Daily Headlines for February 25, 2011
Oh, To Be a Teacher in Wisconsin
Wall Street Journal, February 25, 2011
How can fringe benefits cost nearly as much as a worker’s salary? Answer: collective bargaining.
Leader of Teachers’ Union Urges Dismissal Overhaul
New York Times, NY, February 25, 2011
Responding to criticism that tenure gives even poor teachers a job for life, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, announced a plan Thursday to overhaul how teachers are evaluated and dismissed.
FROM THE STATES
California
Charter School Created To Help Teens Chart Futures
Santa Ynez Valley Journal, CA, February 24, 2011
Advocates of a local charter school for foster teens hope it will break ground in late 2012 and pave the way for a bright future ahead of youth who frequently fall by the wayside after high school.
Colorado
Most DPS Families Made Choices In Far Northeast Denver
Denver Post, CO, February 24, 2011
Efforts to discourage families in far northeast Denver from filling out choice applications as a way to protest turnaround plans appear to have been ineffective, as 92 percent of families with students entering middle or high schools made new school selections.
Florida
Business Leaders Want Independent Body For Duval’s Struggling Schools
Florida Times-Union, FL, February 24, 2011
Key members of Jacksonville’s business community jumped into the heated discussion about plans for improving Jacksonville ‘s four most struggling public schools.
Massachusetts
Black History – Blacked Out
Worcester Telegram, MA, February 24, 2011
But today, fewer and fewer Massachusetts students from all backgrounds are learning about the role African-American men and women played in our nation’s history.
New Jersey
Despite Christie’s Big Promises, Charters Still Face Challenges
NJ Spotlight, NJ, February 25, 2011
The pronouncement in Gov. Chris Christie’s budget address on Tuesday drew some of the biggest applause of the day. The state was increasing its funding for charter schools by 50 percent, the governor said, one of the biggest increases in what is otherwise an austere budget.
New York
Bill Would Move Some Teachers Up Layoff Line
Wall Street Journal, February 25, 2011
As New York City threatens to lay off 4,650 teachers, a state senator introduced bill that would put teachers who are chronically late, have had poor performance ratings or have been convicted of a crime within the past five years at the top of the layoff list.
Worst System Ever
New York Post, NY, February 25, 2011
The United Federation of Teachers maintains that laying off teachers according to seniority is the only “fair” way to accommodate New York City budget cuts.
Fair for whom?
Charter Students Deserve Funding
Albany Times-Union, NY, February 25, 2011
The Times Union’s endorsement of a bill to cut charter school funding would turn an existing disadvantage for charters into a rout (” Albany draws the line on charters,” Feb. 22). Charter schools are public schools.
Rhode Island
Board Votes To Dismiss Teachers
Providence Journal, RI, February 25, 2011
After a raucous discussion, the Providence School Board Thursday night voted 4 to 3 to send letters of termination to the 1,926 teachers in the city’s school district.
South Carolina
Bill Would Change How S.C. Pays For Schools
The State, SC, February 25, 2011
Two bills making their way through the General Assembly would change how South Carolina pays for public schools and how teachers are paid.
Wisconsin
On Teachers Unions, The Devil Is In The Details
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, February 24, 2011
After years of fieldwork in more than 70 public schools, union and non-union, and after reading much of the research, I’m convinced that public-service unions in general and teachers unions in particular are hardly the demons that some make them out to be. That said, teachers unions do undermine democracy and transparency in ways that threaten the fiscal health of government and harm public education for poor children.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Virtual Education
Middleboro Gazette, MA, February 24, 2011
Virtual schools are a relatively recent addition to the educational menu. The first one in Massachusetts opened last fall – the Massachusetts Virtual Academy at Greenfield – part of the Greenfield public school district.
House and Senate to vote on Virginia ‘s Virtual Academy
WSLS, VA, February 24, 2011
The House and Senate will vote Friday whether or not to cap enrollment for Carroll County ‘s K12 Virginia Virtual Academy.
House and Senate to Vote on Virginia’s Virtual Academy
WSLS, VA, February 24, 2011
The House and Senate will vote Friday whether or not to cap enrollment for Carroll County ‘s K12 Virginia Virtual Academy.
Online Learning May Be the Way of the Future
KIVI-TV, ID, February 24, 2011
A virtual learning high school in Boise is coming into the spotlight thanks to the education debate. The I-Succeed High School, a completely online school teaches close to 1000 students across the Gem State. And the enrollment numbers are only going up.