Daily Headlines for July 15, 2011
Charter Schools Not The Right Idea
The South End, MI, July 14, 2011
In the general discourse on the subject of education, “ideas,” preferably of a bold nature, are often called for. Fair enough. But the most depressing facet of political life in recent years surely is that bad ideas can be identified simply by this sign: the federal government has implemented them.
Fixing the Fix
Columbus Dispatch, OH, July 14, 2011
When Congress enacted the No Child Left Behind law in 2001, it aimed to identify poor-performing schools and force them to improve or face consequences, including letting students transfer to better schools. But now the question might well be, ‘Who’s going to be left?’
Impossible Standards Fuel Spread Of Cheating
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, July 15, 2011
Cheating isn’t usually a laughing matter, though, as the Philadelphia School District is learning. A recently revealed 2009 report by the state Department of Education flagged 22 district-run schools and seven charters for suspicious results on standardized tests.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
San Bernardino Public Safety Charter School Turns Its Attention To New School Year
San Bernardino Sun, CA, July 14, 2011
As a legal battle continues between the Public Safety Academy’s board of trustees and the charter school’s former CEO, Michael Dickinson, academy officials are gearing up for the new school year beginning Aug.4.
DELAWARE
Reach Academy Has Earned Right To A Future
Delaware News Journal, DE, July 14, 2011
New life for Reach Academy Charter School can’t just turn on the fact that 200 girls would be thrust into traditional public schools well after the school choice options have closed.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Schools Chancellor Henderson Relaxes Evaluation Rules For Some Veteran Teachers
Washington Post, DC, July 14, 2011
D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson, prodded by the Washington Teachers’ Union, has relaxed teacher evaluation rules so that some veterans who receive two consecutive poor appraisals can keep their jobs.
FLORIDA
Florida Not Alone in Push to Make it Tougher on Teachers
The Bradenton Times, FL, July 15, 2011
Its been a tough year to be a teacher. If you’re startled, or you jump when you hear the word “reform,” chances are you’re in the education field. Florida Governor Rick Scott said he was going to reform education, and he and his team has not wasted any time with their wrecking ball.
New Education Chief Touts School Choice, Other Goals
Orlando Sentinel, FL, July 14, 2011
Gerard Robinson, Florida’s incoming education commissioner, visited Orlando on Thursday for a “look, listen and learn” tour and to familiarize Floridians with his background and approach to education.
As Florida School Construction Money Dries Up, Charter Schools Are The Winners
St. Petersburg Times, FL, July 15, 2011
In an already lean budget year, Florida’s public schools are facing yet another challenge: Finding money to build badly needed new schools and fix crumbling old ones.
Failing Charter Schools Safe For Now
Pensacola News Journal, FL, July 15, 2011
Two Escambia County charter schools with low standardized test scores and financial problems will operate for at least another year.
GEORGIA
Eight Charter Schools Get Money From Governor
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, July 14, 2011
Eight imperiled Georgia charter schools got good news Thursday when Gov. Nathan Deal pledged $10 million to keep them afloat.
Deal’s Pledge Will Help Cherokee Charter
Cherokee Tribune, GA, July 15, 2011
Cherokee Charter Academy’s funding woes were quickly subdued Thursday after hearing Gov. Nathan Deal’s pledge to hand out $10 million in bridge funding to Georgia charter schools that were affected by a state Supreme Court ruling in May.
HAWAII
‘Don’t Turn Your Back,’ Teachers Union Ad Says
Honolulu Star-Advertiser, HI, July 14, 2011
The teachers union took to the airwaves Wednesday to try to bring the state back to the bargaining table.
INDIANA
125 Indiana Schools Apply For Private Voucher Program
Indianapolis Star, IN, July 14, 2011
State officials say they’ve received more than 125 applications from schools seeking to take part in Indiana’s new private school voucher plan.
School Vouchers Offer Path To The Future
Evansville Courier & Press, IN, July 14, 2011
Tanya Cleckley says the smaller class sizes available in most private schools is what she finds attractive about enrolling her children in one of them using Indiana’s new school voucher program.
LOUISIANA
Charter School May No Longer Need To Move Out Before New School Year
WWL-TV, LA, July 14, 2011
Next month, students are scheduled to return to Sojourner Truth Academy off Freret Street. This week, though, school administrators heard there was a good chance they wouldn’t be back there.
MARYLAND
Number of City Schools Missing Academic Targets Surges
Baltimore Sun, MD, July 14, 2011
Nearly 90 percent of Baltimore elementary and middle schools fell short of academic targets on state assessments this year, signaling a trend that education officials nationwide say will eventually label most American schools as failures.
MICHIGAN
Catherine Ferguson Academy Becomes Charter School Under New District
The South End, MI, July 14, 2011
School officials outlined plans for Catherine Ferguson Academy’s future as a charter school during a press conference July 13.
NEW JERSEY
Trenton Leadership Needs To Make School Choice Top Priority
NJ Spotlight, NJ, July 14, 2011
NJ Spotlight’s recent interview with Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver hopefully drew attention to a mired process of addressing what has been called the key civil rights issue of our time — educational choice.
OHIO
South High Outsourcing Daily Operations
Columbus Dispatch, OH, July 15, 2011
The Columbus school district has won a federal turnaround grant that will pay for an outside group to run long-struggling South High School.
State Superintendent Blames Budget Cuts For Layoffs
Columbus Dispatch, OH, July 15, 2011
Blaming state budget cuts, schools Superintendent Stan W. Heffner yesterday announced the elimination of 26 jobs at the Ohio Department of Education, and more layoffs are coming.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Georgetown Likely To Approve Charter School, Although Hurdles Remain
Myrtle Beach Sun, SC, July 15, 2011
There’s a very good chance that a new charter school will be approved by the Georgetown County Board of Education later this month.
TENNESSEE
Memphis City School Caught In Seniority Quandary
Commercial Appeal, TN, July 15, 2011
Memphis City Schools is balancing on the beam of spending millions of dollars a year to recruit and keep talent while also complying with teacher union seniority rules.
Urban Parents Want School Options
The Tennessean, TN, July 14, 2011
District officials say there are plenty of options for parents who live in the urban core. Robert Churchwell Museum Magnet Elementary opened last year at 1625 D.B. Todd Blvd. and provides an arts integrated curriculum.
WISCONSIN
Kaukauna Schools Are Test Case For Wisconsin Collective Bargaining Changes
Green Bay Press-Gazette, WI, July 14, 2011
Republican Gov. Scott Walker has touted the Kaukauna School District’s projected budget surplus as proof the state’s collective bargaining law already is working.
VIRTUAL LEARNING
Ipad Perk: Students, Teachers Get Gadgets
Greensboro News & Record, NC, July 14, 2011
Montlieu Elementary Academy of Technology just got way cooler. Starting this fall, every teacher and student at the school will be outfitted with their very own iPad.
High-Tech School: Science Charter School Unveils New Building
Idaho State Journal, ID, July 15, 2011
Brent Christensen teaches language arts, and art to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at the Idaho Science and Technology Charter School in Blackfoot.
Online Program Is Asset To Education
St. George Daily Spectrum, UT, July 15, 2011
Today, with the advances in technology, there are many ways in which students can receive a full education. The Washington Online School Utah program is one of those additions to public education that can enhance and expand a students’ learning experience.
Online Options Abound For Arizona K-12 Students
East Valley Tribune, AZ, July 15, 2011
Arizona students are taking online classes by the thousands, and with a change in state law, they have more options to do so.