Thursday, March 1, 2012

Gulen charter school timeline

(Updated 3/12/2012)
Additional schools are added as they appear @ http://charterschoolscandals.blogspot.com/p/list-of-us-gulen-schools.html

The largest charter school chain in the U.S. is run by the members of the Gulen movement, a controversial, secretive, religious, and highly nationalistic group out of Turkey that is operating in a manner with no exact precedent. The "movement" simultaneously promotes Islam, Turkey, and GM-affiliated Turkish businesses as it pursues a strategic, power-accumulating geopolitical agenda. To accomplish its goals, the movement conducts a range of activities associated with its schools, interfaith dialog and Turkish culture-promoting organizations, media outlets, and business organizations. Members of the Gulen movement make up only a small portion of the Turkish people, but the group is very powerful
there, as well as abroad, because of its unified, tight-knit, and ambitious nature. 

The Gulen movement has been engaging in an aggressive school and organizational global expansion for two decades and opened their first charter school in Ohio in 1999. Today the Gulen charter school network in the U.S. consists of 135 schools in 26 states enrolling approximately 35,000 students. In comparison, the well-known non-profit Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) operates 109 schools in 20 states, and the large for-profit Imagine Schools company operates 75 schools in 12 states.

Gulen charter schools are founded and controlled (finances, hiring and firing, marketing and propaganda, student selection and deselection, business and real estate practices, etc.) by a very tight in-group of board members and administrators, many of whom also practice the Gulenist way by initiating and/or participating in other notoriously Gulenist activities, mainly local interfaith dialog and Turkish culture-promoting organizations. As is true for all of the Gulen movement’s schools around the world, Gulen charter schools are willing to hire outsiders for certain positions, but prefer to fill specialty subjects (math, science, Turkish language, etc.) with imported Turkish or Turkic teachers who are GM insiders. A set of specific school characteristics are present at all Gulen schools around the world -- the vast majority of which are privately funded, except in the U.S. where expansion of charter schools has been rampant.  

One significant feature of this group is that members are extremely reluctant to reveal to outsiders that they are part of the Gulen movement. The possible reasons for this secrecy have been debated and discussed, and it has caused many people around the world to be deeply and justifiably concerned. The secrecy also explains why, to novice or lazy observers, the movement’s activities seem unremarkable or too nebulous to bother with; they don't realize what will become visible to them upon a deeper level of exploration. It is then that the linkages, the patterns, the templates, and the carefully configured organizational structures which provide the platform for the Gulenists' many coordinated activities are more fully revealed. 

The secretive and murky nature of the Gulen movement explains why its involvement with so many publicly-funded charter schools has flown under the radar of Americans for so many years, but that unfortunate situation is changing. The first news article about the Gulen movement's charter school connection broke in July 2009, and in less than three years since that time, many more stories have been published, each one helping a little bit to bring about the transparency which American taxpayers and parents so rightly deserve. Because critical information has been withheld, those taxpayers and parents have been given NO CHOICE in whether they want to help the Gulen movement as it pursues its strategic geopolitical agenda. Instead, they've been tricked into doing so.

The Gulen movement does not maintain a central website with an organizational chart showing its many local, regional, and national Gulenist institutions, nor is any institution posting the group's county-by-country, or state-by-state school listings so parents can learn about what's going on, although indications are that someone in the higher tier of the movement undoubtedly keeps track of these things. Because of this intentional withholding of information from public view – as well as the ignorance and/or neglect of local, state, and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education – a number of concerned citizens have taken it upon themselves to monitor the Gulen movement’s trajectory and range of activities vis-à-vis its U.S. charter schools in order to provide the public with this extremely important information (see HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE).

Click on graph to enlarge.


1. ACTIVE GULEN CHARTER SCHOOLS BY OPENING YEARS
Total number of active schools = 135
FL
2011
New Springs Elementary School
MD
2011
Chesapeake Math and IT Academy
MN
2011
Minnesota School of Science
NJ
2011
Bergen Arts and Science Charter School Middle High
NJ
2011
Passaic Arts and Science Charter School (elementary)
PA
2011
Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School
TX
2011
Harmony School of Political Science and Communication - Austin
TX
2011
Harmony Science Academy - West Houston
TX
2011
Harmony School of Science High - Sugar Land
WI
2011
Milwaukee Math and Science Academy
AZ
2010
Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix Metro
CA
2010
Magnolia Science Academy - Santa Clara
CA
2010
Magnolia Science Academy 7 -  Van Nuys
CA
2010
Magnolia Science Academy 8 - Bell
FL
2010
River City Science Academy - Elementary
FL
2010
New Springs Middle School
FL
2010
Sweetwater Branch Academy Elementary School
GA
2010
Fulton Sunshine Academy Elementary School
IL
2010
Quest Charter Academy
IN
2010
Indiana Math & Science Academy - North
MD
2010
Baltimore IT Academy
MO
2010
Gateway Science Academy of St. Louis
NV
2010
Coral Academy of Science - Las Vegas
NM
2010
Albuquerque School of Excellence
OH
2010
Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown
OH
2010
Horizon Science Academy Toledo Downtown
OH
2010
Horizon Science Academy Youngstown
TN
2010
Memphis School of Excellence
TX
2010
Harmony School of Nature and Athletics - Dallas
TX
2010
Harmony Science Academy - Garland
TX
2010
Harmony School of Advancement High - Houston
TX
2010
Harmony School of Art and Technology - Houston
TX
2010
Harmony School of Discovery - Houston
TX
2010
Harmony Science Academy - Odessa
TX
2010
Harmony School of Innovation - San Antonio
AZ
2009
Sonoran Science Academy – Davis-Monthan AFB
CA
2009
Magnolia Science Academy 6 - Palms
CA
2009
Pacific Technology School - Santa Ana****
CA
2009
Pacific Technology School - Orangevale
MA
2009
Hampden Charter School of Science
MI
2009
Michigan Math and Science Academy
MO
2009
Frontier School of Innovation
OH
2009
Horizon Science Academy Dayton High School
OH
2009
Horizon Science Academy Lorain
OK
2009
Discovery School of Tulsa
TX
2009
Harmony School of Excellence - Austin
TX
2009
Harmony School of Innovation - Dallas
TX
2009
Harmony School of Innovation - El Paso
TX
2009
Harmony Science Academy - Euless
TX
2009
Harmony School of Endeavor - Houston
TX
2009
Harmony School of Ingenuity - Houston
TX
2009
School of Science and Technology - Alamo
TX
2009
School of Science and Technology - Corpus Christi
AR
2008
LISA Academy - North Elementary (Sherwood)
AR
2008
LISA Academy - North Middle (Sherwood)
AR
2008
LISA Academy - North High (Sherwood)
AZ
2008
Sonoran Science Academy - Ahwatukee
AZ
2008
Sonoran Science Academy - Broadway
AZ
2008
Paragon Science Academy
CA
2008
Magnolia Science Academy 3 - Carson
CA
2008
Magnolia Science Academy 4 - Venice
CA
2008
Magnolia Science Academy 5 - Hollywood
FL
2008
Orlando Science Middle School
FL
2008
Sweetwater Branch Academy (or SB Middle School)
LA
2008
Kenilworth Science and Technology Charter School
NY
2008
Rochester Academy Charter School
NC
2008
Triad Math and Science Academy
OH
2008
Horizon Science Academy Cleveland Elementary School
OH
2008
Horizon Science Academy Columbus Elementary School
OH
2008
Horizon Science Academy Denison Elementary School
OK
2008
Dove Science Academy Elementary School - Oklahoma City
TX
2008
Harmony School of Science - Austin
TX
2008
Harmony Science Academy - North Austin
TX
2008
Harmony Science Academy - Brownsville
TX
2008
Harmony Science Academy - Grand Prairie
TX
2008
Harmony School of Science - Houston
TX
2008
Harmony Science Academy - Laredo
TX
2008
School of Science and Technology Discovery
CA
2007
Magnolia Science Academy 2 - Valley
FL
2007
River City Science Academy
FL
2007
STARS Middle School
IN
2007
Indiana Math & Science Academy - [West]
MA
2007
Pioneer Charter School of Science
MO
2007
Frontier School of Excellence***
NJ
2007
Bergen Arts and Science Charter School (elementary)
OH
2007
Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School
PA
2007
Truebright Science Academy
TX
2007
Harmony Science Academy High School - Houston
TX
2007
Harmony Science Academy - Beaumont
TX
2007
Harmony Science Academy - Bryan / College Station
TX
2007
Harmony Science Academy - Houston Northwest
TX
2007
Harmony Science Academy - Lubbock
TX
2007
Harmony Science Academy - Waco
CO
2006
Lotus School for Excellence
GO
2006
Fulton Science Academy High School**
NJ
2006
Central Jersey College Prep
OH
2006
Noble Academy - Columbus
OH
2006
Noble Academy - Cleveland
TX
2006
Harmony Science Academy - El Paso
TX
2006
Harmony Science Academy - Fort Worth
TX
2006
Harmony School of Excellence - Houston
TX
2006
Harmony Science Academy - San Antonio
AR
2005
LISA Academy High School - Little Rock
CA
2005
Magnolia Science Academy - San Diego
MD
2005
Chesapeake Science Point
OH
2005
Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati
OH
2005
Horizon Science Academy Cleveland Middle School
OH
2005
Horizon Science Academy Dayton
OH
2005
Horizon Science Academy Denison Middle School
OH
2005
Horizon Science Academy Springfield
PA
2005
Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania Charter School
TX
2005
Harmony School of Innovation - Houston
TX
2005
School of Science and Technology - San Antonio
UT
2005
Beehive Science and Technology Academy
AR
2004
LISA Academy - Little Rock
AZ
2004
Sonoran Science Academy - Phoenix
CA
2004
Bay Area Technology School
IL
2004
Chicago Mathematics [or Math] and Science Academy
NY
2004
Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School
OH
2004
Horizon Science Academy Toledo
TX
2004
Harmony Science Academy - Dallas
NJ
2003
Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology
NY
2003
Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School
CA
2002
Magnolia Science Academy 1 - Reseda
GA
2002
Fulton Science Academy Middle School*
TX
2002
Harmony Science Academy - Austin
AZ
2001
Sonoran Science Academy - Tucson
OK
2001
Dove Science Academy - Oklahoma City
NV
2000
Coral Academy of Science - Reno Elementary
NV
2000
Coral Academy of Science - Reno Middle/High School
OK
2000
Dove Science Academy - Tulsa
TX
2000
Harmony Science Academy - Houston
WI
2000
Wisconsin Career Academy
OH
1999
Horizon Science Academy Cleveland (High School)
OH
1999
Horizon Science Academy Columbus (High School)

* Formerly Cosmos Science Academy
** Formerly TEACH School
*** Formerly Brookside-Frontier Math and Science School
**** Sometimes referred to as PTS – Orange County


PROPOSED SCHOOLS BY ATTEMPT YEAR:
DENIED, PENDING, WITHDRAWN, ETC.
Total number of attempts = 115
NJ
2012
Clifton Arts and Science Charter School
NJ
2012
Northeastern Arts and Science Charter School
NY
2012
Utica Academy of Science Charter School
NY
2012
Westchester Academy of Science
VA
2012
Loudoun Math and IT Academy
CA
2011
Magnolia Public Schools: new LAUSD Central Region ES #22
CA
2011
Magnolia Public Schools: takeover of Cochran Middle School
CA
2011
Magnolia Public Schools: new LAUSD South Region ES #5
CA
2011
Magnolia Public Schools: new LAUSD South Region HS #8
CA
2011
Magnolia Public Schools: new LAUSD South Region MS #3
CO
2011
Lotus School for Excellence - St. Vrain
DE
2011
First State Math and Science Academy
FL
2011
Orlando Science Elementary
FL
2011
Pinellas School of Math and Science
HI
2011
Mokapu STEM School
IL
2011
Greater Lakes Math and Science Academy
NV
2011
Coral Academy of Science - Carson City
NJ
2011
Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School (TEESCS)
NY
2011
Digital Arts and Technology Charter School*****
NY
2011
Global Sciences Charter School
NY
2011
Staten Island Fusion Charter School
NC
2011
Triangle Math and Science Academy
NC
2011
Cape Fear STEM School
NC
2011
IT Academy of Triangle
NC
2011
Piedmont IT Academy
PA
2011
Allentown Science Academy
SC
2011
Greenville Renewable Energy (or GREEN) Charter School
TN
2011
Knoxville Charter Academy
TN
2011
W.E.B. Dubois Consortium school conversion school #1
TN
2011
W.E.B. Dubois Consortium school conversion school #2
TN
2011
W.E.B. Dubois Consortium school conversion school #3
TN
2011
W.E.B. Dubois Consortium school conversion school #4
TN
2011
W.E.B. Dubois Consortium school conversion school #5
TN
2011
W.E.B. Dubois Consortium school conversion school #6
TN
2011
W.E.B. Dubois Consortium school conversion school #7
TN
2011
W.E.B. Dubois Consortium school conversion school #8
TN
2011
W.E.B. Dubois Consortium school conversion school #9
TX
2011
Harmony School of Innovation
TX
2011
Harmony Teacher Academy
TX
2011
Harmony School of Business - Dallas
TX
2011
Harmony School of Language - Houston
TX
2011
Harmony School of Excellence - San Antonio
VA
2011
Richmond Science Academy
DC
2011
Washington IT Academy
CA
2010
Magnolia Science Academy-San Diego 2
CO
2010
Lotus School for Excellence – II
FL
2010
Miami-Dade Science Schools
FL
2010
Palm Beach Science Academy
LA
2010
Kenilworth Science and Technology High School
LA
2010
Pelican Excellence Orleans K-12****
NV
2010
Coral Academy of Science - Valley
TX
2010
New Dimension Math and Science School
AZ
2009
Sonoran Science Academy - Flagstaff
AZ
2009
Sonoran Science Academy - Oro Valley
AR
2009
Dove School of Excellence
CA
2009
Magnolia Science Academy – Milpitas
CA
2009
Magnolia Science Academy - [name unknown]
CA
2009
Pacific Knowledge School
CA
2009
Pacific Technology statewide district school #4
CA
2009
Pacific Technology statewide district school #5
CA
2009
Pacific Technology statewide district school #6
CA
2009
Pacific Technology statewide district school #7
CA
2009
Pacific Technology statewide district school #8
CA
2009
Pacific Technology statewide district school #9
CA
2009
Pacific Technology statewide district school #10
FL
2009
Broward Math and Science Schools
LA
2009
Conversion of Linear Middle School
LA
2009
Conversion of Banks Elementary School
LA
2009
Conversion of Crestworth Middle School
NJ
2009
Camden Charter School of Achievement
NJ
2009
Raritan Arts and Science Charter School
NJ
2009
Wayne Science and Technology Charter School
NY
2009
Binghampton Academy of Science Charter School
NY
2009
Brentwood Academy of Science Charter School
NY
2009
City Academy of Science
NC
2009
Wake Math and Science Academy
SC
2009
Greenville Science Charter School
AR
2008
LISA Academy – Johnson
CA
2008
Magnolia Science Academy - Foster City
GA
2008
Oconee School of Math and Science
PA
2008
Capital Academy of Harrisburg
PA
2008
Lancaster Academy of Science
AR
2007
LISA Academy – Springdale
CA
2007
Bay Area Technology School - San Francisco
CA
2007
Bay Area Technology School-San Jose
CT
2007
Connecticut Academy for Mathematics and Science
FL
2007
Osceola Universal School
LA
2007
Abramson Science and Technology Charter School
LA
2007
Pelican Math and Science School
NJ
2007
Garden State Academy Charter School
OR
2007
Pioneer Technology Public Charter School
PA
2007
Science Academy of Erie Charter School
TX
2007
School of Art - Denton
TX
2007
School of Art - Houston
CA
2006
Orange Science Academy
CA
2006
Sequoia Academy of Science
CA
2006
Bay Area Technology School – Richmond
MA
2006
College Preparatory Charter School of Springfield
PA
2006
Lehigh College-Prep Charter School
PA
2006
Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania Bellefont**
SC
2006
Greenville Palmetto Science Academy
TN
2006
Nashville Charter Middle School***
VA
2006
Loudoun Science Academy
WI
2006
Academy of Milwaukee
FL
2005
Discovery Academy of Science Charter School
NJ
2005
New Century Charter Public School
NJ
2005
Union Science Academy Charter School
PA
2005
City College-Prep Charter School
NY
2004
Capital Academy Charter School
IN
2003
Indiana Life Sciences Academy
NJ
2002
Bergen Hope Charter School
PA
2002
Lyceum Charter School Project
IN
2001
Indiana Science Academy
IL
2000
Horizon Math and Science Charter School - Des Plaines
IL
2000
Horizon Math and Science Charter School - Oak Park

**Actual name unknown
***AKA Nashville Academy of Science and Technology
****Also called Pelican Excellence Academy
*****Also called DigiTech K-12

Acknowledgement: With deep gratitude to CASILIPS.

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