Aspire's

Bellwether calculated what Aspire's financial standing would be if it operated in 23 other states which, with California, account for 90% of America's charter-school population.

Starving Charters 2011

In a statement, Phil Hall, chairman of a London-based PHA Media, which is representing Qatar2022, said the group is proud of Aspire's academies and programs across the world.

Qatar's World Cup Spending Spree Matthew Futterman 2011

But the Bellwether report shows that the real impediment to Aspire's growth is politics.

Starving Charters 2011

Aspire's first problem is that, like 17% of all charter schools, it's in California, where education spending is about 20% below the national average.

Starving Charters 2011

For example, you can show students how to tell time and tell them they need to know how to someday get to work on time, Sedillo said during a recent master's summer course at Aspire's California College Prep campus.

SFGate: Top News Stories jtucker@sfchronicle.com (Jill Tucker | Chronicle S 2011

Yet it's clear that traditional public schools, without the help of outside private or nonprofit funding, won't be able to follow in Aspire's footsteps in developing their own teaching corps.

SFGate: Top News Stories jtucker@sfchronicle.com (Jill Tucker | Chronicle S 2011

As Aspire continues to develop its core businesses in mining and ecommerce, the alliance with Granite will add important professional knowledge in financial management that could in time produce revenue growth from new ventures as well as from Aspire's substantial existing client base.

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Qatar discussed extending those programmes and Aspire's director

Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011

Aspire will own ten percent of Granite shares while Granite will operate in Aspire's Hong Kong office.

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"Highly effective teachers are going to make the most difference," said Jeff Starr, Aspire's coordinator of teaching and learning.

SFGate: Top News Stories jtucker@sfchronicle.com (Jill Tucker | Chronicle S 2011