Daily Headlines for May 25, 2011
Public Schools Charge Kids for Basics, Frills
Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2011
Public schools across the country, struggling with cuts in state funding, rising personnel costs and lower tax revenues, are shifting costs to students and their parents by imposing or boosting fees for everything from enrolling in honors English to riding the bus.
WHITMIRE: The Battle To Defame Michelle Rhee
Washington Times, DC, May 24, 2011
Critics’ charges are desperate attempt to derail school reform across the country
Feds Ready 3rd Round of ‘Race to Top’ for Schools
Washington Times, DC, May 24, 2011
Education Secretary Arne Duncan is expected to announce Wednesday morning the third round of Race to the Top, which will include new rewards for states that improve their pre-kindergarten education programs.
Proven Methods For Reform In Education
The Oklahoman, OK, May 25, 2011
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has called education “the civil rights issue of our generation.” Billions of dollars and time are being invested in the pursuit of a panacea to reform public education. It is sought via races between states, curriculum programs, charter schools, vouchers, mass firings, virtual learning, longer days … the list is endless.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Bill to Cap Charter Schools Is Not the Solution to Improving Education
Los Angeles Daily News, CA, May 24, 2011
MAYOR Antonio Villaraigosa said Monday at a town hall meeting hosted by the Daily News that he didn’t want to see a cap on charter schools in the state. Rather, he’d choose to cap failing schools.
Board of Education Officially Cancels Community Elections Over School-Reform Plans
Los Angeles Times Blog, CA, May 24, 2011
In a largely symbolic but intensely debated move, the Board of Education narrowly voted Tuesday to end elections that allowed parents, high school students, school employees and community members to choose among different reform plans for schools.
California Must Keep Free Education Truly Free
Los Angeles Times, CA, May 24, 2011
As California’s public schools have lost state funding, they’ve increasingly turned to a sort of ‘pay to learn’ system. It’s unconstitutional.
FLORIDA
Nonprofit to Focus on Improving Schools
News Chief, FL, May 25, 2011
The African saying that “It takes a village to raise a child” was espoused Tuesday by city leaders from the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce.
GEORGIA
Charter Ruling Flunks History, Ignores Roots of Segregation
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, May 24, 2011
In the first sentences of an opinion issued last week by the state Supreme Court, Chief Justice Carol Hunstein declared without qualification that the Georgia Charter School Commission was illegal because of an “unbroken … constitutional authority” existing since the adoption of the 1877 Constitution giving only “local boards of education” the power to create k-12 public schools.
Committee Hopes To Save Charter Schools
Athens Banner-Herald, GA, May 25, 2011
A special committee of Georgia legislators will meet next week to talk about ways to keep a group of state-approved charter schools going.
INDIANA
School Takeovers May Yield Biggest Reforms Yet
Indianapolis Star, IN, May 25, 2011
The heated debate over education reform at the Statehouse this year overshadowed a series of looming decisions that could result in even greater changes to the way Indiana schools are run.
MAINE
Charter School Bill Should Be Made Law
Portland Press Herald, ME, May 25, 2011
Families deserve to have choices when the traditional public school is not working for them.
NEW JERSEY
Court Orders New Jersey to Increase Aid to Schools
New York Times, NY, May 25, 2011
The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that a major piece of Gov. Chris Christie’s cost-cutting was unconstitutional and ordered lawmakers to raise spending for poor, urban schools by $500 million next year, despite a state budget shortfall estimated at $10 billion.
With Court’s Decision On School Money, Christie Sheds Emporer’s Tag
The Record, NJ, May 25, 2011
Clutching a microphone in the steamy air of a Cherry Hill armory, Governor Christie explained how he expects to pay the $500 million “invoice” from the state Supreme Court that dropped on his desk Tuesday.
Court Continues To Look Only At Money
Courier Post, NJ, May 25, 2011
Getting kids in poor districts the education they deserve is about more than just funding.
NEW YORK
Giving Children an Extra Push in Harlem
Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2011
This year is particularly important for the organization. In August, the group will launch the East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School, a 486-student school for kindergarten through eighth grade.
PENNSYLVANIA
Will City Write Big Check For Schools?
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, May 25, 2011
HOW DO YOU solve a problem like the school district’s? That question has been asked for years, but yesterday the answer was “money”: The district had come to City Council to ask the city for help in filling a $629 million shortfall in next year’s budget.
RHODE ISLAND
Cranston Mayor’s Plan For Charter School Draws Criticism
Providence Journal, RI, May 25, 2011
Even as the state’s top education official is expected to commend a Cranston middle scho
ol next week at her annual state-of-education address, city officials are sharply divided over the standing and direction of local public schools – once considered the gemstone in this middle-class city in Providence’s suburban belt.
TENNESSEE
Good Start on State Education Reform
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, May 25, 2011
Years from now, Tennesseans likely will look back on 2011 as the year education reform took hold in Tennessee.
TEXAS
Once-Stalled Education Bills Live On as Amendments
Texas Tribune, TX, May 24, 2011
Legislation on textbook funding approved by the Senate today breathed new life into left-behind education bills, including three languishing charter school measures.
WISCONSIN
Voucher Expansion Will Improve Education
Post Crescent, WI, May 25, 2011
What’s the problem? Money is certainly not the issue, yet conventional wisdom suggests that educational success is based on quantity rather than quality. The problem is rooted in the lack of competition, choice and coercion.
Wealthy ‘Burbs Don’t Need Vouchers
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, May 25, 2011
Giving children in poverty private-school vouchers to escape failing public schools in Milwaukee is one thing.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Virtual Classes Attract Students
The Republican, MA, May 25, 2011
Students today have learning options that were undreamed of even a generation ago. Among these is the on-site Virtual High School (VHS), a school-within-a-school that operates online.
Hadley’s Virtual School Put On Hold Amid State Concerns
Daily Hampshire Gazette, NH, May 25, 2011
The virtual school that Superintendent Nicholas Young planned to open this fall will be put on hold amid state concerns about quality control and duplication of effort.
Mehlville School District Seeks To Attract Home-Schoolers With ‘Virtual Classroom’
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, May 24, 2011
He might not be selling ice to Alaskans, but Mark Catalana’s job is no easy task. He’s trying to convince parents of home-schooled children to send their kids to the Mehlville School District.