Daily Headlines for August 21, 2012
The Best Way To Retain Good Teachers
Washington Post, DC, August 20, 2012
Keeping the best teachers in the classroom requires a more comprehensive plan than the oft-used, yet naive and unsuccessful, “just fire the bad ones” strategy.
Education to be Focus of Obama’s Talk at Capital University
Columbus Dispatch, OH, August 21, 2012
Signaling at least a partial shift from Medicare, the topic du jour in presidential-election discourse, President Barack Obama will launch a two-day “education swing” when he visits Capital University at 1 p.m. today, an Obama campaign official told The Dispatch.
Dems Speak Out Against Hypothetical Romney Education Plan
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, August 21, 2012
Romney unveiled his education plan, dubbed “A chance for every child,” to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in May.
How ‘Race to the Top’ Penalizes Smaller School Districts
The Atlantic, August 20, 2012
Schools that are most likely to struggle financially also have the hardest time applying for competitive grants — and a rule change will make it even harder.
CALIFORNIA
When a Charter Cheats
Los Angeles Times, CA, August 21, 2012
As a former high school teacher, I am outraged at the cheating apparently engineered by Crescendo charter schools founder John Allen. His practice of giving the real test to the teachers and principals ahead of time gives new meaning to “teaching to the test.”
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Close Look at KIPP Challenges
Washington Post, DC, August 20, 2012
I have been following the progress of KIPP public charter schools since 2001. Initially this charter network was just one story among many. But when its first school here, the KIPP DC: KEY Academy , began performing better than Northwest Washington schools with many middle-class children, I made it a regular stop.
FLORIDA
The Rebirth Of Dixon Charter School In Escambia County
Pensacola News Journal, FL, August 21, 2012
When 8-year-old Karriema Jones walked through the doors of Dixon School of the Arts for her first day of third grade Monday, she noticed a lot of changes.
Few Parents Attend Meeting Over Closed Orange City Charter School
Daytona Beach News Journal, FL, August 21, 2012
Only three parents showed up at a Monday meeting to discuss the sudden closing of an Orange City charter school, and they seemed satisfied with their options to enroll their kindergarteners in traditional public schools.
GEORGIA
Charter School Makes Its Pitch To State Agency
Marietta Daily Journal, GA, August 21, 2012
Smyrna Academy of Excellence, a south Cobb charter school whose five-year start-up petition was turned down by the Cobb County School Board in late June, presented their case to the Georgia Charter Schools Division on Monday.
John Barge is a Hero
Savannah Morning News, GA, August 21, 2012
State voters are being asked on Nov. 6 to make one of the most vomit-inducing choices of their lives … and we don’t mean the presidential contest. The proposed constitutional amendment to give the state power to create charter schools anywhere it wishes, using tax money that it once gave to support your children and grandchildren in local public schools, is one of the most nightmarish proposals ever floated.
Charter School Amendment Debate Gets Ugly Quickly
Macon Telegraph, GA, August 21, 2012
I knew it was going to get ugly, but I didn’t know it would get this bad this quickly. I am talking about the constitutional amendment on charter schools to be voted on in November that asks, “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?”
ILLINOIS
Details Sought On Greentek High School Charter Plan In Rockford
Rockford Register Star, IL, August 21, 2012
The man behind a high school dropout recovery charter school was grilled for more than an hour Monday night as part of the vetting process before the full Rockford School Board votes on a green career-focused high school program.
INDIANA
Indiana Public Schools Wage Unusual Ad Campaign
Associated Press, August 20, 2012
Struggling Indiana public school districts are buying billboard space, airing radio ads and even sending principals door-to-door in an unusual marketing campaign aimed at persuading parents not to move their children to private schools as the nation’s largest voucher program doubles in size.
Salin Bank Offers School To Marshall Academy
The Journal Gazette, IN, August 21, 2012
A former middle school building the Fort Wayne Urban League once considered buying for $180,000 is now being offered as a gift from the owner, Salin Bank.
LOUISIANA
Charter Requests Skyrocket
The Advocate, LA, August 21, 2012
Applications for new charter schools shot up by five times this year, mostly because of a new state law aimed at helping Louisiana ’s lowest-performing school districts, officials said.
MASSACHUSETTS
Teacher Rating Systems Lagging
Boston Globe, MA, August 21, 2012
All but a few Massachusetts districts will probably miss a quickly approaching state deadline to -implement a new teacher evaluation system that would put a significant emphasis on student achievement, according to state education officials.
MICHIGAN
Detroit Schools, EAA Work To Boost Enrollment
Detroit News, MI, August 21, 2012
The race to attract students to Detroit’s two major school systems is under way this month, as Detroit Public Schools and the Education Achievement Authority push campaigns aimed at persuading parents to educate their children in Detroit .
New Ypsilanti-Area Charter School Turns Away 670 Enrollees For First Year
Ann Arbor, MI, August 21, 2012
Before the building was even complete, South Pointe Scholars had received 1,275 applications for students to attend the school, which is managed by National Heritage Academies (NHA).
NEVADA
New Charter School Celebrates First Week
KTVN, NV, August 20, 2012
This school year, Reno welcomed its newest charter school, the Honors Academy of Literature.
NEW JERSEY
Critics Say Education Reform Bill Signed By Gov. Christie Doesn’t Fix State’s Biggest Issues
Star-Leger, NJ, August 20, 2012
Everyone in Trenton agrees: The state’s brand-new law overhauling teacher tenure is one for the history books.
NEW YORK
Two City Charter Schools Offer New Options
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, NY, August 20, 2012
At the new Rochester Career Mentoring Charter School , college comes early.
“We start our high school the right way — with the outcome,” said Dennis Francione, the school’s founder. “They’re going to college.”
OHIO
Lifting Up Talent
Columbus Dispatch, OH, August 21, 2012
With a new school year starting, some central Ohio school systems are beginning to make a transition from seniority to merit as a basis for giving out raises. The move, spurred by mandates in last year’s state budget and also in some cases by rules for receiving federal Race to the Top funds, is an important step toward rewarding good teachers and improving public schools.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City School Board Hears Charter School Report
The Oklahoman, OK, August 21, 2012
Nearly 4,800 students attended Oklahoma City charter schools last year. Officials discussed challenges, opportunities and data.
PENNSYLVANIA
Private Schools Will Get To Pick Opportunity Scholarship Recipients
Reading Eagle, PA, August 21, 2012
Private schools taking part in the state’s new Opportunity Scholarship program will be able to pick which students get scholarships, a state official said Monday.
SOUTH CAROLINA
SC Law Allows Home-Schoolers To Play Sports
WHNS-TV, SC, August 20, 2012
Tim Tebow is an NFL quarterback with the New York Jets. He’s not only known for talking about his Christian faith, but he was also home-schooled.
TENNESSEE
Mallott To Try Again To Give Transition Power To Shelby County Schools Superintendent
Commercial Appeal, TN, August 21, 2012
Memphis school board member Betty Mallott wants to know work on the school transition is being done. On Tuesday, she plans to again ask the unified Shelby County School board to put Supt. John Aitken in charge of the details, including creating the first budget.
TEXAS
Failing Grades
Longview News-Journal , TX, August 21, 20121
In case you missed it, the news was that dozens of East Texas districts and hundreds of campuses failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress standards set by the U.S. Department of Education. Statewide, 72 percent of school districts and 48 percent of campuses missed the mark.
TLC Academy Starts Classes
San Angelo Standard Times, TX, August 20, 2012
Judging by the public charter school’s 990 students — its highest enrollment since it opened in 2009 — parents and schoolchildren tend to agree.
WASHINGTON
Catholic Schools Could Learn From Innovation At Charter Schools
Seattle Times, WA, August 20, 2012
For the first time this fall, more elementary and high-school students will enroll in charter schools than in Catholic schools. Instead of fearing the rise of charter schools, Catholic schools should learn from their innovative practices.
6 Seattle Schools Have Become Whiter As New Assignment Plan Changes Racial Balance
Seattle Times, WA, August 20, 2012
The Seattle School District’s new student-assignment plan, adopted two years ago, does not appear to have yet significantly decreased diversity at most city schools. A Seattle Times analysis identified six schools where racial balance has suffered, and three schools where it has increased.
ONLINE SCHOOLS
Kutztown School Board Reviews Ways To Improve Virtual Academy
Tri County Record, PA, August 20, 2012
Kutztown School Board has been looking at ways to improve Kutztown Virtual Academy , increase enrollment in the online educational program and thus, save the district money.
Chesterfield Educators Learn About Blended Learning
Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA, August 21, 2012
Chesterfield County education officials put an emphasis on incorporating technology in the classroom.