Pros
The students are smart and amazing.
Cons
The previous, terrible reviews and even the bad articles about this charter school, Matchbook Learning, are very true. Save yourself the time, energy, emotional and mental health, and NOT apply to this school. This is a charter school that has been kicked out of Detroit and Newark for academic and financial problems. That is a red flag there. There are many problems that the school's leadership ignores on a daily basis. 1. SPED and ELL students do not receive the necessary support as detailed in their IEPs and ILPs. Therefore, classroom teachers are left with very little support to help those students in their academic journeys. 2. MBL remains short-staffed with support staff almost everyday. You may find yourself one day being a substitute teacher for a class and then a reading interventionist all in a matter of 30 minutes. 3. There is a lack of academic accountability for parents and teachers alike. Homework is not even a requirement at the school. Feedback is not provided on observations. 4. The school attempts to "save" students by providing food and clothes often which is one benefit. However, MBL very rarely looks out for the health and safety of teachers which can be shown with how often the school was/is open during the covid-19 pandemic (very often - even with many schools closed). 5. Staff members, including the administration, are culturally ignorant of staff and students of color. There are no bilingual, classroom teachers to effectively help the students. The bilingual staff members that are there are only used as support staff, but this is not for ELL support; it is just for support in reading. So, these students do not actually receive support to learn the English language. Many of the teachers lack the knowledge and awareness of international students - and there are many. (El, Salvador, Ghana, Mexico, Dominican, etc.). 6. The school is very concerned with data - making sure that students are tested (no matter the circumstance) without providing the necessary tools for instruction. It almost seems as if MBL is only concerned with testing students for financial reasons. Even during testing, students are not receiving the appropriate accommodations as, again, detailed in their IEPs and ILPs. This is partly due to some staff members not having the appropriate credentials or license(s) to assist. 7.The curriculum is not advantageous for teachers and students. A Social Studies and Science curriculum is nonexistent. The school leaves the responsibility of learning up to the student, meaning that students are required to log on and work on several computer applications totaling up to a couple hours each day, which takes away from in person-instruction. 8. There is a reading intervention program, but a math intervention program does not exist. Even with the reading intervention program, the program is unstable. It is supposed to occur daily for 30 minutes, but because the staff members in the program are being used in other positions (such as substitute teachers), intervention seldomly occurs. 9. MBL is a toxic work environment and safe spaces for staff members currently do not exist. Infinity groups (small groups of teachers gathering together with the same interest to learn from each other) were canceled without any notice to teachers. Very rarely is someone intentional about the wellbeing of the staff and making sure the teachers are in a good headspace. Teachers are not appreciated. 10. Teachers are required to remain with students during recess and very little prep time occurs throughout the day and even the week for teachers to prepare their lessons. 11. When there are issues (teacher-to-teacher) or (teacher-to-student), administration does not take appropriate action and only instead hosts a discussion (if that even occurs) about the issue. When teachers do voice their concerns about the school, they are reprimanded and blamed for the issues. Or, when administration does take action, it is wrongful and unfair, and people are removed without cause. Please do not apply to this school. Although a charter for a high school is underway, this K-8 school should be shut down and MBL should not establish a high school.
