is variously described as “one of the school’s founders” and the president of the school’s governing council.

Given the many references to Mr. Lenard’s reported creationist beliefs and purported attempts to insert them into academic curricula, we certainly understand why parents would be concerned about what may be taught in science classes at a school over whose curriculum Mr. Lenard likely wields substantial influence...

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