Daily Headlines for August 17, 2011
Poll: Parents Give Thumbs Up To Local Schools
USA Today, August 17, 2011
A new survey finds that more Americans today like their kids’ public schools than at any time in the past 36 years – even though they believe U.S. education in general has taken a bit of a dive.
To Charter or Not to Charter?
Huffington Post, NY, August 16, 2011
A confession: my name is Shaun Johnson, I’m a public school advocate, and I’ve considered opening a charter school. I know what you might be thinking. As a colleague and friend noted, it’s like picking up all of my toys and playing elsewhere, implying that I’m exiting the public school system rather than working within it.
Waiving Our Way To Failure
Indianapolis Star, IN, August 17, 2011
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan last week held a “national press call focusing on (No Child Left Behind) reform efforts.” His vague remarks centered on an upcoming plan to grant waivers so school districts can circumvent the contentious legislation that requires 100 percent student grade-level proficiency in reading and math by 2014.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Charter Schools Popular Among Coachella Valley Parents
KESQ, CA, August 16, 2011
This year over 365,000 students across California go to one of the more than 900 charter schools in our state.
COLORADO
School Voucher Battle Far From Over
CBS Denver, CO, August 17, 2011
The permanent injunction that a Denver District court judge handed down last Friday, halting the school voucher program in Douglas County Schools, was simply just another enticing chapter in the school voucher fight in Colorado . If anyone thinks this decision has ended the conversation, they haven’t been paying attention.
Competition Abounds In Quest For School Dollars
News Herald, CO, August 16, 2011
As if local public schools didn’t already have enough on their plates, here’s something else: Marketing.
FLORIDA
Summit Charter School Targeted for Closing in Orange
Orlando Sentinel, FL, August 16, 2011
For the second time in four months, Orange County school officials are recommending that a charter school be closed down because of financial mismanagement and other issues.
School Board May Establish Its Own Charter Schools
The Ledger, FL, August 16, 2011
The Polk County School District has proposed creating a new charter school system to serve at-risk high school students.
Law Change Pushes Duval Opportunity Scholarship Transfers To Record
Florida Times-Union, FL, August 17, 2011
About 1,300 students in the county request moves; ‘artificial mandate’ creates burden, school COO says.
GEORGIA
Charter School’s Board Had No Choice
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, August 16, 2011
Recent accounts in the media regarding the unfortunate and untimely closing of Peachtree Hope Charter School in DeKalb County suggest that its board of directors was incompetent, irresponsible and arbitrary. The facts illustrate a different picture.
Clarke Will Use A New Way To Judge Teachers
Athens Banner-Herald, GA, August 17, 2011
Clarke County school administrators will use a new homegrown, three-tiered system to evaluate teachers beginning this year.
ILLINIOS
Home-Work For Teachers
Chicago Tribune, IL, August 17, 2011
The United Neighborhood Organization, the influential Latino group that runs one of the largest charter school networks in the city, requires its teachers to make two home visits a year to each child.
CTU Argues For Better – Not Longer – School Days
Chicago Tribune, IL, August 16, 2011
With negotiations over rescinded teacher raises to resume next week, Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis expounded Tuesday on her position regarding longer school days.
INDIANA
School Vouchers: Reading, Writing And Religion
Post-Tribune, IN, August 17, 2011
Sonia Araujo teaches second grade at the Ambassador Academy , but she never dreamed she and husband David would be able to send their three children to the private faith-based school in Gary.
Court Ruling Will Ultimately Decide Impact Of Vouchers
Evansville Courier Press, IN, August 17, 2011
If the boycott by Indiana House Democrats last winter was intended to squelch the Republicans’ initiative to make tax-supported vouchers available to low and moderate-income Hoosier families for tuition at private and religious schools, they shouldn’t have bothered.
FWEA Reacts To School Voucher Program Decision
WANE, IN, August 16, 2011
Indiana’s school voucher program’s still a go even though some had said it was unconstitutional.
Education Is Focus of Pence’s Campaign
The Journal Gazette, IN, August 17, 2011
As more Hoosier kids head back to school this week, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence is focusing on education while campaigning around the state.
IOWA
State Education Board Establishes Reform Priorities
Des Moines Register, IA, August 16, 2011
The state Board of Education today voted to focus reform efforts on issues ranging from teacher preparation to tougher student standards, but offered few details on how it would do so.
MASSACHUSETTS
Diversity Angst
Telegram & Gazette, MA, August 17, 2011
But we agree with Superintendent Melinda J. Boone and other leaders in the district that the lack of racial diversity in some neighborhood schools is not a top concern on the list of issues. It may seem obvious, but it is worth restating: What matters most
is the quality of education each child receives, whatever their background and whichever school they attend.
MISSOURI
Students’ Transfer Options Greatly Limited
News-Leader, MO, August 17, 2011
The parents of Springfield students eligible to transfer to better-performing elementary and middle schools may be grappling with limited — or no — options.
NEW JERSEY
Transport Costs Will Limit School Moves
Courier Post, NJ, August 17, 2011
Students opting for another public school need to know well in advance about transportation costs. It’s perfectly understandable why the Pennsauken School District wouldn’t want to pay nearly $30,000 in annual busing costs for just one student.
NORTH CAROLINA
Equal Education Must Be Given To All Through Charters
Winston-Salem Journal, NC, August 17, 2011
A three-judge panel of the N.C. Court of Appeals was correct in telling charter schools that state law does not guarantee them funds for facilities and buses.
Council Vote Clears Way For NECD Charter School
Herald Sun, NC, August 16, 2011
Ignoring objections from a City Council candidate, city officials this week approved zoning that will allow Self-Help Credit Union to renovate the old Y.E. Smith School on Driver Street for use by a charter school.
Asheville’s Evergreen Charter Named School of Excellence
Ashville Citizen Times, NC, August 16, 2011
Evergreen Community Charter School has been designated an Honor School of Excellence for the second consecutive year by the state of North Carolina.
OHIO
17,020 Seeking School Vouchers
Columbus Dispatch, OH, August 17, 2011
More than 17,000 requests for private-school vouchers were filed for the coming school year, a number that grew after the state expanded the number available and reopened the window to apply.
Margaretta’s New Charter School On Track To Open
Sandusky Register, OH, August 16, 2011
As summer vacation concludes, the prospects for north-central Ohio’s first charter school is only increasing. Margaretta Schools received commitments from 18 students interested in attending the district’s independent charter school, Townsend North Community School.
RHODE ISLAND
Mayors Support Charter Schools At State House Rally
Providence Journal, RI, August 16, 2011
Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and North Providence Mayor Charles A. Lombardi Tuesday said they are considering mayoral schools in their communities.
TEXAS
New Charter School for Victoria?
Victoria Advocate, TX, August 16, 2011
Students in the Victoria area might still be able to attend a charter school this year, but it won’t be Outreach Word Academy.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Huizenga Invests In E-Learning Firm Vschoolz
Sun Sentinel, FL, August 16, 2011
Fort Lauderdale-based Huizenga Holdings has made a “significant investment” in e-learning company Vschoolz of Coral Springs, the two companies announced Tuesday.
County May Offer ‘Virtual Schools’
The Tennessean, TN, August 16, 2011
The Robertson County School Board is considering branching out into online education, making available online schooling for students ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade.
Jefferson Institute Releases New Brochure
Smith Mountain Eagle, VA, August 17, 2011
The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy has released a new brochure describing the opportunities for students that may be found through online virtual schools in Virginia . The brochure may be found by clicking here.
Governor Proposes A Virtual High School
Lexington Clipper-Herald, NE, August 16, 2011
Gov. Dave Heineman and Nebraska education leaders announced plans Friday to build a virtual state high school by combining and expanding existing efforts.