Radio Interview
Arizona Politics & Culture
January 27, 2013
CER Founder & President Jeanne Allen talks about school choice, parent power, teacher quality, and more during National School Choice Week kickoff.
RADIO: Jeanne Allen talks School Choice, Parent Power
January 28, 2013 By
Daily Headlines for January 25, 2013
January 25, 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
Moving to Opportunity Results Show Need to Expand Choice and End Zip Code Education
Dropout Nation, January 24, 2013
An article of faith among many traditionalists that moving poor children and their families out of downtrodden neighborhoods into more-affluent ones will somehow improve their achievement.
White House: Schools Must Open Sports To Disabled
USA Today, January 25, 2013
The Obama administration for the first time is telling school districts across the USA that they must give disabled students equal access to extracurricular sports, a move that advocates say has been years in the making.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Berkeley Charter School Fosters Creativity And Innovation
San Jose Mercury News, CA, January 24, 2013
Realm Charter School, the city’s only public charter school, opened its doors in fall 2011 to provide students in grades 6 through 12 with a program centered on project-based learning, with an emphasis on technology, research and action.
Do We Really Need A Charter School?
Burbank Leader, CA, January 25, 2013
On Sunday, Jan. 6, The Herald-Mail reported a request by several citizens to the Board of Education to consider the approval of what would be our first charter school.
Take Closer Look At Education Grade
Times-Standard, CA, January 25, 2013
Public education is frequently under the microscope, with good reason. Public education affects our entire population, as it is charged with preparing children and young adults with the academic, physical, and social tools necessary to succeed as adults.
Charter School Rift
North Coast Journal, CA, January 24, 2013
The prospect of sharing campus space has a community fretting about inequality
It’s Reform Vs. The Union In LAUSD Race
Los Angeles Daily News, CA, January 24, 2013
The future of Los Angeles’ public-education reform is at stake on March 5. That’s not hyperbole; that’s the truth about what could happen next election day.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Rocketship Charter Schools Revamping Signature ‘Learning Lab’
Washington Post Blog, DC, January 25, 2013
The Rocketship network of charter schools has made a name for itself in the world of school choice — and attracted $2 million from the Obama administration to help it grow — with its “blended learning” model that incorporates traditional classroom settings with a computer “Learning Lab” for students.
D.C. School Leaders Concerned About Proposed Graduation Requirements
Washington Examiner, DC, January 24, 2013
D.C. students would have to complete more art, music and physical education before they can graduate under a proposal by the DC State Board of Education. But school leaders warn that the new requirements would hurt both students who excel and those who lag behind.
FLORIDA
Charter Schools Poised to Get Florida’s Capital Outlay Funding for Third Straight Year
Bradenton Times, FL, January 25, 2013
In 2012, charter schools were narrowly unsuccessful in getting a state bill passed to require public school districts to give charter schools some of their local property tax revenue, though they received about $55 million for school construction through Governor Scott’s controversial decision to give them all of the state’s available capital outlay funding. If a recently proposed FLDOE budget is adopted, they’ll get even more next year, while school districts again go without.
Teacher Pay Proposal Smacks Of Political Bribe
Orlando Sentinel, FL, January 25, 2013
Our translation: Desperate to perk up a 36 percent approval rating ahead of his 2014 re-election bid, Scott hopes this “investment” pays dividends at the polls. We’re surprised he didn’t throw in a promise of dark chocolate, red wine and foot massages.
Study Shows Students’ Race, Poverty Not Factors in Teacher Ratings
News Chief, FL, January 24, 2013
Studies show students’ race and socio-economic status have virtually no correlation with their teachers’ performance evaluation scores, a top Florida education official told a legislative panel Thursday.
A Boost For Teachers — Maybe
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL, January 25, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed, $2,500 pay hike for Florida teachers is the first positive news that these underappreciated professionals have seen in a long time.
GEORGIA
Final Fundraising Data Shows 10-1 Advantage For Charter Backers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, January 24, 2013
Backers of a constitutional amendment supporting charter schools outspent opponents more than 10 to 1 last fall, with most of the money coming from out-of-state advocates and businesses that make money off of such schools, year-end records show.
IDAHO
Luna Calls For 3% Budget Boost For Idaho Schools
Spokesman Review, WA, January 24, 2013
A humbled Idaho schools Superintendent Tom Luna told state lawmakers Thursday that regardless of how it’s done, he wants Idaho to keep investing in teacher pay and classroom technology.
INDIANA
School, Parents Push Toward Charter Appeal
The Journal Gazette, IN, January 25, 2013
Nearly 200 parents, current and former students and teachers came out in support of the school during a meeting Thursday where parents shared stories and learned more about Ball State University’s decision and what they can do to get involved.
KANSAS
House Committee Approves Bill That Would Prohibit Teachers Union From Using Voluntary Paycheck Donations For Political Advocacy
Lawrence Journal World, KS, January 24, 2013
A House committee on Thursday approved a bill that would prohibit the Kansas National Education Association from taking voluntary paycheck donations from teachers and using those funds for political advocacy.
LOUISIANA
Neville Charter Group To File Complaint
Monroe News Star, LA, January 25, 2013
Neville Charter school spokesman Ronnie Shelby said Thursday the group believes the “acting superintendents” of Monroe City Schools interfered with the vote process for the Neville charter and they plan to file a complaint with the Department of Education and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
MISSISSIPPI
Teacher Prep Efforts Criticized
Clarion-Ledger, MS, January 25, 2013
In Mississippi, 94 percent of college- and university-based teacher preparation programs “are insufficiently selective,” according to a report released today by the National Council on Teacher Quality.
Desoto Lawmakers: Tweak Charter Bill
DeSoto Times, MS, January 25, 2013
DeSoto County lawmakers say the charter school bill which eventually emerges from joint Senate and House conferees will likely be a vast improvement from last session when lawmakers were confronted with a “bad bill,” State Rep. Pat Nelson, R-Southaven, said Thursday.
GOP Split On Charter Bills
Clarion Ledger, MS, January 24, 2013
New battle lines have been drawn on charter schools expansion in the Legislature, and they’re no longer between Republicans and Democrats. They’re between Republicans and appear to be pitting the speaker and governor against the lieutenant governor.
Charter Schools: Runaway Train?
Jackson Free Press, MS, January 24, 2013
A few times during last night’s debate over the Mississippi House of Representatives’ charter-school law, HB 369, Democrats were resigned that charter schools were a runaway train they couldn’t stop.
NEW JERSEY
Schools Fail To File Work For Tax-Exempt Status
Courier Post, NJ, January 25, 2013
Two local charter schools, including the city’s oldest, have lost tax-exempt status after failing to file required forms with the IRS for a three-year period.
NEW MEXICO
H.S. Graduation Rate Soars
Albuquerque Journal, NM, January 25, 2013
New Mexico’s high school graduation rate jumped to 70 percent last year, a significant increase from 2011′s 63 percent.
NEW YORK
Oswego Charter School Plan Moving Forward Again
Oswego County Times, NY, January 25, 2013
Organizers of the Renaissance Charter School of Oswego took a step backward last summer so they can leap ahead now.
Mr. Mulgrew’s Pupils
New York Daily News, NY, January 25, 2013
There will be a power behind the throne in the schools chancellor’s office if John Liu, Bill de Blasio or Bill Thompson wins the 2013 mayoral election. His name will be Michael Mulgrew.
Closing Schools To Serve Kids Better
New York Daily News, NY, January 25, 2013
The closing of Catholic schools in the archdiocese of New York has garnered a lot of headlines recently, and for good reason. No one ever likes to see a school close. Shuttering a school is very painful for me, and I know that the difficulty it causes for our students, their families and our parishes is even greater.
OKLAHOMA
Barresi To Seek $37.7 Million In Supplemental School Funding
Tulsa World, OK, January 25, 2013
State Superintendent Janet Barresi announced Thursday that she will be seeking $37.7 million in supplemental appropriations from the Legislature.
OREGON
Oregon Schools Begin To Tie Teacher Pay To Student Test Scores
The Oregonian, OR, January 24, 2013
In the past few months, six Oregon school districts have quietly paid $2.75 million in bonuses to teachers and principals who excelled on the job and boosted student test scores, a controversial practice that is increasingly being tried around the country.
PENNSYLVANIA
With New Rules, Pa. Charter School Performance Plummets
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 25, 2013
The percentage of Pennsylvania charter schools that met academic benchmarks plummeted after the state Department of Education was forced to recalculate the performance rates.
Charter Schools Not Private
Pittsburgh Tribune Review, PA, January 24, 2013The Jan. 20 article “Many Alle-Kiski school districts challenge private charter, cyber schools” perpetuates the gross inaccuracy that charter schools are private. There is no such thing as a “private charter school.“
Education Reform Should Not Be Reduced To Parody
Allentown Morning Call, PA, January 24, 2013
It is shameful that The Morning Call chose to publish Bill White’s column (“Charter schools delivering what they promise?”) that reduces education reform in Pennsylvania to a parody. Mr. White’s senseless dialogue about a fictitious school is neither forthcoming in its context nor based in reality.
SOUTH CAROLINA
School Choice Bill Introduced In SC Senate Again
The State, SC, January 25, 2013
A bill to help S.C. parents pay the cost of private school was introduced again in the state Senate Wednesday.
TENNESSEE
‘Parent Trigger’ Idea On TN Schools Takeover Evolves
The Tennessean, TN, January 25, 2013
A much-anticipated parent trigger bill that would allow a majority of parents or teachers to force a school takeover is ready to wind its way through the Tennessee House.
TEXAS
Sen. Patrick Touts Support Of New Group For School Reform
Dallas Morning News Blog, TX, January 24, 2013
Senate Education Committee Chairman Dan Patrick said Thursday he will work with a new organization, Texans Deserve Great Schools, to help craft legislation that improves public schools through such means as expanded online learning, better teacher preparation, classroom innovations and tougher rules for failing schools.
LISD Trustees OK Anti-Voucher Resolution
Avalanche-Journal, TX, January 24, 2013
Trustees of the Lubbock Independent School District on Thursday approved a resolution opposing the state adoption of any voucher-type plan, even as they commended the district’s new publicity drive, launched to answer campaigns by area school districts.
Texas Teachers, Foundations Converge On Capitol
Houston Chronicle, TX, January 24, 2013
Hundreds of teachers gathered at the state Capitol on Thursday to urge Texas lawmakers to roll back $5.4 billion in public education cuts imposed two years ago, while nearby a coalition of foundations pushed for reforms without necessarily spending more money.
VIRGINIA
Obenshain Comments on Bringing Charter Schools to Virginia
Luray Page Free Press, VA, January 24, 2013
Theoretically, Virginia is a charter school state. Theoretically. Unfortunately, our charter laws are such that it’s nearly impossible to obtain a charter, and there are only four charter schools in the entire Commonwealth.
Va. House, Senate Panels Back Bill To Overhaul Teacher Evaluation, Grievance Processes
Washington Post, DC, January 24, 2013
The House of Delegates passed a major component of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s education reform package Thursday, hours after a Senate committee endorsed the measure.
WISCONSIN
Rosendale-Brandon Set To Start New Charter School
Fond du Lac Reporter, WI, January 25, 2013
The Rosendale-Brandon School District is moving ahead with plans for a project-based charter school.
ONLINE LEARNING
Expert: Schools Need To Get Online
Columbus Dispatch, OH, January 25, 2013
More online learning could be coming to a school near you, based on a meeting yesterday of Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s Education Commission, which is examining how to improve education in the city.
District Recommends Denial Of Online School
Our Colorado News, CO, January 24, 2013
Representatives from the Colorado Virtual Academy had one last chance to convince the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of Education to renew its charter application during its Jan. 16 meeting.
MS House Passes Charter School Bill
January 24, 2013 By
“House passes charter school bill in wee hours of morning”
by Associated Press
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
January 24, 2013
Bleary-eyed charter schools supporters took a few minutes to bask in a big victory early today, but were quick to acknowledge that the fight’s not over.
The Mississippi House voted 64-55 to pass House Bill 369, which would expand charter schools in the state. The vote came after more than seven hours of debate and three hours of a computer reading the 251-page bill.
Last year, proposals for charter schools — public schools that agree to meet certain standards in exchange for freedom from regulations — never reached the House floor. This year, House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, muscled a carefully tailored bill through his chamber. The bill’s managers conceded enough changes that even a group that had fought the proposal swung over to endorse it during debate yesterday.
“I’m proud we could deliver this for Mississippi children, but we’ve still got a long way to go,” Rep. Charles Busby, R-Pascagoula, said after the debate. The freshman was tapped to handle the bill on the floor, enduring hours of sometimes repetitive questions from mainly Democratic opponents.
Now come negotiations with the Senate, which passed a broader bill last week. The House and the Senate must agree on a version before it can go to Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, who during his State of the State address Tuesday reiterated a desire to sign an expanded charter law.
The House version differs from the Senate bill, limiting charters to 15 a year, giving school boards in districts rated “A,” ”B” or “C” a veto, and prohibiting students from crossing district lines. The Senate bill doesn’t impose a limit, doesn’t give a veto to C-rated districts, and allows students to cross lines statewide. Gunn offered concessions to opponents because charter opposition is stronger in the House.
Rep. Pat Nelson, R-Southaven, said the endorsement of the bill by The Parents Campaign, which had been lobbying against it, as one factor that pushed it toward passage. As debate began yesterday afternoon, authors amended the measure to bar charter school boards from hiring for-profit management organizations to run schools.
The lobbying group, which had voiced fears of for-profit groups, announced its support after the nonprofit amendment was adopted.
“We are close to getting a bill that can provide good charter schools for our children who need them — those trapped in chronically underperforming schools,” executive director Nancy Loome wrote in an email to supporters urging them to call lawmakers and tell them to vote ‘yes.’
Still, Nelson and five other Republicans ended up voting against the final bill. But some of those opponents voted to protect the bill against hostile amendments. Republicans managing the bill confirmed an agreement with GOP opponents to vote against amendments proposed by Democrats before voting against the final bill.
Members voted down 17 amendments after approving the first one. Statewatch, a bill-tracking service, said that was the largest number of amendments offered to any proposed legislation in at least six years. Among rejected proposals were ones mandating that charter school teachers join the Public Employees Retirement System, allowing for public referendums before charter schools could be set up, or requiring lawmakers to fully fund the Mississippi Adequate Education Program before setting up charter schools.
The debate was the longest since Republicans took over the House in 2012. Rep. Bob Evans, D-Monticello, forced the 251-page bill to be read, delaying the vote until 12:52 am.
That marathon was still ahead of House members when Busby started the debate by asking: “What will we do today that is different than yesterday that will put our children in a better place tomorrow?”
Busby joined the Education Committee when House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, kicked charter school opponent Linda Whittington, D-Schlater, off the panel. He quoted former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as saying there is no time for evolution in education.
“I want you to help me start the education revolution in Mississippi today,” he said.
But a number of black Democrats said they mistrusted Republicans’ claims of wanting to improve education for black children, a current that flows strongly through their opposition to charter schools.
Several became indignant after Rep. Brad Mayo, a white Oxford Republican, compared his father’s segregated schooling in the Sunflower County town of Drew to the struggling state of schools there today. State education officials forced a merger of the Drew district and the Sunflower County district in July, closing Drew High School, which graduated Archie Manning.
“I don’t believe for one second that you care about improving the plight of our children,” said Rep. Adrienne Wooten, D-Jackson.
Daily Headlines for January 24, 2013
January 24, 2013 By
NEW NEWSWIRE TODAY! 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
The Feds’ Education Power Grab
Los Angeles Times, CA, January 24, 2013
It’s time to have a conversation about the issue before we find that the executive branch, or even the entire federal government, has become our national school board.
School Choice: 49 Million Students Still Without Options
The Hill, DC, January 23, 2013
Heidi and Frank Green used to worry about their daughters while they were at school. The Clarksville, Indiana couple was concerned about bullying, cursing, large class sizes, a revolving teaching staff, and a general lack of attention for students.
National School Choice Week starts Jan.27
Havasu News, AZ, January 24, 2013
National School Choice Week starts Jan. 27 as part of a national campaign to let communities know there are choices when it comes to a child’s education.
Julia Steiny: Michelle Rhee Throws Gas on Ed Reform Hostilities
Go Local Prov, RI, January 24, 2013
The ever-controversial Michelle Rhee and her organization Students First have issued a State Policy Report Card, grading states’ reform policies. Almost all the states got either a “D” or an “F.” Dummies.
Parent Power Index Rates Each State on Education Options
The Epoch Times, January 23, 2013
It is well-known that if parents are engaged in their children’s education, then their children will likely be more successful in school, and now for the first time, parents are provided with a Web gateway that indexes and details how much power each state gives to parents regarding their children’s education.
FROM THE STATES
ALABAMA
School Flexibility Act Pre-Filed in Alabama House of Representatives
Montgomery Adviser, AL, January 24, 2013
House lawmakers have prefiled a bill that would allow school districts to request waivers from some state laws if they believe the waivers could lead to better results in the classroom.
CALIFORNIA
Bullis Willing To Accept Split-Campus Offer
Marin Independent Journal, CA, January 23, 2013
Bullis Charter School announced Wednesday it will accept Los Altos School District’s likely proposal to split it between two campuses next year, provided certain modifications are made.
Cheers Erupt When Blue Oak Awarded Charter Renewal
Whittier Daily News, CA, January 24, 2013
Cheers and applause aren’t sounds usually heard by a school board but celebration erupted in the Chico Unified School District trustees meeting when the panel approved the charter renewal for Blue Oak School.
Viva Cell Towers, School Choice
San Diego Union Tribune, CA, January 23, 2013
We won’t take sides in the endless cell tower debates, other than to point out that we need towers if we want smartphones, and that many careful, reputable studies have failed to find health problems from exposures to microwave radiation at levels approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Yet we won’t hesitate to side with school choice, and the rights of parents to become deeply involved in the operation of publicly funded schools.
A Simpler, Fairer Way To Fund California’s Schools
Los Angeles Times, CA, January 24, 2013
Driving along Pacific Coast Highway, you can see the successive layers of earth and rock that have piled up over millions of years to create California’s coastal landscape. You can see a similar but less attractive phenomenon if you look at the way California funds its public K-12 schools.
COLORADO
District Renews Charter Of Brighton School Stripped Of Federal Grants
Denver Post, CO, January 23, 2013
The board of education for School District 27J in Brighton on Tuesday approved a charter renewal for Eagle Ridge Academy, which was stripped of federal education grant funds and is under criminal investigation.
CONNECTICUT
Committee Hears Options For Rebuilding Charter Oak Academy
Hartford Courant, CT, January 23, 2013
It will cost between $47 million and $49 million to renovate or rebuild Charter Oak International Academy, an architect for the project told committee members and town officials Wednesday night.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Mendelson Puts School Truancy On D.C.’S Front Burner
Washington Times, DC, January 23, 2013
Phil Mendelson is of a mind that his city’s government is obligated to curb the school truancy problem. To that end, the chairman of the D.C. Council is in line with his colleague, David A. Catania, who is legislatively poking at the issue by proposing that parents of chronically truant children be punished.
D.C. Council Members Fear Schools Near Tipping Point As Students Flee System
Washington Post, DC, January 23, 2013
The District’s traditional public school system is in danger of shrinking significantly unless officials make changes that persuade parents to stop fleeing to public charter schools, D.C. Council members said Wednesday.
FLORIDA
No Easy ‘A’ for Rick Scott’s Teacher Pay Hike
Sunshine State News, FL, January 24, 2013
A lot of details need to be worked out to make Gov. Rick Scott’s $2,500 across-the-board salary increase for real for Florida’s teachers.
Local Educators Skeptical of Gov. Scott’s Pay Proposal for Teachers
The Ledger, FL, January 24, 2013
Gov. Rick Scott’s proposal to give every Florida teacher a $2,500 pay raise in the 2013-14 budget is receiving skeptical responses from local educators.
GEORGIA
Charter Expansion Details In Progress
Cherokee Tribune, GA, January 24, 2013
Regarding Cherokee Charter Academy’s high school expansion, recently approved by the Georgia Department of Education, the school’s Local Governing Council continued to keep mum on plans at its meeting Wednesday.
Center for Ed Reform: Georgia Ranks 16th for Strong Charter Laws
Atlanta Journal Constitution Blog, GA, January 23, 2013
Georgia ranks 16th in the nation for strong charter laws, according to the Center for Education Reform’s annual scoreboard.
ILLINOIS
State Survey Aims To Offer Detailed Look At Schools
Chicago Tribune, IL, January 24, 2013
Calling it an “X-ray” of public schools, Illinois is launching an unprecedented attempt to gather candid information on how teachers are teaching, students are learning and principals are leading.
INDIANA
Cautionary Tale Comes From Ohio
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN, January 23, 2013
Will the seven schools whose charters have been revoked actually close? Ohio’s experience suggests otherwise.
Welcome Charter Ruling
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN, January 23, 2013
When union leader Albert Shanker championed charter schools as teacher-directed laboratories of reform in a 1988 address, the president of the American Federation of Teachers probably didn’t envision the disappointing form some of those schools would take 25 years later.
School Appeals Charter Decision
Palladium-Item, IN, January 24, 2013
The board of Kenneth A. Christmon STEMM Academy in Richmond voted Wednesday night to appeal Ball State University’s decision to not renew its charter school contract.
Parents Rally Behind Gary School To Save Charter
Post Tribune, IN, January 23, 2013
Parents and supporters of the Charter School of the Dunes are starting a calling campaign appealing to Ball State University not to yank its charter.
Voucher Bill Delayed Again
The Journal Gazette, IN, January 24, 2013
A move to expand the state’s voucher program was postponed for the second consecutive week Wednesday.
IOWA
Branstad: Education Reform Can Be Passed, But Don’t Get Too Bogged Down In How Dollars Are Divvied Up For Districts
Muscatine Journal, IA, January 23, 2013
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad insisted on Wednesday the state Legislature can pass a comprehensive education reform plan early in the session, arguing that getting bogged down in an argument over how much basic state aid should go to local school districts could imperil the proposal.
LOUISIANA
Program To Help School Dropouts
The Advocate, LA, January 24, 2013
At least 2,000 Lafayette Parish School System high school dropouts between the ages of 15 and 21 now have a chance to earn their diploma on their own time with the support of tutors and an advocate, school officials said Wednesday.
MARYLAND
Achievement Gap For Montgomery Students To Be Re-examined In February
Maryland Gazette, MD, January 23, 2013
The achievement gap between students of different races and backgrounds in Montgomery County Public Schools will be examined again in detail next month.
MASSACHUSETTS
City Considers School Assignment Plans
Boston Globe, MA, January 24, 2013
No favorite emerged Wednesday night after school officials presented three proposals to an advisory committee weighing changes in the way the city assigns students to schools.
New Leadership Closure Triggers Anger And Panic Among Parents, Students In Springfield
The Republican, MA, January 23, 2013
The pending closure of New Leadership, a well-established charter school with 500 students, has triggered a firestorm among the students, parents and faculty and could drive up the city’s middle through high school population by as much as 4 percent.
MICHIGAN
Focus On Teaching Our Teachers
Detroit News, MI, January 24, 2013
Giving teachers more support, better training is an effective way to improve education in Michigan
Detroit Public Schools Face Drastic Cuts To Balance Budget
Detroit News, MI, January 24, 2013
The financial slide inside the state’s largest school district will continue through 2016, leaving Detroit Public Schools with 28 fewer schools, 1,688 lost positions and 13,000 fewer students, according to a deficit elimination plan obtained by The Detroit News.
Huffington Post Blames Charter Schools for Serving Poor Kids
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, MI, January 24, 2013
A recent article in the Huffington Post badly distorts the findings of new study of Michigan’s charter public schools by Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes, and in the process blames charter public schools for serving too many poor kids.
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Schools Would Have More Money, Control Under Plan
West Central Tribune, MN, January 23, 2013
School districts and school boards would have more control over how to use state funding under a budget proposed by Gov. Mark Dayton, officials told legislators Wednesday.
MISSISSIPPI
Big Questions About Charters
Jackson Free Press, MS, January 23, 2013
The atmosphere at the Mississippi Capitol got tense for a few moments Thursday when Sen. Kenneth Wayne Jones, D-Canton, leader of the Legislative Black Caucus, questioned the legitimacy of Gov. Phil Bryant’s education policy recommendations.
Mississippi House Approves Charter Schools
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, MS, January 24, 2013
The Mississippi House stayed into session until early Thursday to pass charter school legislation 64-55.
School Officials React To Charter Bill
DeSoto Times, MS, January 24, 2013
DeSoto County will be impacted by the new charter school bill if it passes the Legislature this session.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Law to Fund Private Schools Unconstitutional
Seacoast Online, MA, January 24, 2013
On June 27, 2012, the New Hampshire House and Senate overrode a veto by former Gov. John Lynch and passed a law that diverts public tax dollars for use in private secular and parochial schools.
Manchester Parents Add To Charter Wish List, Say School Budget Is Left Until Too Late
New Hampshire Union Leader, NH, January 23, 2013
Several dozen residents turned out on a frigid Wednesday evening to urge the Charter Commission to consider changes to the city’s basic governing document they said would benefit the public school system.
NEW YORK
The Union Wants An Evaluation Deal
New York Daily News, NY, January 24, 2013
Does Mayor Bloomberg really want a new teacher evaluation system? Is it going to be possible to put such a system in place before Gov. Cuomo’s deadline of Sept. 1?
WNY Maritime Charter Teaches Hamburg Students Leadership Skills
The Sun News, NY, January 24, 2013
High school senior and Hamburg resident Brandon Cruz knew he wanted to join the military after high school. After spending two years at St. Francis High School, he met a few cadets at a camp he attended from the Western New York Maritime Charter School, and decided that the school might be for him.
NORTH CAROLINA
Wake School Changes Have State GOP Support
News & Observer, NC, January 23, 2013
A top Republican state lawmaker says he supports both changing the way the Wake County school board is elected and taking away the body’s power to buy land and own schools.
Schools Chief: Forsyth Not Likely To Be ‘charter-school District’ Soon
Winston-Salem Journal, NC, January 23, 2013
Superintendent Don Martin assured principals in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools this week that the system will not become a charter-school district anytime soon, but state Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, said he will push for a bill to make that possible in the upcoming legislative session.
OREGON
Oregon Scores D- In Teacher Preparation
Statesman Journal, OR, January 24, 2013
Oregon received a D- for its policies on teacher preparation, according to a report from the National Council on Teacher Quality, an education reform advocacy group.
PENNSYLVANIA
Two Camden Charters Lose Tax-Exempt Status
Philadelphia Enquirer, PA, January 24, 2013
After more than three years of failing to file required IRS forms, two Camden charter schools have lost their tax-exempt status, a requirement to be granted a New Jersey charter.
Pennsylvania Charter School Test Results Sag
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, January 24, 2013
Recalculated figures for attaining Adequate Yearly Progress on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams for 2012 show that 28 percent of charter schools met the standard compared with 49 percent based on calculations made previously.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Rejects Hazelwood K-8 Charter School
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, January 23, 2013
The board of Pittsburgh Public Schools has rejected a request from Propel Schools to open a K-8 charter school in Hazelwood.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Proposals Would Restrict Private Schools From Championships
Greenville News, SC, January 24, 2013
Greenville County’s private and charter schools would be prohibited from competing for athletic championships against public schools if new proposals are approved by the South Carolina High School League.
TENNESSEE
Annual Report On Charter Schools Released
NewsChannel 5, TN, January 23, 2013
A annual report on Metro Charter schools was released Wednesday night during a special meeting and reception.
TEXAS
Good Reasons for Corpus Christi ISD to Oppose Tuition Vouchers
Corpus Christi Caller Times, TX, January 24, 2013
The Corpus Christi Independent School District’s resolution against vouchers for private school tuition comes as no surprise. Vouchers would be contrary to CCISD’s best interests.
School Leaders Vow To Expand Quality Choices
Houston Chronicle, TX, January 23, 2013
Houston’s urban school leaders vowed Wednesday to continue efforts to expand quality school choices, despite financial and regulatory challenges.
UTAH
Report: Utah Ranks 11th In U.S. For Charter School Policy
Desert News, UT, January 23, 2013
Utah charter school policy ranks 11th in the nation, scoring a B grade, according to the Center for Education Reform.
VIRGINIA
Report: Va. Isn’t Picky Enough About Training Teachers
The Virginian-Pilot, VA, January 24, 2013
The state’s undergraduate teacher-preparation programs are “not sufficiently selective,” according to the National Council on Teacher Quality.
Virginians Support Nontraditional Educational Options
Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA, January 24, 2013
A majority of Virginians favor three education concepts that have gained little traction among state leaders, according to the latest Commonwealth Education Poll from Virginia Commonwealth University.
WASHINGTON
MAP is the Anti-Standardized Test
Seattle Times, WA, January 23, 2013
The Measures of Academic Progress test that Garfield High School teachers are boycotting provides important insight about students’ academic needs, writes guest columnist Matt Chapman.
WISCONSIN
Advocates In The Home Of Voucher Schools Push For More Freedom To Choose
Wisconsin Reporter, WI, January 23, 2013
School choice in Wisconsin has come a long way since the late 1980s, when Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson and Milwaukee led the national school voucher revolution.
WYOMING
Senate Kills Two Education Reform Bills
Wyoming Tribune Eagle, WY, January 23, 2013
The bills would have raised the dropout age to 18 and made students take four years of math in high school.
ONLINE LEARNING
YWCA Sponsors New Leadership Academy
Valley Breeze, RI, January 23, 2013
YWCA Rhode Island has received the go-ahead from the Rhode Island Department of Education for a groundbreaking online charter school designed for at-risk high school students.
No Cyber Charter School In Pennsylvania Made Adequate Yearly Progress
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, January 23, 2013
Recalculated figures for attaining Adequate Yearly Progress on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams for 2012 released by the state Department of Education show that the number of charter schools hitting the targets for AYP dropped from 77 to 43.
Hermiston School District Adds Online Classes
Oregon Public Broadcasting, OR, January 23, 2013
Cayla Ontiveros spends her mornings online, perhaps spending time with friends or searching for a job.
Utah ranks 11th in U.S. for charter school policy
January 24, 2013 By
by Rachel Lowry
Deseret News
January 23, 2013
Utah charter school policy ranks 11th in the nation, scoring a B grade, according to the Center for Education Reform.
The center, which has been analyzing state charter school laws since 1996, also ranked Utah in the top 10 for online learning, parental choice, teacher quality and transparency in the latest evaluation of charter education.
“Utah is a leader when it comes to hitting those hot-button issues that empower parents to be in the driver’s seat of their children’s education,” said Kara Kerwin, director of external affairs at the Center for Education Reform, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C.
The state’s transparency is exemplary, Kerwin said.
“Utah’s website is parent-friendly and accessible, containing easy-to-understand data,” she said.
Another critical piece, Kerwin said, is the election of local school boards.
“Held during the general elections in November, parents have the convenience, as well as the power, to make decisions about who runs their schools,” she said.
“Utah’s charter school law is considered strong because it provides equitable funding to charter schools, facilities funding and a strong authorizing system that includes capable independent bodies such as universities and the semi-independent state charter board,” according to the center’s website.
Utah ranked high in school choice, as well. “Utah has one private school choice program (special-needs vouchers). The state does have a charter school law. Utah allows for limited public virtual schooling. Open enrollment exists, both for intra-district and inter-district public school choice,” the website said.
According to the website, Utah has adopted “multiple student-centric policies designed specifically to harness the power of technology.” This is due, largely in part, to the passage of SB65 and the Statewide Online Education Program.
Robert Ralphs, executive director of Alianza Academy in Salt Lake City, said state laws and policies allow charter schools to be flexible and encourage the creation of new models. For him, that means online learning.
A hybrid school that combines traditional instruction with nearly three hours of online instruction, Alianza Academy is not the only model for digital learning. Four or five charter schools are modeling such techniques, and nearly every school is moving in that direction, Ralphs said.
“As an outsider who came into the charter school scene only three years ago, I applaud what the people in Utah who’ve been at it for 14 years have done,” he said. “It’s really quite remarkable. And it’s served kids well.”
But there is always room for improvement. Teacher evaluations could use some work, Kerwin said.
“Right now in Utah, eligibility for dismissal is not a consequence of unsatisfactory evaluations,” she said. “Ineffective classroom performance is not grounds for dismissal. That’s not right for our kids. Utah should be thinking about how to better evaluate schools, teachers and students.”
But one consideration must be made, said Sonia Woodbury, director of City Academy, a Salt Lake City charter school.
“The charter school movement started about 20 years ago,” Woodbury said. “So while it’s good that we have people looking at our schools, we have to remember how relatively new this is, in a sense. There’s no clear settling of how things are going to look.”
In terms of state policy and law, Woodbury said she’s been impressed by the Legislature’s willingness to listen.
“Every year, legislators come out of session to speak with us on the hill,” she said. “I attend meetings in small and large groups where I have a voice, and people are listening to us. They seem very accessible to me.”
Of the 43 U.S. states with charter school laws, four states received an A, nine earned a B, 19 got a C, and 11 ranked in D or F categories.
Parent Power Index Rates Each State on Education Options
January 24, 2013 By
by Kelly Ni
The Epoch Times
January 23, 2013
It is well-known that if parents are engaged in their children’s education, then their children will likely be more successful in school, and now for the first time, parents are provided with a Web gateway that indexes and details how much power each state gives to parents regarding their children’s education.
The new tool is called the Parent Power Index (PPI). Parent Power refers to parents’ access to quality education and information, according to the PPI website. The index, created by the Center for Education Reform (CER), is much like an interactive report card.
Parent Power is made up of five elements: charter schools, school choice, teacher quality, transparency, and online learning. If a state does well in these areas, then their PPI is high.
Indiana ranked number one, followed by Florida, Ohio, Arizona, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Utah, in that order.
Kara Kerwin, director of external affairs at the CER, helped develop the PPI. She said that the elements of Parent Power have been under study since 1996.
“The value that these schools have where parents can make a choice is so critical and increases student achievement,” she said. With systems and policies in place that do not put parents in charge, Kerwin said that parent engagement is very hard.
“For example, one element on the PPI is transparency, so how good the information parents have about their schools is really important,” she added.
“Whether or not school board elections are held during the general election in November, or whether or not they’re held at odd times can really disenfranchise parents from what’s going on in their schools,” Kerwin said, adding that some schools in some towns have moved school board elections to April or March or to the third Monday of an unexpected month.
“It’s not really clear or transparent when they can be voting for the officials that run and operate the schools. So, that’s an important aspect of what gives people power,” Kerwin said.
Vouchers, which give students the tax funds to go to any school of their choice, and scholarships can change lives dramatically, according to Kerwin.
Also taken into account in the PPI are whether or not the state has a parent trigger law, how pro-reform the governor is, and how well the state’s media reports education reforms. The Media Bullpen tracks and rates media’s reporting on education reforms.
According to Kerwin, PPI is all about giving parents information and the power to know they can do something. It’s about informing them on whether or not they have access to choices—and letting them know that they can make choices.
A pioneer in school choice, famed economist Milton Friedman, who pushed for free and open markets and once advised Ronald Regan, dedicated the last years of his life together with his wife, economist Rose Director Friedman, pushing for school choice. Their view, according to the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, is that schools educate better when they are forced to compete. The Friedman Foundation is a source for considering school choice in the PPI.
The element of charter schools in the PPI is ranked by The Essential Guide to Charter School Law 2013 National Ranking and Scorecard, online learning is ranked by Digital Learning Now!, and teacher quality is ranked by the National Council on Teacher Quality.
Graduation Rate Moves Up, Hits 78%
January 23, 2013 By
“High school graduation rate tops 78 percent – highest since 1976”
by Allison Terry
Christian Science Monitor
January 22, 2013
Public high school students are graduating at the highest rate since 1976, motivated in part by grim economic conditions and the need to be competitive in a crowded job market.
More than 3.1 million high school students received their diplomas in spring 2010, with 78.2 percent finishing in four years, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported Tuesday. The rate is a 2.7-percentage-point increase over the previous year, and those two rates are the highest since the 75 percent rate in 1975 and 1976.
The report does not analyze for causes, but education officials say the increasing rate can certainly be linked to the struggling economy.
“If you drop out of high school, how many good jobs are there out there for you? None,” said Education Secretary Arne Duncan in an Associated Press interview published Tuesday.
This was not the case 10 or 15 years ago, he said.
“When I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, it wasn’t great, but I had lots of friends who dropped out, and they could go work in the stockyards or steel mills, and they could buy a home, support a family, do OK,” Secretary Duncan said.
With an average annual salary of $20,241, high school dropouts earn $10,386 less than high school graduates, who earn $30,627, according to Census Bureau data.
The need for young people to be competitive in the job market is increasingly important, especially as part-time jobs and internships available to students are decreasing, says Donna Harris-Aikens, director of education policy and practices at the National Education Association.
“Part of the impact of the economy on students is that internship slots are being taken by adults who need to switch gears or gain experience in different fields, so they can get back into the mainstream of employment,” Ms. Harris-Aikens says.
It is important for students to see how their education is relevant to their employment experience and how earning a diploma will benefit them in both the short and long term, she says.
The increasing graduation rate is “extremely promising,” Harris-Aikens says, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. “We want to be at 100 percent.”
The achievement gaps along racial lines are a noticeable area for improvement, she says.
Asian/Pacific Islander students graduate at the highest rate (93.5 percent), followed by white students (83 percent), Hispanic students (71.4 percent), American Indian/Alaska Native students (69.1 percent), and black students (66.1 percent), according to the NCES report.
“If we can work to close those gaps, the graduation rate overall will see dramatic increases,” Harris-Aikens says.
The graduation rate also varies widely across states: Lowest-ranked Nevada reported 57.8 percent graduation rate, and top-ranked Vermont reported 91.4 percent.
One next step is to do a more in-depth analysis to see which strategies are working and which strategies need to be readjusted.
The most important strategy, Harris-Aikens says, is “paying attention to details and talking to kids, helping them figure out what they need.”
NCES bases the graduation rate on the averaged freshman graduation rate (AFGR), an estimate of public high school students who graduate within four years of starting ninth grade. The US Department of Education continues to refine the way it reports graduation rates, including establishing a national formula for state reports, but the AFGR is currently the best measure, the NCES report says.
Newswire: January 23, 2013
January 23, 2013 By
Vol. 15, No. 3
CER at 20. Yep it’s that time again. Another anniversary. This one is the 20th, and we will celebrate the tried and true classics of education reform –– the people and the issues –– on October 9, 2013, in Washington DC. A conference and review of the movement during the day, a gala to beat all galas at night. Mark your calendar. You will not want to miss it! Speaking of another kind of Miss…
HIT OR MISS? The Mississippi Senate approved an amendment to the state’s weak charter law last week, creating an additional authorizer route to improve the chances that schools will be approved outside of the school board monopoly. That monopoly is drumming up myths and fear surrounding the potential for new people to come into the state to run schools (oh, my!) and that some could actually dare to be from companies that pay taxes, and who have a solid track record of education in other states. A group of status quo citizens parading around as a parent network have caused House Ed members to restrict the already modest Senate proposal. With MS education scraping the bottom, and kids in jeopardy, it’s hard to imagine why brave lawmakers would accept more mediocrity.
CHOICE IS A CIVIL RIGHT. Congratulations President Obama on your second inauguration and how fitting it fell on the day we recognize Dr. King. Many reformers tweeted with pride as you recalled “The Preamble” from our Declaration of Independence, as you called for us to equalize the playing field for all Americans. You mentioned education, but you did not mention equity there. Unshackled by union payback and votes, and as we prepare to celebrate National School Choice Week, it’s time to revisit your opposition to school choice, challenge your supporters and truly equalize opportunity in America. We were reminded of the impact politics has on one’s point of view when we uncovered again this letter from then-Gov. Clinton to Wisc. Rep. Polly Williams as she launched a movement for school choice from the African-American community, back in 1990! Her legacy took hold and grew. As president, Clinton would go on to veto the program many of us fought for in DC, and a version eventually became law, though not without opposition. Join us now, post election, in this latest horizon for civil rights.
MANDATE FOR LEADERSHIP. For our “new” leadership, even a limited federal role can accomplish much for education. Mandate for Change offers evergreen advice for any government leader or policy maker, now and in the future. Mandate is a call to action – and we must begin to act now.
BAEO. Join others united to resolve the aforementioned inequities when the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) convenes in Orlando from March 14-16, 2013 for its annual symposium.
STAY INFORMED. Get in the game at the Media Bullpen, the nation’s largest and only aggregator of education news. Set up personalized feeds, comment and share national, state, and local news from CER’s 24/7 virtual newsroom.
Daily Headlines for January 23, 2013
January 23, 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
High School Graduation Rate Tops 78 Percent – Highest Since 1976
Christian Science Monitor, MA, January 22, 2013
Some 78.2 percent finished in four years, graduating in spring 2010, a new report found Tuesday. Grim economic conditions and the need to be competitive in a crowded job market played a role.
FROM THE STATES
ALABAMA
Lesson In Legislating
Anniston Star, AL, January 22, 2013
A year ago, Gov. Robert Bentley and many Republican leaders in the state Legislature were promoting passage of a bill to create charter schools.
CALIFORNIA
Triggering Reform
Victorville Daily Press, CA, January 22, 2013
The reasons for the fierce teachers union opposition to successful completion of California’s Parent Trigger law by parents of Desert Trails students were obvious, particularly to the unions themselves. They knew that if the Adelanto school was converted to charter status, unhappy parents all over the state would be encouraged to follow suit.
DELAWARE
State On Right Road To Beat Its Dropout Record
Delaware News Journal, DE, January 23, 2013
Not since 1974 has the U.S. experienced the level of high schools students graduating on time as it is witnessing now.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Will The Mayor Step Up For Charter School Children?
Washington Examiner, DC, January 22, 2013
Mayor Vincent Gray’s budget office is preparing the administration’s proposed fiscal year 2014 budget, which the mayor will send to the District of Columbia Council in late March. The budget will fund both the traditional public school system and public charter schools, which are run independently of the school system and educate 43 percent of District students enrolled in public schools.
FLORIDA
Florida Governor To Call For Teacher Pay Raises
Brevard Times, FL, January 23, 2013
January Florida Governor Rick Scott on Wednesday will unveil a proposal for an across-the-board teacher pay increase, a spokeswoman for the governor confirmed Tuesday.
Teacher Evaluation Report Needs To Be Meaningful
TC Palm, FL, January 23, 2013
Most Treasure Coast teachers rated “effective” or “highly effective” in their classrooms for the 2011-12 school year, according to data released recently by the Florida Department of Education.
ILLINOIS
Far Fewer Schools May Close This Year
Chicago Tribune, IL, January 23, 2013
The commission on school closings has told Chicago Public Schools officials that shutting a large number of schools would create too much upheaval, and that it is leaning toward a recommendation for closing far fewer schools than many have feared — possibly as few as 15, sources said.
Chicago Catholic Schools See Enrollment Increase
WNCT, IL, January 23, 2013
Enrollment in Chicago’s Catholic schools has grown over the past three years. The Archdiocese of Chicago announced Tuesday the school system has seen an increase of 675 students during that period.
Parents Raise Questions About UNO Charter Schools’ Use Of Millions From State Grant
Chicago Tribune, IL, January 22, 2013
Construction on a new charter high school in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood reached a milestone Tuesday even as the school’s operators fended off criticism from one parents group about its finances.
INDIANA
BSU Revokes School Charters
Muncie Star Press, IN, January 23, 2013
Choice in public school education in Indiana took a blow Tuesday with the announcement that Ball State University is revoking seven charter schools in Gary, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Richmond.
Imagine Life Science Academy East’s Charter Won’t Be Renewed By Ball State
Indianapolis Star, IN, January 22, 2013
An Indianapolis charter school — the Imagine Life Science Academy East — could face closure after Ball State University made good on a promise to enforce higher standards at the charter schools it sponsors.
Gov. Pence Lobbies For Tax Cut, School Vouchers
Palladium-Item, IN, January 22, 2013
Gov. Mike Pence used his first State of the State address Tuesday night to lobby for a personal income tax cut, an expansion of Indiana’s school voucher system and improved vocational training.
IOWA
Iowa House Panel Begins Review Of Branstad’s School Reform Proposals
Des Moines Register, IA, January 23, 2013
Gov. Terry Branstad’s top-priority education reform package received its first official airing in the Iowa Legislature on Tuesday night, in a lengthy hearing before a panel of seven House members.
LOUISIANA
School Audits Uncover Issues At Lusher, Lagniappe, Miller-McCoy
Times-Picayune, LA, January 22, 2013
Audits released Monday by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office point to problems in 2011-12 at several New Orleans charter schools. A Lusher employee embezzled $25,000, Miller-McCoy has two potential ethics violations and Lagniappe Academies failed to conduct criminal background checks on some employees.
MAINE
Fifth High School Year A Solid Education Reform
Portland Press Herald, ME, January 23, 2013
A low-cost, smooth transition to college would help both students and the Maine economy.
MASSACHUSETTS
Let’s Talk ‘Legacy’
Boston Herald, MA, January 23, 2013
Gov. Deval Patrick last week said he wants to pour hundreds of millions of new dollars into the state’s education system via a massive tax increase, in part to narrow the achievement gap in the state’s needier communities. But there is a piece of legislation on Beacon Hill that wouldn’t cost taxpayers a dime and, if enacted, could have darn near the same impact.
MICHIGAN
Michigan Public Schools Fare Poorly In Statewide Study
Detroit News, MI, January 22, 2013
Michiganians gave the state’s public school system mediocre grades in an extensive study released Tuesday by The Center for Michigan that also found residents are skeptical of proposed reforms to expand online learning, lengthen the school year and allow universal open enrollment.
MINNESOTA
North Mpls. Science Charter School Raising The Bar
CBS Minnesota, MN, January 22, 2013
In just its second year, the Minnesota School of Science charter school in north Minneapolis is raising the bar. With an air of confidence, science student Jailynn Gainous doesn’t skip a beat when asked to explain her experiment.
Lakes Area Charter School Celebrates Class Of 2013
Osaki Review, MN, January 23, 2013
Nine young people recently wrapped up their high school career and are now beginning the next chapter of their lives.
MISSISSIPPI
Charter Schools Bill Clears House Panel, But Questions Remain
Clarion Ledger, MS, January 23, 2013
Concerns about school funding, administrator qualifications and allowing for-profit companies to manage charter schools in Mississippi will likely dominate debate on a related House Education Bill this week.
Opposition to Charter Schools is Growing in Oxford School District
Mississippi Public Broadcasting, MS, January 22, 2013
The state Senate may vote this week on whether to allow charter schools in Mississippi — after the House already passed the bill. But, as MPB’s Sandra Knispel reports, resistance is growing in some school districts, among them Oxford.
Senate-Like Charter Bill Best Option
Clarion Ledger, MS, January 23, 2013
My views on charter schools have evolved over the past two years, and the tipping point for me was moderating a roundtable discussion on the issue and listening to two parents who are desperate for better opportunities for their children.
MISSOURI
South City Parish Schools Look For New Idea
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, January 23, 2013
Faced with declining enrollment and rising costs, pastors and principals at 10 south St. Louis parish schools are discussing changes to the landscape of Catholic education in that part of the city.
NEVADA
Quest Academy Audit Sparks Emergency Action
KTNV Las Vegas, NV, January 22, 2013
Charter schools get a treasure trove of tax dollars to provide alternatives for Nevada students. But the administration of one school has been acting like pirates… raiding the school’s stash of money for personal gain.
NEW JERSEY
Christie Gets Tougher With Charter School Teachers
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, January 23, 2013
According to the administration, making it more difficult for charter teachers to earn tenure gives the schools themselves “more flexibility”
NEW YORK
24 Catholic Schools to Close
Wall Street Journal, January 23, 2013
Two dozen Roman Catholic schools in New York learned Tuesday they would permanently shut their doors at the end of the school year, in what the church said it hopes is the last round of closings for the foreseeable future.
Two Dozen Catholic Schools In The New York Metropolitan Area Will Get The Axe, Including Two High Schools
New York Daily News, NY, January 23, 2013
The St. Agnes Boy High School in Manhattan and Blessed Sacrament/St. Gabriel High School in New Rochelle and 22 elementary schools are slated for closure, according to the New York Archdiocese.
The School Bus Mess
New York Times, NY, January 23, 2013
New York City mayors have long tolerated one of the most inefficient school transportation systems in the country — made so by a labor agreement that undermines competitive bidding and poorly designed bus routes.
Elmira Charter School Will Be Co-Ed, Offer Grades K-2 Initially
Elmira Star Gazette, NY, January 22, 2013
The group proposing to open a charter school in Elmira has decided to make it co-ed, initially offer kindergarten to second grade and name it Finn Academy — An Elmira Charter School.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg Slams UFT For Presenting Teacher Evaluations That Are A ‘Fraud And Hoax’ To Public
New York Daily News, NY, January 22, 2013
The city lost out on nearly half a billion dollars after failing to meet Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s deadline to create an effective system that would grade the performance of educators. UFT President Michael Mulgrew fired back that the mayor only wants it his way.
An Absentee Mayor
New York Post, NY, January 23, 2013
Transforming the city’s public-school system into a national model for quality and effectiveness was once right at the top of Mayor Mike’s personal legacy list.
NORTH CAROLINA
A School As Transformative Force
Herald, Sun, NC, January 22, 2013
It is a work in progress, but it is a work whose progress is heartening on many levels.
Maureen Joy Charter School is moving ahead on schedule with renovations that will put it into much larger quarters this fall, and quarters that will be more convenient for many of its students and their families.
Wake Commissioners Back County Funding For Charter Construction
News & Observer, NC, January 22, 2013
Wake commissioners agreed to seek deep changes to the county school system Tuesday, voting to ask the General Assembly to sign off on a wish list that could change who owns schools, how they get built and how the school board gets elected.
PENNSYLVANIA
More Charges Against Charter-School Officials
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 23, 2013
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced five additional charges Tuesday against charter school founder Dorothy June Brown and three former administrators for defrauding the schools.
Pa. Charter School Ratings Plummet Under New Calculations
Allentown Morning Call, PA, January 22, 2013
The number of charter schools hitting testing benchmarks plummeted after the federal government said the state Education Department graded them too leniently.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Racial Tensions Fuel The Fiery Debate Over A North Charleston Montessori Program
Charleston City Paper, SC, January 23, 2013
To hear the way parents raised their voices in a meeting last Tuesday night about the Montessori programs at Malcolm C. Hursey Elementary School, you might think that their neighborhood, their way of life, and their children’s futures were on the line. And maybe they were.
TENNESSEE
Charter Incubator Reports On Successes Of Two Nashville Schools
The Tennessean, TN, January 23, 2013
The two Nashville schools shepherded into business by the Tennessee Charter School Incubator are proving to be worth the investment of time and money, according to a report created by the organization and released today.
‘Nashville Commits’ Initiative Wants More Metro Kids College-Ready
The Tennessean, TN, January 23, 2013
A Nashville charter school founder has assembled more than 70 notable Nashvillians, including Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell, to tackle the ambitious goal of tripling the city’s number of low-income college-ready graduates by 2020.
Board Members Weigh Charter Schools And Wonder: What’s Their Secret?
The Tennessean, TN, January 23, 2013
After being told the six highest performing middle schools in Metro Nashville are charter schools, officials asked what charters have that district schools don’t.
Board To Make It Official: No More Memphis City Schools System
Commercial Appeal, TN, January 22, 2013
The unified Memphis and Shelby County school board gave tentative approval Tuesday to a proposed resolution that will put the Memphis City Schools district officially out of business as of July 1.
Voucher Debate: Harris Outnumbered In Knox School Board Discussion
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, January 23, 2013
A majority of Knox County school board members are against school vouchers, but on Tuesday one member tried to sway his colleagues to be open to them.
TEXAS
New Longview Charter School Takes ‘Student-Centered’ Focus
Longview News-Journal, TX, January 23, 2013
A new education option in Longview offers students in third through sixth grades the opportunity to experience project-based learning in a small school setting.
Vouchers Pushed During School Finance Hearing
San Antonio Express, TX, January 23, 2013
Introducing more school choice to parents could save Texas billions of dollars and result in higher pay for public school teachers, witness Joseph Bast testified Tuesday morning in the lawsuit trial of the state’s school finance system.
WASHINGTON
An Opportunity To Shape State’s Charter Schools
Yakima Herald-Republic, WA, January 23, 2013
Washington’s experiment in charter schools is moving forward as the state Board of Education takes public comment on rules that will govern what is essentially a pilot project. Washington voters started this process in November when they narrowly approved Initiative 1240, which allows the state to join most of the rest of the country in the charter school movement.
WEST VIRGINIA
RESA Important Part Of Public School Reform
Martinsburg Journal, WV, January 23, 2013
One of the key recommendations a consultant made for public school reform in West Virginia was to reduce the size of the bloated state Department of Education. In addition to the DOE’s cost, the current system is too centralized to perform effectively, the consultant wrote in an “audit” report.
WISCONSIN
Fitzgerald, Other Ex-Speakers Lobby For Vouchers
Appleton Post Crescent, WI, January 23, 2013
Advocates for expanding school vouchers in Wisconsin have hired three former Republican speakers of the state Assembly to help make their case, a sign of political firepower on a contentious issue that has renewed calls to ban the increasingly common practice of moving directly from the Legislature to lobbying.
ONLINE LEARNING
Virtual School Blames Poor Performance on Students
Nashville Public Radio, TN, January 22, 2013
Tennessee’s largest K-through-12 online school had to defend poor standardized test results to state lawmakers Tuesday. Tennessee Virtual Academy posted scores labeled “unacceptable” by the state.
Lancaster Schools Knock Down Digital Academy Contract
Lancaster Eagle Gazette, OH, January 22, 2013
The Lancaster Board of Education voted 5-0 to not renew the district’s sponsorship of the Lancaster Digital Academy on Tuesday.
Virtual Academy Leases Second Downtown Bldg.
Clarkston News, MI, January 23, 2013
The Oxford Virtual Academy (OVA) is expanding, not just in the number of students it serves, but in the actual physical space it occupies. OVA is in the process of moving some of its operations into 5 S. Washington St., which formerly housed the ArtCapsule.
Online Ed Expansion, School Choice Plan Murky In 2013
Michigan Live, MI, January 22, 2013
A proposal to revise the state’s School Aid Act to allow state funding to follow students to where they take individual classes will not be part of Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget proposal next month, but could make its way into legislative discussions over that budget.