“Hip-hop” charter school in Portland, Ore., is a no go

From The Portland Oregonian: A new public high school in Portland, Ore., was to engage students with a hip-hop themed curriculum, but the school district has scrapped opening plans just three days before students were to arrive. Officials say the building was still a construction zone, the school's leadership has been a revolving door and school leaders made false claims to try to allay district concerns. The 48 students who had formally enrolled in REAL Prep Charter Academy have been notified by email that the school would not open; placement specialists were ready to help them find another school to attend.

EARLIER....DECEMBER 2009...from The Portland Oregonian: The Portland (Ore.) School Board has approved a new charter school, the High School for Recording Arts Portland. The high school aims to serve about 200 students using an arts-integrated curriculum, hip-hop music and credit by proficiency. Though many board members said they had concerns about the school's academic curriculum, board members also said they appreciated the school's innovation, creativity and potential to draw students who aren't being served in the district's high school system.

OCTOBER 2009...from The Portland Oregonian: Portland (Ore.) school administrators are recommending that the school board approve a charter school application that would establish the district's first high school that focuses on recording arts such as poetry, hip hop music and an integrated arts curriculum.