Daily Headlines for March 25, 2013
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NATIONAL COVERAGE
Research Shows School Vouchers Benefit Students
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, March 24, 2013
Tennessee is considering launching a private school choice program for certain K-12 students. If the proposal passes, the Volunteer State would join 17 others that are operating or have passed into law 33 such scholarship programs.
Debate On School Security Ramps Up
Washington Post, DC, March 24, 2013
Hoping to head off a push to expand police presence in the nation’s 100,000 public schools, a national civil rights group plans to issue an alternative this week to beefing up school security.
FROM THE STATES
COLORADO
Losing Focus On School Funding
Denver Post, CO, March 25, 2013
Legislators should remove a costly amendment from what was initially a bill to ensure fairness and equity.
Boulder Valley’s Higher Teacher Salaries Force Charters To Evaluate Pay
Daily Camera, CO, March 23, 2013
Keeping up with Boulder Valley’s teacher pay has been an ongoing challenge for the district’s charter schools — one that is now more difficult, thanks to the district’s recent salary increases.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
D.C. Charter Schools Hold Lottery For Student Admission
WJLA, DC, March 24, 2013
For thousands of D.C. families today was the real March madness, the day charter schools announce who will be admitted in the fall.
Let D.C. Charters Move Into Closed Schools
Washington Post, DC, March 22, 2013
D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson’s plan to close 15 traditional public schools continues to cause controversy, sparking a series of meetings and protests and now the threat of a lawsuit.
No Need To Rush Decision On Randall Park
Washington Post, DC, March 24, 2013
Regarding the March 17 editorial “Giving a cold shoulder to success”: The proposed redevelopment of Randall Recreation Center by KIPP DC threatens to remove the community’s free and unfettered use of the largest comprehensive public park in Southwest Washington. N
FLORIDA
Florida Senators Eye Charter Schools Funding, Accountability
Tampa Bay Tribune, FL, March 25, 2013
Two state senators from opposite parties, sharing a professional interest in public education, are working on a compromise this week in Florida’s high-stakes political struggle over charter school funding and operation.
Rebranded Trigger Bill Doesn’t Give Real Power To Parents
Sun Sentinel, FL, March 24, 2013
Unfortunately, it’s a misnomer: The bill does not empower parents; it empowers out-of-state corporate interests and their lobbyists to siphon Florida tax dollars away from our already underfunded public school system.
GEORGIA
Should More Charters Close?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, March 24, 2013
While Georgia seeks ways to open more high-performing charter schools, other parts of the country are engaging in a different challenge: How to close under-performing ones.
Reform, Expand Private School Tax Credit
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, March 25, 2013
The Georgia Senate recently took an incremental step toward responsible and accountable private school choice by unanimously passing a bill that shines more sunlight on the Peach State’s embattled tax credit scholarship program.
ILLINOIS
Unchain The Charters
Chicago Tribune, IL, March 25, 2013
Here’s a haunting statistic that we cannot repeat too often: Of all the school districts in the U.S., Chicago Public Schools has one of the longest waiting lists for admission to a charter school.
Not The Worst, But Still Bad
Chicago Tribune, IL, March 23, 2013
Chicago is not unique among large cities recently compelled by demographic changes, increasing pressure to deal with underperforming schools and competition from private and charter schools to close many campuses.
Able to Educate?
Chicago Tribune, IL, March 23, 2013
I have attended the board meetings at School District 159 in Aurora and District 101 in Batavia to hear representatives from K12 Inc. and the Virtual Charter School present their proposal to open a charter school in the Fox Valley.
Ready For Reform
Chicago Tribune, IL, March 24, 2013
Chicago Tribune, Last year, 8,781 students dropped out of Chicago public high schools. In our elementary schools, 51,106 children couldn’t meet state reading standards.
INDIANA
Indiana Voucher Debate An Ugly Divide
The Courier-Journal, IN, March 23, 2013
Something tragic likely will happen in Indiana’s ongoing fight about school vouchers.
KANSAS
Speaker: Education Reform Proposals Will Be Back
Topeka Capital Journal, KS, March 24, 2013
House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, acknowledged this past week that he didn’t get as far on public education reform this session as he would have liked to. But he isn’t giving up.
MAINE
LePage Conference Panelists: Use Public Funds For Private Schools
Morning Sentinel, ME, March 22, 2013
Gov. Paul LePage’s education conference Friday at Cony High School in Augusta draws audience of more than 200 legislators, school officials, and interested onlookers
Portland Mayor Wants State To Probe Allegations Of Financial Mismanagement At Charter School
Bangor Daily News, ME, March 22, 2013
Portland’s mayor is asking Maine’s attorney general to investigate allegations of mismanagement at the Baxter Academy for Technology and Science. The charter high school’s board of directors cited those allegations earlier this month in dismissing John Jaques, the school’s founder and former executive director.
MISSOURI
Bill Seeks School Reform Via Teacher Performance
Springfield News-Leader, MO, March 24, 2013
Kreider is opposed to my bill that would tie teacher evaluations to student performance and growth because he believes we don’t have a problem with our system of education. Instead he thinks the bill is an anti-teacher measure, and that I am “misinformed” on the issue.
MONTANA
Guest Opinion: Just Say No To Public Funding For Private Schools
Billings Gazette, MT, March 23, 2013
This session in Helena we’ve heard a lot of bills that bear a striking similarity to model bills from the legislative agenda of the corporate bill-mill ALEC. Whether a bill is an ALEC model bill, whether its subject is just high on the ALEC agenda, or whether it was written by a former ALEC member like the National Association of Charter Schools, a bad idea driven mainly by out-of-state interests is still a bad idea driven mainly by out-of-state interests.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
A Brazen Attempt By Rep. Eaton To Hold Schools Hostage
Foster’s Daily Democrat, NH, March 24, 2013
One committee chairman in the New Hampshire House admitted in a rare moment of candor that he intends to use schools as a political hostage in his grand negotiating scheme. This sort of cynical manipulation helps explain why average citizens have such contempt for politicians and their perverted sense of ethics.
NEW JERSEY
State Control Weighed For Camden’s Schools
Wall Street Journal, March 25, 2013
New Jersey is looking to take over the troubled Camden school district, with an announcement expected Monday from Gov. Chris Christie, two people with knowledge of the plans said.
NEW YORK
A Different School Bus
New York Times, NY, March 24, 2013
In its new incarnation, the bus will carry the message of a coalition of public school supporters called A+ NYC to New York City’s mayoral candidates, in hope of shaping their positions on the future of the nation’s largest public school system.
NORTH CAROLINA
Retry – Arts Charter School A Good Addition To Education
Fayetteville Observer, NC, March 24, 2013
Arts advocates in Fayetteville have long sought a downtown school to provide an art-based education.
Charter Schools Don’t Rob Others Of Money
Smithfield Herald, NC, March 23, 2013
What bothers me is the claim, made without context, that charter schools rob traditional public schools of money. The claim ignores how North Carolina funds its public schools and is emblematic of the half-truths that have come to characterize debate in this country.
Bill Would Eliminate Teacher Tenure
Carteret County News-Times, NC, March 23, 2013
The bill, introduced Tuesday by Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, R-Guilford and Rockingham, would end teacher tenure and adds several other measures he and other Republican bill sponsors said would hold schools and teachers more accountable for student progress.
OHIO
Kasich’s Funding Formula Fails Traditional Schools; Redrafting By The General Assembly Is Imperative:
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, March 24, 2013
The Ohio legislature ought to rewrite Gov. John Kasich’s flawed school-funding formula to reflect the state’s higher priority — adequate funding of the state’s traditional public schools, not undeserved rewards for some poorly supervised charter schools.
PENNSYLVANIA
Washington County Senator Wants High Schoolers To Take Online Class To Graduate
Cumberland Times News, PA, March 24, 2013
Maryland currently doesn’t have a requirement that high school students take an online class as a condition for graduation. State Sen. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, said he thinks it’s time for such a requirement.
Is Pa. Ready for Statewide Charter Authorizer?
NBC Philadelphia, PA, March 24, 2013
Some charter backers say what’s missing is a provision for independent, statewide authorizers
Charter Backers Advocate For Authorizers
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA, March 25, 2013
With the cost and quality of charter schools dominating the state’s public education debate, lawmakers face at least a dozen bills seeking better accountability of the publicly financed but independently run schools.
TENNESSEE
Votes On School Vouchers, TennCare Draw Near
The Tennessean, TN, March 25, 2013
TennCare and school vouchers. For two of the biggest issues facing the Tennessee legislature, the next few days may be decisive.
TEXAS
Modified Charter School Bill Heads For Vote
San Antonio Express, TX, March 24, 2013
The Senate Education Committee is set to vote on a wide-reaching overhaul of the state’s charter school regulations at its meeting Tuesday.
VIRGINIA
Plans Move Fast On Va. Beach Charter School
Virginia Pilot, VA, March 24, 2013
School officials are moving fast on the new Green Run Collegiate. How fast? They’ve asked the state to expedite its approval, and they’re holding an information session Tuesday for interested students and parents.
WASHINGTON
Dollars Alone Won’t Ensure First-Rate Public Schools
News Tribune, WA, March 25, 2013
As the Washington Supreme Court noted 14 months ago, the state constitution mandates that the Legislature “make ample provision for the education” of all the state’s children.
State House Should Embrace Senate’s Education-Reform Ideas
Seattle Times, WA, March 24, 2013
The Senate Majority Coalition has been aggressive on education reforms, building a strong link between state spending and student outcomes.
WISCONSIN
School’s In Session On Voucher Expansion
Appleton Post-Crescent, WI, March 24, 2013
A statewide poll released last week showed that half of the respondents either had no opinion about voucher schools or hadn’t heard enough about them to have an opinion.
WYOMING
Teachers Will Soon Get Graded
Wyoming Tribune Eagle, WY, March 24, 2013
It’s just one of many changes ahead as Wyoming works on education accountability.
ONLINE LEARNING
Hultgren: A Virtual School Success Story
Metro West, MA, March 24, 2013
All students learn differently, and for those who have not or cannot learn in the brick and mortar school, whether it be for medical issues, unique learning needs or many other reasons, the virtual school option is enabling many to obtain a quality education which would otherwise be out of their reach (“School officials say virtual schools are tools with some red flags,” March 17).
Cyber Education Grows In Districts, Lowers Enrollment At Charter Schools
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA, March 25, 2013
Nancy Haines-Moskala is furious about the planned closing in June of her son’s cyber charter school.
Pottstown Cyber School Saving Taxpayers $650K This Year
Pottstown Mercury, PA, March 24, 2013
The Virtual Learning Academy run by the Pottstown School District is not only becoming increasingly popular, but between its function as an alternative to cyber-charter schools and use for alternative education, it has already saved taxpayers nearly $650,000 this year.
Virtual School Offers Freedom
The Gazette, IA, March 25, 2013
A quality virtual school program offers students a rigorous curriculum, dedicated and certified teachers, cutting-edge technology resources, clubs, activities and more. Yet one feature of virtual schools is often misunderstood: asynchronous learning — when a student engages curriculum on his or her own time and pace.
Online Classes Paired With Advocate For At-Risk Students
Everett Daily Herald, WA, March 25, 2013
Students at risk of dropping out of high school are taking classes online but also have an advocate who can address non-academic issues and keep them on task.