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KIDS LOSE THE KENTUCKY DERBY.  It was déjà-vu all over again, but not in the humorous sense Yogi Berra meant, as Kentucky once again failed to fund any charter schools. The state has authorized charter schools, but has failed to appropriate any funds for the program. A whiff of hypocrisy hovers over those actions. Blue Grass legislators need to take to heart the advice of Yoda, “Either do or do not – there is no try.”

IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE APPALACHIAN WATER?  On the heels of the failure of freedom in Kentucky, West Virginia joined the shame parade by turning its back on the necessity of meaningful options to save children’s futures. While we cue the music to “Deliverance”, enjoy this spot-on editorial describing the bullying and cravenness in the Mountaineer State. Support for opportunity and innovation in education is bipartisan, but sadly Kentucky and West Virginia prove that so is cowardice.

SOME SOUTHERNERS GET IT. You don’t have to travel far from Kentucky or West Virginia to find good news. Legislatures in both Florida and Georgia are advancing innovative initiatives to strengthen choice for all of their states’ students. Leaders of both parties in these states know the truth – that when parents have power, students have success.

PATRONIZE THE PAPA!  Pizza maker Papa John’s has announced an even more ambitious program. It is partnering with Purdue University Global to provide free tuition for 20,000 Papa John’s employees, in which they can enroll in any of Purdue Global’s online associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs at no cost to them. This is what true 21st century education innovation and opportunity look like – the opportunity to learn whatever your age, wherever you are, with no need for a multi-billion dollar brick and mortar campus. We have the perfect song for a future Papa John’s commercial, Eddie Fisher singing “Oh my papa, to me he was so wonderful” – although it probably needs a little hip hop touch for the modern day !

BULLIES WIN – MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS LOSE.  A special education assistant for the Los Angeles school district pens a column pointing out the obvious – that when teachers walk out on their students, it is the most disadvantaged and vulnerable among them who suffer the most damage. A pity more teachers didn’t realize this before striking against the kids.

WE’RE BUSTING OUR BUTTONS WITH PRIDE.  Not one but two of our summer interns, Chelsey Williams and Winter Grant (pictured), won the $5,000 first prize in the Claflin University Business Competition. Founded in 1869, Claflin is the oldest historically black college or university in South Carolina. We are so proud of Chelsey and Winter, living proof that good things happen when students are free to pursue their own education path to shape their futures. God speed to both of them!

ONLINE LEARNING FLOURISHES IN INDIANA.  A huge ripple effect of the charter school movement is the development of online and blended learning approaches. Helping deliver education in varied ways is prevalent in all sectors in states whose leaders are strongly supportive of opportunity and innovation. It’s no surprise that Indiana, #2 on the Parent Power Index has a bold advocate leading its state’s work in this area. This EdWeek profile of the director of virtual and blended learning shows the good things that can happen when good ideas get adopted by teachers and administrators of any school interested in results. She is “all in” on the idea of online and blended instruction, especially personalized learning, and students having “a voice and choice” in their learning. PL experts agree!

SPEAKING OF PL…. Three leaders in delivering personalized, student-centered learning visited Washington last week to share what they have learned from their respective schooling efforts. Tom Rooney, Superintendent of the Lindsay Unified School District; Grace Losada Head of School of Fusion Academy in West Los Angeles, and Mickey Revenaugh a board member of Brooklyn Lab public charter school and co-founder of Connections Academy shared their respective schooling efforts in the traditional, private and public charter sectors. This briefing was the first of many that will be held in conjunction with the newly named Congressional Caucus on Education Innovation and Opportunity, chaired by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-MI 10th).

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