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FOR IMMEDIATE STATEWIDE RELEASE

Cleveland, Ohio. September 29, 2003, Cleveland Teachers Union Fighting to Stop Continuous Flow of Students to HOPE Academy Charter Schools Prior to October Average Daily Membership Count.

In response to a press conference held earlier today by the Cleveland Teacher’s Union (CTU) encouraging HOPE Academy parents to return their students to the Cleveland Municipal School District, Mark Thimmig, CEO of White Hat Management stated:

“The timing of CTU’s negative public relations campaign is not surprising. It is trying to encourage charter school parents to return their students to Cleveland Public Schools before the all-important October Average Daily Membership (ADM). The ADM count occurs during the first two weeks of October and will determine state funding for Cleveland for the rest of the year.”

Mr. Thimmig added, “Losing so many students year-after-year, it is no surprise why the Cleveland Teachers’ Union has begun trying to coax HOPE Academy parents and students to come back to the Cleveland Municipal School District. We knew this would be coming after the CTU wrote a letter to some of our HOPE Academy parents dated September 18, 2003 complaining about the HOPE Academies. We believe that HOPE parents will ignore the letter because they see CTU’s tactics for what they are: an attack on their right to choose the best education for their children and a shameless attempt to get students back into the Cleveland Public Schools.

Mr. Thimmig went on to state that, “The HOPE Academies are full and most have waiting lists because our parents know that:

1) every HOPE Academy is safe, clean and secure;

2) every staff member of each HOPE Academy concentrates on the needs of each of his/her students and building a relationship with that student which fosters an environment of mutual respect which is crucial to student learning;

3) every HOPE Academy has licensed social workers on staff so that each student’s social needs are also being met and not serving as a barrier to education;

4) every HOPE Academy teacher is certified in accordance with State of Ohio standards, and is committed to helping every child learn, succeed and develop;

5) every HOPE Academy contains, and has at its educational foundation, nationally recognized and award-winning curriculum and learning tools which are attractive to parents and not necessarily offered by local public school districts; and

6) every HOPE Academy has a qualified technology instructor and state-of-the art technology center/computer lab where students can access and learn the latest technology and educational resource materials to supplement the child’s classroom instruction, which knowledge and ability to work with technology will be absolutely critical for success in life in the 21st century.

Quite frankly, we simply cannot build HOPE Academies fast enough for all of the families that want to enroll.”

When asked why the HOPE Academy model has proven to be so successful in generating high levels of enrollment in such a short period of time, Mr. Thimmig stated “the not-for-profit Boards of Directors that govern the HOPE Academies have been forward thinking and have chosen an educational model that focuses on the individual needs of the child. That insight and care from the community-based Board, coupled with the fact that a great number of families within the Cleveland area are looking for quality, educational options creates a perfect combination of circumstances to bring people of need together with a provider of a quality education designed to meet that need. For years, people have been demanding the right to have choices in education, and today, people have those choices and are availing themselves of the one they believe is the best fit for their children”.

While the debate over charter school’s continues statewide, one thing is for certain. Charter schools are thriving in Cleveland and the continuously high enrollment counts and waiting lists of Cleveland area charter schools, and more specifically HOPE Academies, whose students mainly transfer from under-performing Cleveland Municipal Public Schools, are getting the attention of the Cleveland Teachers’ Union.

Charter schools started in 1998 through legislation passed by Ohio’s General Assembly. As a result of that legislation, in 1998, HOPE Academies were formed by various independent, not-for-profit boards that deeply care for Ohio youth not being adequately served by the then existing public schools and who were people interested in helping find another more individualized way in which these underserved students could learn, develop and flourish. As a result, initially there were 4 HOPE Academies, 2 of which were located in Cleveland, with a total enrollment of 997. Today, the HOPE Academy individualized, reading and math focused approach which promotes the concepts that “no two students are alike” and that “there is Hope for every child” has resulted in 12 HOPE Academies across the state, 8 of which are in Cleveland, with a total enrollment of approximately 4,000 students.

When asked whether or not the Cleveland Teachers’ Union would be successful in its bid to win back HOPE Academy parents, Mr. Thimmig stated “Our parents are incredibly intelligent people who know that HOPE Academies are right for their children.” In addition, Mr. Thimmig pointed out that, “What made our schools right for the parents and their children when they initially enrolled earlier this year is still right today and our parents will not be fooled by a negative, smear campaign that is based upon scare tactics and misinformation rather than facts.” Lastly, Mr. Thimmig stated that the Teachers’ Union letter was telling for several reasons, not the least of which was that the Union made no apologies for the Cleveland Municipal School District Schools and its various educational challenges.” Mr. Thimmig thought that one of those educational challenges worth mentioning is a 39% graduation rate which is one of the worst in the country and one that leaves almost two out of every three students without a high school diploma.

Although time and enrollment statistics will tell the eventual story of who wins this battle for students, one thing is for certain, HOPE Academies have been successful at recruiting thousands of Cleveland families and students and the Cleveland Teachers’ Union is taking notice. END.

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The HOPE Academies and Riverside Academy are community schools established under Chapter 3314 of the Revised Code. These schools are public schools and students enrolled in and attending the schools are required to take proficiency tests and other examinations prescribed by law. In addition, there may be other requirements for students at the schools that are prescribed by law. Students who have been excused from the compulsory attendance law for the purpose of home education as defined by the Administrative Code shall no longer be excused for that purpose upon their enrollment in a community school. For more information about this matter contact the school administration or the Ohio Department of Education.