The Explosion of Charter Schools in America

The Explosion of Charter Schools in America - US News and World Report

I recommend this article from US News and World Report, which is the source of this wonderful graphic showing the expansion of charter schools across the country. When you look at our home state, you will see that Oracle Charter School is one of 144 charter schools currently operating in the state of New York. Currently, state law caps the number of charters that may open at 200 schools.

President Obama's Race to the Top funding initiative, worth billions of dollars for states that enact education reforms, provides a clear mandate to lift charter caps and increase the number of charters operating within each state. New York's charter school law, with its cap at 200 schools, ultimately jeopardizes the state's ability to earn this federal funding. Given the current state budget crisis, access these funds is critical.

Your support for charter school advocacy is important! Let your state legislators and the local school board officials know that your child is educated in a charter school, and that you believe in school choice.

Oracle Students Submit MLK Principals of NonViolence Video

New York State's Education Department solicited student artwork and essays reflecting Dr. Martin Luther King's principals of nonviolence from around the state.

Student entries will be placed on display for viewing in the Empire State Plaza in Albany during the week before the MLK holiday on Monday, January 18, 2010.

Oracle's Advanced Studio in Art students created the following video with student-created sock puppets. In the spirit of the Twilight series of books, this video features a vampire counseling a werewolf on Dr. King's principals of non-violence. It's wacky fun...sure to stand out as a submission!

Restoration Work begins at Oracle Charter School

Restoration work has begun on Oracle Charter School's historic facility!

In last year's round of grant funding, Oracle was awarded $111,832 in historic preservation funds through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

We will use this funding for a restoration project on the Charles W. Goodyear mansion portion of our school.

We are excited that this important work has begun. If you have been to Oracle to drop off or pick up your student, you may have noticed that work has begun on the side porch. Posted here are photos from the restoration work which is being conducted by Dan Farrell of Lost Cities Restorations.

AP Environmental Science Class Visits Buffalo Water and Sewage Treatment Facilities

On December 3, 2009, Mr. Coia’s AP Environmental Science class toured two of Buffalo’s most important public works facilities.

In the first half of the day, students visited the Wastewater Treatment Plant located on Bird Island off West Ferry St. While there, students learned about the processes that clean Buffalo’s sewage and the jobs that people do to make that possible. The class was fascinated by the amount of waste produced by the city and how efficiently the facility manages to eliminate all the contaminants before sending the water back into the Niagara River.

After lunch, Oracle students toured the Colonel Ward Pumping Station/Water Treatment Plant. Students experienced the sequence of pumps, filters and treatments that take water from Lake Erie and turn it into clean, healthy water for the entire city. The highlight of this facility is the sight of the enormous steam pumps that fed the city its water until a few decades ago. This was an experience that the students will remember for a long time.

Many thanks to Oracle Charter School's Operations Manager, Bill Sunderlin, for setting up this field trip!

Oracle Hiking Club Goes Camping in Allegheny

During the weekend of May 15th, Oracle Charter School's Hiking Club went on its first annual spring camping trip to Allegheny State Park.

After a year of fund raising, we were able to rent two cabins on the Anderson Trail.

Arriving Friday night, the priorities were to enjoy the pizzas we had picked up, start a nice (if smokey…) fire, and for the hikers to engage in a full-fledged water war.

Gathering wood that first evening the campers found several small salamanders. That night, after a few s’mores, the entire group went on a terrifying ride up to the abandoned Stone Tower, got lost on an old logging road, and then, on foot, came nearly face-to-face with the “Abandoned Hiker,” a well-known ghost of the Park. If you have never heard Alysson and Beth scream…keep it that way!


On Saturday, we awoke early to clear skies, and since storms were on the horizon, we quickly rallied for a nearly 7 mile hike through the hills of Allegheny. While large wildlife was not encountered, we caught numerous frogs and salamanders and the birdcalls were wonderful. We finished off the evening with some football, another water fight, and then a full fledged hot-dog roast over a raging fire. All in all, it was a fantastic experience, and I am already looking forward to next year's camping trip!

-John Elliott, adviser to the Hiking Club, teaches AP Environmental Science and Earth Science at Oracle Charter School.