Daily Headlines for October 21, 2011
Charters and Minority Progress
Wall Street Journal, October 20, 2011
A tragedy of American politics is that civil rights groups like the NAACP oppose education reform, even as reform’s main beneficiaries are poor and minority students in places like Harlem and New Orleans . The latest evidence comes in a study showing that black students in charter schools outperform their peers in traditional public schools.
Senate Panel Votes To Reduce Federal Role In Schools
Washington Post, DC, October 21, 2011
A Senate panel voted 15 to 7 Thursday to reduce the role of the federal government in overseeing the nation’s 100,000 public schools as part of a revamping of No Child Left Behind, the key education law.
Teacher Evaluations Have A Place, But Not In A Washington Mandate
Washington Post, DC, October 20, 2011
When The Post’s editorial board compared educating students to remodeling a kitchen “A provision left behind,” Oct. 19], it was clear that it doesn’t understand how learning occurs. Teachers don’t install knowledge like carpenters install cabinets, and every student learns in his or her own way.
Waiver Avalanche Uncovers Flaws of No Child Left Behind
Washington Times, DC , October 20, 2011
Thirty-six states have said they will seek waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in the next six months. Nationwide frustration over the law reflects not only its agonizing muddle of federal money and regulations but also how this morass represents what’s wrong with American education.
Reform NCLB Law and Send to Obama Before End of Year
Jackson Sun, TN, October 20, 2011
Just when we thought there might be a ray of hope for bipartisanship and common sense logic in Washington, our hopes were dashed. Efforts to reform the No Child Left Behind law were sidetracked by partisan ideology and inexplicable changes to the proposed legislation.
Blame Game: Let’s Talk Honestly About Bad Teachers
TIME, October 20, 2011
Removing the lowest performing educators would pay big dividends, but saying so invites charges of “teacher bashing”
FROM THE STATES
It’s About The Kids, Not Teachers
Boston Globe, MA, October 21, 2011
FRUSTRATED TEACHERS, including several in Boston, are conducting “flash grade-ins’’ to draw attention to the many hours of work required of them outside the classroom. It’s a clever strategy: hunker down in public spaces and grade papers as a way to show that teachers don’t have it easy when it comes to work schedules.
In Brooklyn Charter School, a Focus on Co-Teaching and Inclusion
New York Times, NY, October 21, 2011
Allison Keil and Sara Stone, young and idealistic teachers, founded the Community Roots Charter School in Fort Greene , Brooklyn, six years ago. The school has 300 students in kindergarten through fifth grade and, this year, a waiting list of 800
A Good Time For A Time Out
Commercial Appeal, TN, October 21, 2011
Charter school requests can wait: At the start of its tenure is not a good time for the school board to consider a flood of applications.
PTA Wants State To Reconsider Charter Schools
Seattle Times, WA, October 21, 2011
The Washington PTA wants charter schools to be a part of the state’s education reform agenda, even though the idea has twice been rejected by voters and repeatedly shot down by lawmakers.
Cherokee Academies Initiative Is A Go
Cherokee Tribune, GA, October 21, 2011
The Cherokee County school board is moving forward with the Cherokee Academies initiative, after an overwhelmingly positive response from its staff and parent surveys.
Slippery Slope
Miami Herald, FL, October 20, 2011
Bracing for another year of state budget cuts, Miami-Dade and Broward County school districts are embracing a controversial idea that raises eyebrows: Sell advertising space on public school property.
How About Creative Thinking On Schools Rather Than Blank-Check Approach?
TC Palms, FL, October 21, 2011
Kudos to Ken Miller on his Oct. 6 guest column setting the record straight on charter school funding.
Public Schools Want to Copy Charters
WCTV, FL, October 20, 2011
Public schools have enviously watched the rapid rise of charter schools in Florida, with over 500 charter schools statewide and dozens more poised for approval.
Drop The Charter-School Excuse
Indianapolis Star, IN, October 21, 2011
That’s because behind White’s crass words was a line of argument that has become an urban legend in IPS: Namely that charter schools lure “good” students from the district but turn away those who pose difficult challenges.
Charter School Plan Is Better For Business Than Students
Detroit Free Press, MI, October 21, 2011
If the cap on charter schools is removed without provisions requiring authorizers (mostly universities) to be more vigilant in addressing low-performing schools, the state will be throwing tax dollars at a privatization initiative with over a 50% low-performance record. There is substantial data to support charter schools as being a questionable venture with little oversight.
CPS Push For Longer Days May Be Cut Short
Chicago Tribune, IL, October 21, 2011
A state labor relations board sided with the Chicago Teachers Union on Thursday, asking the state attorney general’s office to seek an injunction to keep more of Chicago public schools from lengthening their days.
Algiers Teachers Protest Removal From State Retirement Plan
Times Picayune, LA, October 20, 2011
Teachers in the Algiers Charter Schools Association are protesting a move by the group’s leadership to leave the state teacher retirement plan because of rising costs.
Charter Schools Put Pressure On APS
KRQUE, NM, October 20, 2011
This week charter schools in Albuquerque held a recruitment fair. The schools offer an alternative to a traditional public education with a focus on everything from the military to the film industry.
Requiring Teachers To Make The Grade
The Tribune-Democrat, PA, October 21, 2011
While we commend Gov. Tom Corbett for promoting a new rating system for public school teachers, we realize the inherent shortfalls with any such plan.
It’s Time For Lawmakers To Do Right By Florida’s Children
Orlando Sentinel, FL, October 21, 2011
For many years, we have heard elected officials state that they support our public schools, and that we must make sure we provide our students with the best education possible.
Board Reconsiders, Moves Plan To Lift Charter Cap
Idaho Press-Tribune, ID, October 20, 2011
The state Board of Education has shifted gears and is now supporting 2012 legislation aimed at lifting Idaho’s cap on charter schools.
VIRTUAL LEARNING
Proposed Charter School Expects To Run Surplus
The Record, NJ, October 21, 2011
A new proposal for an online charter school for 1,000 children statewide comes with an unusual twist: After its first year, the public school expects to have nearly $4.7 million left in the bank.
Seneca Valley To Require Cyber Course For Graduation
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA, October 20, 2011
Seneca Valley superintendent Tracy Vitale wasn’t a fan of cyber schooling until she took an online course a few years ago through Slippery Rock University
Online Education for K-12 Students
Volunteer TV8, TN, October 21, 2011
A blended education allows students to get through school with an online program, which can prove successful for those choosing outside the public education spectrum. Local 8 News talked to a student and staff member of a K-12 school about the programs and options available.
Wichita-Area Districts Reach Broader Audience Through Virtual Schools
Wichita Business Journal, KS, October 21, 2011
He needed to do something different. So rather than drop out, Gutierrez decided to enroll in Wichita Public Schools’ online program. He enrolled last week.