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Does Obama’s 2014 Budget Put DC Vouchers In Danger?

April 11, 2013 By

News outlets and the blogosphere have been abuzz lately about the impact that President Obama’s 2014 Budget plan will have on education. Of particular note is funding, or lack thereof, to the highly successful and popular D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP).

According to a press release by the American Federation for Children, upwards of 90 percent of opportunity scholarship students have graduated from high school and 89 percent have enrolled in college. Since the 2004-2005 school year, the OSP has granted scholarships for income restricted families, almost 100 percent of which would be zoned into a school in need of improvement. Funding exists for around 2,000 children but only 1,600 students participated this year because of implementation challenges.

This years budget only includes funding for evaluation and program administration, leading to greater concerns over the programs ability to accommodate a sufficient number of applications.

Voucher resources:
Congress to restore D.C. school vouchers, Washington Examiner, June 8, 2012
71% of Moms Support Vouchers, Washington Times, May 9, 2012
Study: Vouchers Boost College Attainment Brookings Institution, 2012

Filed Under: Federal Policy

Louisiana parents have power in their children’s education, study says

April 11, 2013 By

by Danielle Dreilinger
The Times-Picayune
April 11, 2013

Louisiana parents have more power in their children’s education than parents in nearly every other state, according to a new report card from the pro-charter Center for Education Reform. The state moved from sixth to third in the group’s “parent power index,” scoring 80.5 percent, or 2.55 on a four-point scale. Indiana and Florida topped the list.

The score prioritized access to charter schools and taxpayer-funded vouchers for private and parochial schools. Louisiana scored 2.3 on charters and 3.0 on vouchers. According to state data, six percent of public school students attend charters, though the rate is far higher in New Orleans.

“States where parents have options to choose tend to yield higher growth rates in student achievement,” the study’s authors said in a statement. “(In) states where systems and policies in place limit choice, parental engagement is hindered.”

The center gave Louisiana extra points for its parent trigger law that lets parents vote to put perennially failing schools into the state Recovery School District, and for making information about schools easily available to the public.

The state received a 1.7 on teacher quality — which in this case measures whether states use student performance data to hold teachers accountable — and a 2.3 for its online learning options.

Following Gov. Bobby Jindal’s controversial 2012 education reform package, Louisiana has received a number of high marks from national groups that are pro-charter and often pro-voucher.

In January, Louisiana was ranked first in the nation by StudentsFirst, led by former D.C. school chancellor Michelle Rhee. That score emphasized the state’s new teacher evaluation system that takes half a teacher’s grade from student performance on standardized tests and eliminates tenure as a factor in layoffs.

That same month, Louisiana placed sixth in the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ annual rating of charter laws.

Critics say these report cards don’t measure how well programs are implemented, or how well students score on national measures like the ACT. In 2011, the most recent data available, the National Assessment of Educational Progress put Louisiana near the bottom for fourth- and eighth-grade math and reading.

The national charter alliance has listened: Next year, its ratings will factor in graduation, dropout and attendance rates, and academic performance.

Moreover, teachers unions and school boards are currently challenging the constitutionality of two of Jindal’s three 2012 education reform laws, including the teacher evaluation and voucher programs. The governor has said he’s willing to hold a special legislative session if the state Supreme Court strikes down either law.

 

Filed Under: CER in the News

CA Trigger Parents Choose Charter

April 11, 2013 By

“Parents choose LAUSD, charter school to run Jefferson Park campus”
by Howard Blume
Los Angeles Times
April 10, 2013

Parents at 24th Street Elementary School have overwhelmingly chosen a partnership between the Los Angeles Unified School District and a charter school to run the persistently low-performing Jefferson Park campus.

Among those eligible to cast ballots, 80% chose a proposal that combines the efforts of the school district with those of Crown Preparatory Academy, which already runs an unaffiliated middle school out of surplus space on the campus. The results were announced Wednesday morning.

The reconfigured program will have the district manage kindergarten through fourth grade and the charter run a program for students in grades five through eight.

“This is a very big day for parents,” said Amabilia Villeda, one of the parent organizers, speaking in Spanish to parents gathered Wednesday at a park near the school. “I want to thank everyone for your support in making this day a reality.”

The 359 parents eligible to vote were those who signed a petition, under the state’s controversial parent-trigger law, to force aggressive change at the school. Their options include turning the school over entirely to an independently managed charter organization. Charter schools are exempt from some laws that govern traditional schools. Most are non-union, including Crown Prep.

In all, 190 parents cast votes and 179 were determined to be eligible based on who signed the original petition. Among these, 152 chose the partnership proposal. Fifteen voted for Crown Prep to run the campus on its own; nine voted for L.A. Unified to remain in control; three voted for Academia Moderna, another charter operator that submitted a bid.

The balloting took place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday in polling stations set up under tents.

The petition drive was spearheaded by Parent Revolution, a group that has lobbied for parent-trigger laws across the country. Previous efforts have resulted in litigation with school districts and conflict among parents for and against it. School districts and employee unions have criticized the parent-trigger as unfair and divisive.

In this drive, L.A. Unified opted not to challenge the petition, but to submit its own reform plan and compete for the approval of parents. Under the plan, parents will participate in a hiring committee. Any teachers who wish to remain at the school will have to interview with this committee. Parents said they were impressed with the district’s ability to offer pre-school education and services to disabled students. They said they liked the charter because of its demonstrated ability to raise academic achievement.

“I’ve seen the struggle of some parents here that they’ve gone through so many problems with their children,” said parent Esmerelda Chacon. “I’m very, very happy with the results we got.” She added that her 8-year-old son is “going to like the changes for next year.”

The balloting was set up as a festive occasion, with activities that included face painting for children, piñatas and a raffle. A midday lunch of chicken, rice and tamales was provided for parents at the park. Later in the day, organizers supplied pizza and sodas.

Filed Under: Breaking News

Daily Headlines for April 11, 2013

April 11, 2013 By

NEWSWIRE IS BACK! Click here for the latest weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else, spiced with a dash of irreverence, from the nation’s leading voice in school reform.

NATIONAL COVERAGE

Lawsuits Start To Pile Up On Plans To Close Schools
Washington Post, DC, April 11, 2013
There’s a list of them in Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, New York and the District, and major cities on the eastern and western ends of Pennsylvania have lists, too, as do other cities.

The Public Must Save Public Schools
St. Louis American, MO, April 11, 2013
There is a continued assault on the institution of education from within and without and from sea to shining sea. The public school experiment over the last couple of generations has not been without consequence to the individual student, our communities and ultimately the nation.

Obama Budget’s Big Education Items: Preschool For All, College Race To The Top
Christian Science Monitor, MA, April 10, 2013
President Obama’s budget proposal gives the Education Department $71.2 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal year 2014. Preschool for All would be funded by a tax hike on cigarettes.

Students Get 2nd Chances To Learn, Graduate
Deseret News, UT, April 10, 2013
Educational software that meets learners where they are, then guides them through school subjects at their chosen pace, is proving especially valuable to non-traditional high school students. Sixty-two percent of U.S. students taking makeup classes for courses they failed took them online, according to 2012 figures from the National Center for Education Statistics.

STATE COVERAGE

ARIZONA

Arizona’s Public Schools Getting Creative To Compete For Students
Cronkite News, AZ, April 10, 2013
Conducting exit interviews with students and parents who choose charter or private schools over public schools.

CALIFORNIA

Parents Choose Unique School Takeover Model In ‘Trigger’ Vote
The Hechinger Report, April 10, 2013
In the latest test of California’s controversial “parent trigger” law, South Los Angeles parents have voted to transform their struggling neighborhood school into a charter school hybrid beginning this fall, organizers announced Wednesday.

San Carlos District To Consider Adding Two Charter Schools
San Jose Mercury News, CA, April 11, 2013
Since six of San Carlos’ seven public elementary and middle schools are charters, Superintendent Craig Baker tonight is expected to seek similar status for two new schools the district plans to build.

COME BACK KIDS: Charter School To Offer Dropout Recovery
Press-Enterprise, CA, April 10, 2013
The Riverside County Board of Education approved a Come Back Kids charter school Wednesday, April 10.

Parents Make Case For YES Charter School Before Yuba Board
Yuba Appeal-Democrat, CA, April 11, 2013
Attorneys and supporters of YES Charter Academy challenged Marysville Joint Unified School District findings on Wednesday while pleading their case for a charter renewal during a public hearing at the
Yuba County Board of Education meeting.

Parents Choose LAUSD, Charter School To Run Jefferson Park Campus
Los Angeles Times, CA, April 10, 2013
Parents at 24th Street Elementary School have overwhelmingly chosen a partnership between the Los Angeles Unified School District and a charter school to run the persistently low-performing Jefferson Park campus.

CONNECTICUT

State Receives Proposals For New Charter Schools
CT Post, CT, April 10, 2013
The state received seven applications for new charter schools this week, including one for a Montessori school in Bridgeport that would be run in conjunction with the city school board.

DELAWARE

Christina May Turn Back On $2.3 Million
The News Journal, DE, April 11, 2013
The board also made clear Tuesday night that it would rather walk away from its share of Delaware’s Race to the Top money — $2.3 million — than accept a new state evaluation system for teachers.

FLORIDA

The Dark Side Of Parent Trigger
Miami Herald, FL, April 10, 2013
The crusade to privatize public education continues gaining ground in the Florida Legislature, where the controversial bill to have a traditional neighborhood school transformed into a charter school, among other options, sails at full speed under the premise of empowering parents to turn around a school that’s failing their children.

Education Bills Address Class Choices
Tallahassee Democrat, FL, April 10, 2013
Florida lawmakers for years have supported school choice policies like vouchers and charter schools. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, says he wants to create “choice within choice” — allowing students to pick individual courses from outside the existing offerings of the state’s education system.

GEORGIA

Savannah-Chatham Public Schools Rightsizing Goes Wrong
Savannah Morning News, GA, April 11, 2013
Wednesday Savannah-Chatham Public School officials presented plans for shifting around students from the highly successful Early College and Woodville-Tompkins programs in order to fill up woefully underutilized Savannah High and make space for new and growing programs.

IDAHO

Idaho Charter Schools Eye New State Dollars
Idaho State Journal, ID, April 10, 2013
While Idaho charter schools may be months away from getting their split in about $1.4 million in funding promised by lawmakers, some school administrators say they are having no problem figuring out how they’ll spend the extra cash.

ILLINOIS

Charter School Wars Hurting All Children
Chicago Sun Times, IL, April 10, 2013
Charter schools have become a flash point in this city’s school wars, praised by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, demonized by the Chicago Teachers Union, and targeted for a moratorium by a faction of the City Council.

INDIANA

Senate Narrowly OKs Expanding Vouchers
The Journal Gazette, IN, April 11, 2013
More Hoosier children will be eligible for state-paid vouchers under a bill narrowly approved by the Senate on Wednesday.

IOWA

House GOP Offers Education Concession
Des Moines Register, IA, April 11, 2013
There’s no deal yet on education reform, one of Gov. Terry Branstad’s top priorities, but House Republicans have offered a major concession aimed at compromising with Senate Democrats.

KANSAS

Mount Hope Fails To Obtain Charter
The Hutchinson News, KS, April 10, 2013
A bid to establish a rural-life charter school at Mount Hope failed.

MAINE

Proposal Would Make All Maine Districts, Not Just Local Ones, Responsible For Charter School Funding
Bangor Daily News, ME, April 10, 2013
Lawmakers reacted warmly Tuesday to a concept presented by Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen that would drastically change how charter schools in Maine are funded, spreading the financial responsibility to every school district in the state.

MASSACHUSETTS

Holyoke Parents Set To Lobby Lawmakers For Additional Charter Schools
The Republican, MA, April 10, 2013
Between 100 and 200 parents are scheduled to travel to Beacon Hill Thursday to urge legislators to allow more charter schools here, a spokesman for the group said Wednesday.

Dismantling Of Ed Reform
Worcester Telegram, MA, April 11, 2013
The Gov. Deval Patrick administration has finally come clean, admitting that MCAS will soon be a thing of the past.

Flunking The Test
Boston Globe, MA, April 11, 2013
Starting this spring, Rhode Island high school seniors will have to pass the New England Common Assessment Program to get their diploma. The new requirement is the latest effort by the Rhode Island Department of Education to improve low-performing high schools. But does high-stakes testing ensure the state’s students are properly prepared to succeed in a 21st century workforce? A group of local high school students is raising the question.

MICHIGAN

Muskegon Heights Schools Emergency Manager, Charter Company Detail Steps To Address ‘Academic Tragedy’
The Muskegon Chronicle, MI, April 10, 2013
With most high school students’ learning three grades behind, teachers in Muskegon Heights’ new charter school are “pre-teaching” students and providing extra before- and after-school instruction to help students catch up.

MONTANA

SB 374 Aims To Establish Public Charter Schools
Beartooth NBC, MT, April 10, 2013
The House Board of Education heard public comment on a bill today that aims to establish public charter schools in the state of Montana.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Gov. Hassan Touts Casino’s Potential Impact On Education Funding During Tour Of Manchester Charter School
New Hampshire Union Leader, NH, April 11, 2013
Gov. Maggie Hassan visited a Manchester charter school on Wednesday and said her plan for a casino represents a way to pay for an expansion of charter schools in the state.

NEW JERSEY

N.J. Teacher Evaluation On The Wrong Track
Star-Ledger, NJ, April 10, 2013
The New Jersey Department of Education has proposed major changes in the rules governing how public school teachers are evaluated. The idea is to use students’ standardized test scores to measure how well teachers are doing their jobs.

New N.J. School Reports Released By State Education Department; Bring New Rankings, Data
Star-Ledger, NJ, April 10, 2013
New school performance reports released today by the state Department of Education place each school in a new “peer group” with 30 other schools with similar demographics.

NEW YORK

10,000 Students Cheer State Tax Credit Bill To Help Private Schools
Buffalo News, NY, April 11, 2013
The cheers Wednesday morning in First Niagara Center were louder and heartier than the Buffalo Sabres have been able to elicit from fans this season.

NORTH CAROLINA

Superintendent Says Charter School Recruitment Violated Policy
Shelby Star, NC, April 10, 2013
Cleveland County Schools officials say supporters of a new charter school have been recruiting students from one of their campuses. But organizers at Pinnacle Classical Academy say they don’t need to recruit and supporters were acting without the approval of Pinnacle board members.

Senate, House Leaders Differ On Teacher Tenure
News & Observer, NC, April 10, 2013
A major fissure opened Wednesday between House and Senate leaders on how to evaluate the state’s 93,000 teachers and grade schools.

OHIO

Local Schools Take Big Hits In House GOP Budget Plan
Columbus Dispatch, OH, April 11, 2013
Ohio schools would get $121 million less next year under a House Republican funding plan unveiled on Tuesday compared with an earlier proposal from Gov. John Kasich, a state Department of Education analysis shows.

PENNSYLVANIA

Education Advocates Push Changes In Phila.
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, April 10, 2013
Stop filling any Philadelphia School District vacancy on the basis of teacher seniority. Overhaul recruitment policies. Get rid of ineffective principals. Tie school safety to administrators’ ratings.

Group Wants Philly Teacher, Principal Reforms
Philadelphia Inquirer Blog, PA, April 10, 2013
A newly-formed umbrella group of many of the city’s leading education nonprofits hopes to affect the upcoming Philadelphia teachers’ contract.

Finances Detailed For York School Options
York Daily Record, PA, April 10, 2013
Both options proposed to reform the York City School District could balance the budget in future years, according to financial projections presented Wednesday night. But either way, the district would need to draw students back from existing charter schools.

TENNESSEE

Charter Authorizer Plan Sent To House Floor After Senate Bill Slowdown
The Tennessean, TN, April 11, 2013
Lawmakers in the Tennessee House of Representatives pushed on with a bill that would set up a new panel to review charter school applications, a day after major questions delayed the measure in the Senate.

Reducing Welfare Payments For Parents Of Failing Students Is Not A Solution Toward Better Grades
Commercial Appeal, TN, April 10, 2013
If Campfield and Dennis really want to do something to encourage students to perform better in school, maybe they could sponsor bills that create an incentive program to award monetary stipends to poverty-challenged students who earn good grades. That makes more sense than fiscally punishing parents who are already living in poverty — and the children who depend on them.

TEXAS

Charter School’s Entry Fee Is Illegal
Houston Chronicle, TX, April 10, 2013
Houston Gateway Academy, a public charter school that serves mostly low-income families, was charging parents fees to enroll their children in violation of state law, according to the Texas Education Agency.

IDEA Finds New Home After AISD Breakup
American-Statesman, TX, April 10, 2013
Leaders of IDEA Public Schools, whose partnership with the Austin school district divided the community, announced Tuesday afternoon they found a new location.

WISCONSIN

Local Control Lost Under Charter School Proposal
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, April 10, 2013
When reading Monday’s letter “Support charter schools in Wisconsin” from the state director of Democrats for Education Reform, Wisconsin Chapter, it’s easy to think charter schools provide tangible benefits to students. He has the right idea, but charter schools are not the only or best answer.

ONLINE LEARNING

Charter Reform Sought By Seneca Valley
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, April 11, 2013
Seneca Valley school board members want to reform Pennsylvania’s cyber charter school law, and they want the public to join their quest.

Senate Seeking Compromise On Funding For Online Classes
StateImpact NPR, FL, April 10, 2013
A Senate committee is attempting to defuse a funding dispute between the state-sponsored Florida Virtual School and private online providers.

Schools Exploring Online Learning
Tiffin Advertiser Tribune, OH, April 11, 2013
Columbian High School students, administrators and teachers discussed the benefits of online learning at their Virtual High School Collaborative Open House Wednesday.

Dist. 303 Charter School Rejection May Be Template For Battle
Chicago Daily Herald, IL, April 10, 2013
In denying the application for a virtual charter school this week, St. Charles Unit District 303 may have revealed the cornerstone of the argument up to 18 school districts involved in the decision will soon bring to a state commission.

House Bill Would Ban New Virtual Charter Schools In Illinois For 3 Years
Quad Cities Dispatch, IL, April 10, 2013
An Illinois House committee on Wednesday passed a controversial bill that would put a three-year freeze on the creation of new virtual charter schools in Illinois.

Filed Under: Daily Headlines

Florida Charter School Alliance Awarded Valuable New Media Resource

April 10, 2013 By

Becomes Second State-Based Media Bullpen Partner

CER Press Release
Washington, D.C.
April 10, 2013

The Center for Education Reform (CER) is pleased to announce the launch of its second state-based Media Bullpen. The Florida Charter Schools Alliance (FCSA), the leading charter school advocacy organization in the state, is the second partnership in CER’s new initiative to provide organizations, which fully embrace the idea that engaging the media can advance education reform, a state-based Media Bullpen.

“During this very exciting time for the Florida charter school movement, The Media Bullpen will be a valuable source of information keeping charter stakeholders informed as they navigate the education reform waters,” said Lori Butler, Vice President of School Services.

The Media Bullpen, created in 2011 by the Center, is a 24/7 virtual newsroom and is the largest aggregator of education news in the country. Each day, the Bullpen’s unique technology downloads all the education reform related media from throughout the nation. Bullpen editors monitor the dozens of stories and commentaries on education that appear day-in and day-out across the country and analyze them for accuracy, fairness, objectivity, context, and use of credible data – separating fact from fiction and opinion from analysis. They also identify omissions or other gaps in reporting.

In 2012, the Bullpen was enhanced to provide public commenting and a feature for subscribers to contact the reporters directly. Today, state partners now have access to nearly 1,000 news pieces a day fed through our unique, specialized news feed.

“We stand by our commitment to ensuring clearer and more comprehensive reporting on reform and the people engaged daily on making these improvements possible,” said CER Vice President Kara Kerwin. “We’re pleased to be partnering with the Florida Charter School Alliance because education deserves and demands far better coverage in the Sunshine state.”

The Florida Charter School Alliance, formed in May 2011, serves as the unified voice of the public charter school movement in the state. FCSA was formed to ensure that every family in the state has access to a high-quality public school of their choice.

To view the Florida Media Bullpen, please visit the Florida Charter School Alliance website.

Filed Under: Press Releases

Daily Headlines for April 10, 2013

April 10, 2013 By

NEWSWIRE IS BACK! Click here for the latest weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else, spiced with a dash of irreverence, from the nation’s leading voice in school reform.

NATIONAL COVERAGE

National Science Standards Likely To Raise ‘Ruckus’
USA Today, April 10, 2013
Academic standards out Tuesday promise to revive simmering debates about how to teach science in the USA’s public schools.

FROM THE STATES

ALABAMA

Teacher Pay Raise Moves Forward In Alabama Legislature
Anniston Star, AL, April 10, 2013
A 2 percent pay raise for Alabama’s teachers moved a step forward Tuesday, with a crucial House committee voting to send the raise to the full House for a vote as early as Wednesday.

CALIFORNIA

Carlsbad Parent Group Asking County Board Of Education To Overturn Decision On Charter School
10News, CA, April 10, 2013
A group of Carlsbad parents refuses to take no for an answer. The Carlsbad Unified School Board voted against the charter school they were trying to start, so the parents appealed the decision to the San Diego County Board of Education, which will take up the matter Wednesday evening.

CONNECTICUT

State Gets Seven Applications For New Charter Schools; Two Proposals Have Teacher Union Support
The Hartford Courant, CT, April 9, 2013
Teachers unions aren’t generally known for support of charter schools, but two of the seven new schools proposed for Connecticut have strong union support.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Neighborhood Preference In D.C. Charter Schools Would Be Allowed Under Bill
Washington Post, DC, April 9, 2013
New D.C. public charter schools would be allowed to give admissions preference to neighborhood children under a bill introduced Tuesday by D.C. Council Member David Grosso (I-At Large).

FLORIDA

Pinellas Wary Of Setting Precedent With Pending Charter School Deal
St. Petersburg Tribune, FL, April 10, 2013
After weeks of discussion, Pinellas County School Board members were set to vote Tuesday on selling the abandoned Southside Fundamental Middle School building to a charter company.

GEORGIA

About 60 Come Out Hear Charter School Plans At Macon Forum
Macon Telegraph, GA, April 10, 2013
When friends Shawn Maanao, Dawn Willis and Anissa Coleman discuss the issues of the day during conversations in the hallway of Martha Bowman Church, the topic usually turns to their displeasure with Bibb County schools.

HAWAII

Private Schools Fill Gap For Hawaii’s Dyslexic Kids — But At High Cost
Honolulu Civil Beat, HI, April 10, 2013
Just as her grandson B.J. was gearing up for high school, Carol Mikasobe decided she was fed up. No more exasperating meetings with B.J.’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. No more stonewalling from the schools. No more expensive outside tutoring. No more seeing B.J. suffer.

IDAHO

Charter Schools Look Forward to Facilities Aid
Magic Valley Times-News, ID, April 10, 2013
The charter school has been a boon to its students, the co-founder said, because they are educated in an environment of American patriotism and mutual respect. And the school gives parents an alternative for their children’s education, she said.

INDIANA

Sponsor For Charter Not In EACS Future
The Journal Gazette, IN, April 10, 2013
The East Allen County Schools board announced Tuesday it will not sponsor the charter of Timothy L. Johnson Academy, but board members said the district needs to improve its offerings in the area.

education committee still split on school vouchers
YNN, IN, April 9, 2013
The school voucher debate was once again revived at the State Capitol Tuesday, where the Senate’s Education Committee heard public testimony on the contested issue.

IOWA

Fast Action Promised On Education Bill
Des Moines Register, IA, April 10, 2013
Lawmakers working out a compromise education reform bill promised Tuesday to move quickly as the April 15 deadline looms for school districts around the state to certify their budgets.

LOUISIANA

Community Groups Could Charter Failing Schools
Shreveport Times, LA, April 10, 2013
Caddo’s lowest-performing schools could be converted to charter schools to take them off of the state takeover chopping block.

MAINE

Bowen Presents New Idea For Funding Public Charter Schools
Bangor Daily News, ME, April 9, 2013
Lawmakers reacted warmly Tuesday to a concept presented by Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen that would drastically change how charter schools in Maine are funded, spreading the financial responsibility to every school district in the state.

MICHIGAN

Working To Learn, Learning To Work
Detroit News, MI, April 10, 2013
When Jonathan Hernandez checks in at Detroit’s Cristo Rey High School, he gets both a report card and a time card.

MISSISSIPPI

Analysis: Education Focus Shifts To Implementation
Hattiesburg American, MS, April 10, 2013
If 2013 was the education session for Mississippi’s Legislature, it will be followed by the implementation season.

NEVADA

Legislators Hear Pros, Cons Of Sandoval’s School Choice Bill
Las Vegas Sun, NV, April 9, 2013
Gov. Brian Sandoval’s bill to give tax breaks to companies that donate to private and religious schools was applauded by school choice advocates Tuesday but opposed by the state’s teachers union and school boards.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Senate Panel Votes 3-2 To Keep Education Tax Credit
Union Leader, NH, April 9, 2013
A bill to repeal the state’s newly established education tax credit program did not find favor with the Senate Health, Education and Human Services Committee Tuesday.

NEW YORK

Rally For NY Tax Credit For School Donations
Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2013
Educators, elected officials and schoolchildren are expected to rally in support of a state tax credit they say is needed to encourage private donations to public schools.

Rigorous Schools Put College Dreams Into Practice
New York Times, NY, April 10, 2013
Across the country in communities like Newark, the early college high school model is being lauded as a way to provide low-income students with a road map to and through college.

Here Comes the Common Core
New York Daily News, NY, April 10, 2013
Yes, test scores will fall. That’s necessary as we prepare students for college and career.

School Reform in Syracuse
New York Times, NY, April 10, 2013
Re “Criticism of Cuomo Over Plight of Cities Raises Syracuse Mayor’s Profile” (news article, April 2):

Hundreds Try For Charter School Lottery
WIVB 4, NY, April 9, 2013
Hundreds of parents waited Tuesday night to find out if their child would be one of 29 selected in the Elmwood Village Charter School lottery.

NORTH CAROLINA

Charter School Appeals Committee Formed
News & Observer, NC, April 9, 2013
The Public Charter School Advisory Council voted Tuesday to form a subcommittee to consider potential appeals from 27 applicants who were rejected for opening in the 2014-15 school year.

OHIO

Columbus School Board Halts Superintendent Search
Columbus Dispatch, OH, April 10, 2013
In an about-face, a divided Columbus school board dropped its plan to hire a permanent superintendent by the end of this month, falling into line with Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s wishes.

School Funding Plan Gets Overhaul From Ohio House
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, April 9, 2013
State legislative leaders tossed out a major part of Gov. John Kasich’s school funding plan Tuesday and significantly shifted the dollars that individual districts would receive from the state.

OKLAHOMA

Teacher Quality Is An Issue Oklahoma City School Board Should Delve Into
The Oklahoman, OK, April 10, 2013
A principal stood before the Oklahoma City School Board last week and, under intense questioning, spoke a simple but profoundly important truth: Status quo isn’t good enough.

PENNSYLVANIA

Philly Area’s Teach For America Unit To Celebrate Its 10th Anniversary
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, April 10, 2013
Talk to a Teach For America teacher, and you’ll hear a lot about grit and getting things done.

TENNESSEE

Rich Republicans Stage Faux Media Event for School Vouchers
Nashville Scene, TN, April 9, 2013
Rich Republicans who fund the American Federation for Children staged a media event today at the legislature to try to revive a school voucher bill in Tennessee this session.

Charter Authorizer Bill Hits Slowdown In Senate
The Tennessean, TN, April 10, 2013
Lawmakers questioned a proposal to create a special panel to authorize charter schools in several Tennessee counties during debate Tuesday in the legislature, while a nonprofit group criticized the governor’s decision to withdraw his school voucher program.

Critics Fear TN Bill Tying Welfare To Grades Puts Kids In Harm’s Way
The Tennessean, TN, April 10, 2013
Children in Tennessee could become the first in the nation to determine whether their families receive full welfare benefits — they fail a grade, and the state yanks 30 percent of their cash payouts under a bill the state Senate will take up Thursday.

TEXAS

Tax Incentives For Private Schooling Face Dim Prospects
Austin American-Statesman, TX, April 9, 2013
The prospects are dim for legislative proposals creating tax incentives to help public school students pay for private school, but that did not dampen the fervor of “school choice” supporters at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday.

Does It Take A Katrina-Like Disaster For A Large Charter School Shift?
KERA NPR, TX, April 9, 2013
After Katrina, New Orleans not only needed entire neighborhoods rebuilt. Its schools underwent a complete makeover too.

WASHINGTON

Information Being Gathered On Charter Schools For PSD Board
News Tribune, WA, April 10, 2013
The Peninsula School District is taking it slow as it looks into the possibility of becoming a charter school authorizer, with Superintendent Chuck Cuzzetto gathering information on the subject for the school board.

ONLINE LEARNING

Will Teachers Unions Kill Virtual Learning?
Slate, April 9, 2013
New educational technologies could be great for kids—if regulations and politics don’t get in the way.
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2013/04/seat_time_requirements_and_other_regulations_could_hurt_the_virtual_learning.html

D-427 Rejects Online Charter School Proposal
DeKalb Daily Chronicle, IL, April 9, 2013
Sycamore School District 427 board members unanimously rejected a proposal to allow an online charter school to operate within its boundaries.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2013/04/10/d-427-rejects-online-charter-school-proposal/a1u1nx0/

Eight Fox Valley Districts Unanimously Vote Down Virtual Charter School
Aurora Beacon News, IL, April 9, 2013
West Aurora was one of eight school boards Monday night that unanimously denied the proposal to establish an 18-district virtual charter school in the Fox Valley area this fall.
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/19381027-418/eight-fox-valley-districts-unanimously-vote-down-virtual-charter-school.html

Filed Under: Daily Headlines

Parent Power Index Scoring Rubric

April 10, 2013 By

April 10, 2013

Download or print your PDF copy of the Parent Power Index Scoring Rubric

Filed Under: In the States

New National Report Card for Parents Released

April 10, 2013 By

New conditions reveal new Top Ten states for families

CER Press Release
Washington, D.C.
April 10, 2013

Indiana’s Parent Power Index (PPI) remains the best in the country, while a new ranking of top ten states emerges, according to the latest report card by The Center for Education Reform (CER). The nation’s “Top Ten” have policies or programs that afford parents the most opportunities to engage directly in the education of their children. The latest rankings on the Parent Power Index© are a result of changing conditions in states, including grades released for digital learning.

The Parent Power Index© shows that states where parents have options to choose tend to yield higher growth rates in student achievement, and states where systems and policies in place limit choice, parental engagement is hindered.

While many states have a new index, among the states that experienced significant shifts:

• Louisiana has moved up to third from sixth in the latest PPI as their state has adopted leading parent empowerment measures.

• Georgia moved up to seventh as it has increased its offering of online learning. And, in November 2012, parents in the state took their charter law to the ballot box so that it could survive a court’s adverse decision, and they won.

• Pennsylvania fell from its eighth seat in the top ten to twelfth, with lower than average digital learning scores and other states moving up.

CER President Jeanne Allen said the Center’s Index is much needed and an accurate reflection of the connection between both education reform policy and achievement: “Parents are a child’s first teacher. Policymakers and educators nationwide are clamoring for more parental involvement, knowing that involvement positively impacts student learning. But without real power, parent involvement is meaningless. In the top ten states, not only is Parent Power more highly valued, but it is resulting in higher learning gains.”

While there is a growing body of data and information available about how states compare to one another, the PPI is the first and only comprehensive evaluation of state education policy that is geared towards parents, continuously updated in real-time, and now, provides an arsenal of state and local resources.

The Index methodology is based on several Elements of Power using data and analysis provided by numerous, credible research organizations. The Index website also includes valuable information about states, including media reliability on education issues and the education reform postures and grades for governors.

Filed Under: Press Releases

Newswire: April 9, 2013

April 9, 2013 By

Vol. 15, No. 14

THE MADNESS CONTINUES. With all due respect to basketball fans out there, the Louisville win might be nirvana for some, but we’re wondering why we can’t channel some of the sports enthusiasm toward education reform and help this laggard state actually adopt some measures that are good for kids and families. Kentucky schools rank near the bottom on national assessments. In Jefferson County, where Louisville is located, for example, student proficiency when compared to the rest of the U.S. is under 50% for both math and reading, and that’s in a district more advantaged than many other pockets of the state. Kentucky has no charter school law, no additional school choices, no real online learning programs, and no major teacher quality effort in play. It ranks near the bottom on the Parent Power Index, too! So with its victory recent, and the state spread all over the newspaper headlines, isn’t it time to channel some of that energy to the state house where numerous bills lie in wait? Take action here.

POWER TO PARENTS. The state of more states will be unveiled tomorrow, when the Center for Education Reform (CER) releases its semi-annual, national ranking of state education reform laws, assessing each state on the relative power it affords to parents to make fundamental decisions guiding the education of their own kids. Parent Power Index© (PPI)‘s interactive, web-based interface lets you compare your state to others on key indices, from charters and choice to teacher quality and transparency issues. While there is a growing body of data and information available to parents, policymakers, educators and the general public, the PPI is the first and only comprehensive evaluation of state education policy that is geared towards parents, continuously updated in real-time, and now, provides an arsenal of state and local resources. Be sure to bookmark this page for your perusal this week.

STRONGSVILLE STRIKES. It’s the fifth week of a union-led teacher strike in Strongsville, Ohio, and since early March, nineteen students have withdrawn from the school district. As teacher union demands intensify, it’s likely that more families will pull their children out of Strongsville City schools as the strike drags on. Last week the school board met with the Strongsville Education Association (SEA), under the guise of a federal mediator, to work out a solution to their demands on salary, benefits and pensions. After nearly 30 hours of negotiating last week, no deal was struck between the teachers union and the school board. As the strike moves into its sixth week, students and parents, without access to choice, will continue to serve at the mercy of the union led temper tantrum.

JERSEY BRAWL. The nation’s eleventh most populous state is seeing education on its hot burner again, and reformers are hopeful that the Christie administration will push forward and engage all the opportunities at its disposal on all fronts. Both in and out of the Garden state, observers look for trends here to dictate what’s possible in their own state. This year, three dozen charter applications have been submitted, keeping up a trend that usually ends up with only a few pre-chosen schools approved. A tiny little voucher program is tucked into the Governor’s budget, a state takeover of Camden is underway, and the teacher evaluation system that got NJEA buy-in initially is being challenged, of course, for it’s 35% reliance on student performance to measure teachers (which is actually fuzzy as the districts get to decide how to measure that student performance). Affluent jersey parents protest any change while the rest of the state continues to demand resolution to thousands of failing schools. Strong union control of politicians, Ds fighting Rs —  it’s a pretty grim picture of education all over the U.S., and urgency can come none too soon.

CELEBRATING PRINCIPIAL LEADERSHIP. The Accelerate Institute, a four-week intensive training program at Kellogg School of Management that provides charter-school leadership training, mentoring and placement for high-performing educators from around the country, is accepting applications for its first class of honorees of the Ryan Awards. Four awards will be given to school principals who help to close the achievement gap, foster an environment of excellence, and are determined to work against impediments to accelerate the achievements and possibilities for their students. The deadline for nominations is April 22, 2013 at 12 a.m.

Filed Under: Newswire Weekly

Strongsville Strike: Five Weeks and Counting

April 9, 2013 By

Teacher strikes have a tendency to grab national media attention, especially the longer they last. However, the union-led strike in Strongsville, Ohio, which moves into its sixth week, has yet to break media coverage outside of Ohio.

The Strongsville Education Association and school board cannot work out a solution to the union’s salary, benefits and pensions demands, despite spending nearly 30 hours at the negotiating table in just one week alone.

“The time has come to debunk the myth that Strongsville teachers are overpaid, when in fact the truth may be just the opposite,” says SEA President Tracy Linscott. But a wider look at the numbers from the ODE paints a murkier picture.

While the union is pushing their agenda under the guise of false information, students are suffering. Parents aren’t standing for the drama, and at least 19 students have withdrawn from Strongsville City schools since the strike began. Unfortunately, students without access to choices will continue to be at the mercy of this union-led temper tantrum.

Filed Under: Unions & Establishment
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