Shapiro Consulting, Author at The Center for Education Reform

Engler, Allen To Headline Roundtable Discussion on Role of Private Companies in Public Education

October 3, 2012 By Shapiro Consulting

Media Advisory
October 3, 2012

Former Governor John Engler will join CER President Jeanne Allen, and other experts for an in-depth roundtable discussion exploring the critical issue of the growing role of private companies in American public education. The roundtable will address the critical question of whether education can be run as a profitable business and still stay true to a humanitarian vision.

The panel will also include Brian Jones, Chairman of the D.C. Public Charter School Board which is the chief authorizer of charter schools in D.C., and James Tooley, author of From Village School to Global Brand: Changing the World Through Education which examines the history of global education management organization SABIS.

The evening – co-hosted by CER and SABIS – will also include a reception and book signing following the roundtable.

What:	Can Education Be Run as a Profitable Business and Still Be Guided by a Humanitarian Vision? Roundtable, Reception, and Book Signing
When:	Wednesday, October 10, 2012 Roundtable begins at 4:30 PM
Where:	300 New Jersey Avenue, NW Suite 800 Washington, D.C. The Business Roundtable
Who:	Jeanne Allen, President, The Center for Education Reform James Tooley, Author, From Village School to Global Brand: Changing the World Through Education Honorable John Engler, Former Governor of Michigan Brian Jones, Chairman, D.C. Public Charters School Board

Please contact events@staging.edreform.com for additional information.

Watch the Roundtable event online here.

Filed Under: Press Releases

What the Candidates Debate Has to Offer Ed Reformers

October 3, 2012 By Shapiro Consulting

October 3, 2012

Who knew education would come up repeatedly tonite?

Romney: After the president opened the debate about his jobs plan, Romney introduced the education component into the debate, combining jobs and skills, which come from education.

Obama: We have to improve our education system — we have a program called Race to the Top and now we are going to hire 100,000 math and science teachers.

Romney: I agree education is key to the future of our economy but we have 27 different training programs across government not working together. (we are fact checking this)

Obama: Says he inherited 18 programs for education that were well intentioned but not working for kids; that one teacher in NV has 42 kids and 10 year old textbooks. (we are fact checking this, too!)

This smattering of their words scratches the surface of an engaging, competitive conversation that highlighted education six times (at least) before the first 15 minutes were up and despite having been asked no direct questions about education. The candidates would go on to amplify their points throughout, and eventually address the proper federal role, which, despite suggestions among education reformers to the contrary, really is very, very different. And by all twitter, news media and pundit reports, even on this issue Romney was the winner. READ MORE…

For more information, review, and comparisons on Romney and Obama’s views on education, be sure to check out these resources:

Presidential Candidates Focus on Education

Opinion: Schooling Obama

Where Do Romney, Obama Stand on Education?

School Choice is Key Issue in Election

GOP Convention Highlights Ed Reform; Now It’s the Dems Turn

Paul Ryan: Education Pioneer

And don’t forget to check out CER’s Field Guide and Mandate for Change, which serve as guides for the kinds of reforms candidates should be embracing and talking about.

Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: elections, candidates, presidential debate

Daily Headlines for October 3, 2012

October 3, 2012 By Shapiro Consulting

Rethinking What Leads To Success In Education
USA Today, October 3, 2012
After decades of failed education policies, scientists, economists and educators are beginning to rethink their basic ideas about what it takes to succeed in school. They’re beginning to look at so-called “non-cognitive skills” — grit, perseverance, conscientiousness and optimism, for instance — and wondering if they might be as important as cognitive skills.

Arne Duncan Tries To Smooth Relations With Teachers
Washington Post, DC, October 2, 2012
Education Secretary Arne Duncan made a careful effort Tuesday to smooth relations with teachers, saying the Obama administration understands that many educators feel besieged by the national push for new evaluations and faster improvements in student achievement.

Will Obama Duck ‘Won’t Back Down’?
Wall Street Journal , October 3, 2012
With five weeks to go before election day, Hollywood has just released a drama starring Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal as gritty moms fighting injustice in a hardscrabble Pittsburgh neighborhood.

What Obama and Romney Say About Education: Not Much
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 2, 2012
It’s hard to guess whether the topic of education will come up in this week’s presidential debate, or any of the others. With the economy and the whole 47% debacle on everybody’s mind, there hasn’t been much talk about the public schools, even though they’re at a critical juncture.

Tying Students’ Test Scores To Teacher Evaluations Still A Matter Of Debate
Desert News, UT, October 2, 2012
Cities and states are starting to rely heavily on students’ test scores as indicators of their teachers’ success, but educators worry current tests do not provide a fair gauge of their actual effect on student progress

FROM THE STATES

CALIFORNIA

Veto Pits Charter School Autonomy Against Affordable Meals
San Diego Union Tribune, CA, October 3, 2012
Arguing that he did not want to “erode the independence and flexibility” of charter schools, Gov. Jerry Brown last weekend vetoed legislation that would have required charters to provide low-income students free or reduced-price meals.

A Potential Charter School Crisis
San Jose Inside Blog, CA, October 2, 2012
A comprehensive plan must be developed to chart the best course for the ever-expanding charter school movement—before it is too late. Like urban sprawl, the unplanned process will be disastrous. I believe there is still time for a win for our students, a win for the teachers and a win for our region.

CONNECTICUT

New Legislation Makes Millions Available For Construction at Charter Oak International Academy
West Hartford News, CT, October 2, 2012
Legislation that will make millions of dollars available for construction at the Charter Oak International Academy in West Hartford was recently passed, state officials announced at a West Hartford Board of Education meeting today.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

D.C. Receives Zero Fast-Track Charter School Applications — So Far
Washington Post Blog, DC, October 2, 2012
Experienced charter school operators have yet to take advantage of the District’s new fast-track approval process, which would allow school leaders with a record of success in other cities to open doors here a full year ahead of the regular timetable.

FLORIDA

School Board OKs Nearly Year-Round Charter School
Gainesville Sun, FL, October 2, 2012
A nearly year-round charter school may open its doors in June after the Alachua County School Board unanimously approved the school’s application Tuesday.

Measure Opens Door To Tax Support For Church Schools
Orlando Sentinel, FL, October 3, 2012
No matter what we hear about the benefits of Amendment 8, I can only shudder at the unintended consequences that may erupt if it passes in November. I anticipate greater erosion of the public school system as we know it, the same public school system that our state leaders tout as one of the most improved and highly rated, progressive and accountable state education systems in the country.

GEORGIA

Defeat Charter Amendment, Push for Rewrite
Marietta Daily Journal, GA, October 3, 2012
When you go to the polls on Nov. 6, you will be asked to vote on an Amendment to the Georgia State Constitution. Amending our state Constitution should be done rarely and only with the consequences fully understood.

Choice On Charter School Amendment Is Local Or State Control
Marietta Daily Journal, GA, October 3, 2012
Charter schools are touted as the answer to the deficiencies in our public schools. But since supporters don’t trust local school boards or the state board of education to do the right thing, they want to amend the Georgia Constitution and empower a state commission to override local school boards.

Tea Party Hears Push for Charter Vote OK
The Citizen, GA, October 3, 2012
State Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton) at the Sept. 27 meeting of the Fayette County Local Issues Tea Party had her say on the upcoming Nov. 6 statewide referendum on the charter schools amendment. Jones is largely responsible for the having the proposed amendment included on the ballot.

Sides Dig In On Charter Issue
Times-Georgian, GA, October 3, 2012
A Villa Rica resident who has been vocal about an education issue on the November ballot has taken local superintendents to task on their stance on the charter school amendment.

Georgia School Boards Group Accused Of Anti-Charter Efforts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, October 2, 2012
During what were supposed to be training sessions, the Georgia School Boards Association instructed school board members on how to oppose the charter schools amendment, some school board members have complained.

Charter Schools Group To Honor Local Lawmakers
Cherokee Tribune, GA, October 03, 2012
Two elected officials from Cherokee who are strong proponents of charter schools will be honored by the Georgia Charter Schools Association in Atlanta this week.

State Education Agency Neutral On Charter Vote
Jackson Progress-Argus, GA, October 3, 2012
With the state education chief under pressure for opposing an amendment on charter schools, the Georgia Department of Education has declared its neutrality on the Nov. 6 vote.

Brad Smith: Charter Schools Should Be Supervised By Local School Boards
Newton Citizen, GA, October 2, 2012
On Nov. 6, you will have the opportunity to vote on an amendment to the state Constitution about Charter Schools. In my capacity as a member of the Rockdale County Board of Education, I have had the chance to really examine the issue so I can make informed decisions as a voter.

ILLINOIS

Charter Backers Rally As Teachers Vote On Contract
Chicago Tribune, IL, October 3, 2012
Chicago teachers voted on a tentative contract agreement Tuesday as the battle over the future of the city’s public schools ratcheted up with a large and boisterous rally in support of privately run charter schools.

INDIANA

Keep Control Local
Journal Gazette, IN, October 3, 2012
The State of Education address delivered by Indiana’s superintendent of public instruction last week lacked the specific proposals one might expect from a candidate facing re-election, but a reference to taking over entire school districts should be the clue that the state has gone too far in wresting control from local officials.

MARYLAND

School Board Member Questions Charter School Scrutiny
Maryland Gazette, MD, October 3, 2012
When the Montgomery County Board of Education approved the county’s first charter school, it only was after careful scrutiny of the school’s application.

MASSACHUSETTS

Many May Be Forced To Switch Schools In Boston
Boston Globe, MA, October 3, 2012
Proposed changes to the way Boston assigns students could force thousands of children already attending schools to move to new ones in two years, stirring unease among parents and prompting officials to quickly seek a remedy.

Science Charter School Would Serve North Shore
Salem News, MA, October 3, 2012
A proposal to open a new charter school serving the North Shore that emphasizes science and math has made it to the final round of selection before the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

MICHIGAN

Charter School Contract Addresses Student Achievement, Mosaica’s Fees And More
The Muskegon Chronicle, MI, October 3, 2012
When charter school officials went to work building a new district in Muskegon Heights , they had their work cut out for them in a series of specific student achievement goals and curriculum requirements.

Washtenaw County Charter Schools Boost Enrollment By More Than 28 Percent
Ann Arbor, MI, October 3, 2012
Early enrollment figures show an increase of more than 28 percent in the number of students attending Washtenaw County charter schools compared to last year.

MINNESOTA

St. Paul School Harbors Environment Where Girls Excel
CBS Minnesota , MN, October 2, 2012
In fact, studies show that in math and science girls do not do as well as boys. But a public charter school in St. Paul is changing that. Laura Jeffrey Academy is a school made for girls and it’s a great example of what’s working in our schools.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Nashua Charter School Organizers File Appeal Of Moratorium
Nashua Telegraph, NH, October 3, 2012
Organizers of the Gate City Charter School for the Arts are hoping they won’t have to wait much longer to be authorized, filing an appeal with the Department of Education to move the process forward.

N.H. Charter Freeze Triggers Fierce Backlash
Education Week, October 2, 2012
A recent decision by the New Hampshire board of education to place a moratorium on new charter schools drew an angry response from elected officials and parents—and underscored recurrent tensions among state and local officials across the country about how to fund those schools and manage their growth.

The BOE’s Ridiculous Charter School Moratorium
Union Leader, NH, October 3, 2012
Two weeks ago, the state Board of Education denied every charter school application before it, citing a financial problem that did not exist.

NEW JERSEY

Grant To Boost Quality Of Staff
Asbury Park Press, NJ, October 3, 2012
Improving teacher and principal quality in Lakewood, Asbury Park and two other districts is the focus of a $39 million federal grant awarded to Rutgers University — and officials say the grant will help jump-start school reform measures in those districts.

NEW YORK

Bloomberg Blocks Teacher Ratings
New York Daily News, NY, October 3, 2012
Since Mayor Bloomberg took control of the school system, more than 67,000 teachers — the equivalent of the entire teaching forces of Los Angeles and Chicago combined — have left our schools.

NORTH CAROLINA

Some North Carolina Charter School Applicants Rated Inadequate
NBC 17, NC, October 2, 2012
The plans for some of the recently approved charter schools were rated “inadequate,” according to documents obtained by NBC-17 from the North Carolina Justice Center .

OHIO

Urban School Districts Targeting Data System In Attendance Tampering Probe
Ravenna News-Leader, OH, October 3, 2012
Ohio’s eight largest big-city school districts say they have experienced numerous problems understanding and using the computer system that’s at the center of a statewide data-tampering investigation.

OKLAHOMA

Lawmakers Oppose ‘Parent Trigger’ Idea
KOCO, OK, October 3, 2012
State Superintendent Janet Baressi said it inspired her, and that’s why she’s supporting Sen. David Holt’s new “parent trigger” legislation.

PENNSYLVANIA

Community Group Fights Against School Closures
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, October 3, 2012
THERE SHOULD BE a moratorium on closing public schools in the city because the Philadelphia School District’s plans disproportionately affect black students, a community group will allege in a federal complaint.

TENNESSEE

School Vouchers Fail Public
Times Free Press, TN, October 3, 2012
Public schools in Hamilton County — indeed, in all of Tennessee — must improve if students are to compete in a world where a sound, broad-based education is the prerequisite for well-paying jobs that allow men and women to lead productive lives and to provide for their families. Such improvement has been slow to arrive. Supporters of taxpayer-funded private school vouchers believe they have a remedy for current problems. They are short-sighted — and wrong.

TEXAS

Most Texans Say They’d Back Tax Boost To Raise Teacher Pay
San Antonio Express-News, TX, October 3, 2012
Nearly three-quarters of state registered voters would be willing to pay more in taxes to raise teacher pay, according to a poll released Tuesday by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Texas Lyceum leadership group

With Help of Andre Agassi’s Fund, KIPP Will Bring a Charter Elementary to Westmoreland and Camp Wisdom Next Year
Dallas Morning News Blog, TX, October 2, 2012
No doubt you recall the firestorm that erupted at Dallas City Hall earlier this year, when charter-school-operating Uplift Education asked the city to form that corporation that would allow it to sell $85 million worth of bonds for a planned expansion that includes that newly opened Deep Ellum campus.

WASHINGTON

School Reform Becomes Personal
Spokesman Review, WA, October 3, 2012
Here’s how fiery the debate over school reform has gotten in Idaho : After a forum at the City Club of Boise on Tuesday, state Rep. Brian Cronin, D-Boise, accused state schools Superintendent Tom Luna of grabbing his arm after his opening remarks and berating him.

Charter Schools Hurt Funding To Community Schools
Bellingham Herald, WA, October 3, 2012
We can all agree about the need to improve public education in northwest Washington. But a charter schools measure on the November ballot is a bad move. Initiative 1240 forces the state to spend millions on unproven ideas for a few, while ignoring proven solutions that will benefit all of Washington’s schoolchildren.

ONLINE SCHOOLS

State Lawmaker Introduces Charter And Cyber School Funding Reform Bill
The Patriot-News, PA, October 2, 2012
State Rep. James Roebuck introduced legislation Tuesday limiting the amount of money public school districts pay to charter and cyber schools.

FL School Districts Look To Model Lee School
ABC-7, FL, October 2, 2012
The successes of the Lee Virtual School have other school districts around the state looking to model their program like Lee County.

Filed Under: Daily Headlines

The First Presidential Debate

October 3, 2012 By Shapiro Consulting

Candidates Square Off on Education: How Much Chicken in Every Pot?
Who knew education would come up repeatedly tonite?

Romney: After the president opened the debate about his jobs plan, Romney introduced the education component into the debate, combining jobs and skills, which come from education.

Obama: We have to improve our education system — we have a program called Race to the Top and now we are going to hire 100,000 math and science teachers.

Romney: I agree education is key to the future of our economy but we have 27 different training programs across government not working together. (we are fact checking this)

A few helpful resources to serve as a primer of sorts as the candidates go head-to-head tonight in their first debate:

Presidential Candidates Focus on Education
In May 2012, both Obama and Romney turned their attention to education, signaling a new focus on education reform as a campaign issue.

Opinion: Schooling Obama
VIDEO: Jeanne Allen weighs in on parent power, education reform & the elections on WSJ Opinion Journal.

Where Do Romney, Obama Stand on Education?
VIDEO: Any president that doesn’t make education a central issue deserves a “C”.

School Choice is Key Issue in Election
National Journal piece noting school choice is where Mitt Romney and President Obama’s education plans differ the most.

GOP Convention Highlights Ed Reform; Now It’s the Dems Turn
CER is in the middle of a campaign to educate the public and politicians about what real education reform is and why it is crucial to the future our country. It’s heartening to see that some officials already understand that. With the need for education reform to be a national – not a partisan imperative – the Democrats must now ante up.

Post-Debate Reactions and Commentary:

Fact Check: On education, gains difficult to demonstrate
Los Angeles Times reporter Howard Blume investigates claims made by both parties about education during the debate.

Filed Under: Presidential Election Analysis

The Sad, Sad SAT Factor: How Long Do We Accept Dismal Scores?

October 2, 2012 By Shapiro Consulting

“Does the expanded population of test takers explain the decline in reading and writing scores?”

The simple answer is no, it does not – despite the College Board’s continual insistence to the contrary. What these SAT scores, combined with the equally dismal ACT scores, confirm is that the majority of kids in this country are not ready for college, that more of our students are not being adequately served by their schools, and that a dangerous achievement gap still persists among ethnic groups.

When looking at the total scores of reading, math, and writing combined, white students have made no progress in the last six years, but continue to score higher than their African American and Hispanic peers whose scores have been in a steady decline since 2006. Conversely, the scores of Asian students have been steadily increasing. The average combined score for white students in 2012 (1578) is almost identical to their score in 2006 (1582). African American students’ scores have declined from 1291 in 2006 to 1273 in 2012 and the scores of Hispanic students went from 1371 in 2006 to 1350 in 2012.

We need to ask ourselves, how many more years of dismal test scores are we willing to accept? How many more kids are we willing to sacrifice to a bad education on the altar of the status quo? Because what we have been doing is clearly not working. Student achievement on college entrance exams remains stagnant and we continue to let this failure fester in our education system. Not only are we not preparing our kids for college and careers, but we are jeopardizing their future and the future of their country.

So how do we turn things around? We need reforms that expand educational choices, encourage innovation, and put power in the hands of parents as demonstrated in the film Won’t Back Down. It’s going to take strong reform-minded leaders willing to stick their necks out and insist on real education reforms, who shake things up to increase student achievement that will move us forward. In other words, leaders who won’t accept lip service and platitudes as real reform from those who have a vested interested in protecting the status quo.

(Originally posted to the National Journal‘s Education Experts blog.)

Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: Achievement Gap, SAT scores

How Long Do We Accept Dismal Test Scores

October 2, 2012 By Shapiro Consulting

The Sad, Sad SAT Factor
by Fawn Johnson
National Journal
October 1, 2012

The College Board reported last week that 43 percent of college-bound students are academically ready for college. This means that less than half of those who took the test this year are likely to maintain a B- average or higher during their freshman year of college. The figure shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone involved in higher education. In community colleges, it isn’t unusual for three-quarters of the entering students to need some sort of catch-up course. Still, it’s a problem for a country that seems to be in agreement that an increase in college graduates would help grow the economy and shrink the poverty rate.

Let’s look at these numbers a little bit more closely. Math scores have remained stable over the last four years. That in itself is good news, since falling behind in high school math is the surest way to eliminate the most lucrative of college majors–the science, technology, and engineering fields that both President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney are encouraging. Moreover, educators are well aware that reading and writing is harder to teach and harder to test than math.

Writing scores have declined by four and five points respectively. That’s not good, but it could be worse. And the population of test takers is also expanding, largely in disadvantaged populations. The SAT test takers grew from 1.56 million in 2008 to 1.66 million this year, making 2012 the largest class of test takers in history. The number of test takers who qualify for a fee waiver has increased by 61 percent over four years. Almost half of the test takers this year were minorities (45 percent), up from 38 percent in 2008. The proportion of test takers who came from non-English speaking or bilingual homes increased by 10 points over 10 years.

How significant is the 43 percent figure in judging the quality of the future workforce? Does the expanded population of test takers explain the decline in reading and writing scores? How could the SAT test be improved? Are there other measures that can predict a student’s success in college? What can be done to improve tests on reading and writing? What can be done to improve reading and writing instruction?

Response – How Long Do We Accept Dismal Test Scores
by Jeanne Allen
September 12, 2012

“Does the expanded population of test takers explain the decline in reading and writing scores?”

Filed Under: Opinions Tagged With: Achievement Gap, SAT scores

Charter vote about educational choice

October 2, 2012 By Shapiro Consulting

Opinion
by Jim Geiser
Athens Banner-Herald
October 1, 2012

On Nov. 6, Georgia voters will be asked to decide on the following question: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?”

As an advocate of public education reform, I will be voting “yes” for several reasons, the main one being that it’s the right thing to do for kids. In short, the amendment will allow the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that well-run charter schools can bring — innovation that also can infuse traditional public schools with energy.

Why is the amendment needed? Because groups in Georgia communities wishing to start a public independent charter school — not a school-district-run charter — currently have no options for approval but their local school board, the very group that views independent charters as competition funneling away “their” money. This amendment would allow a state commission to authorize charter schools, thus allowing multiple authorizers, a practice in 16 other states as of 2011.

Not coincidentally, 78 percent of the nation’s charter schools are in states with multiple authorizers, or a strong appeals process, according to the Center for Education Reform. The 16 multiple-authorizer states also have the highest-quality charter schools, based on test scores, research studies and ongoing observation.

In a Sept. 23 commentary headlined “Do the math on charter amendment,” local columnist Myra Blackmon writes that she supports charter schools. Her commentary, though, doesn’t support the independent charter schools the proposed amendment seeks to allow. Those schools are governed by independent community boards of directors comprising parents, teachers and community representatives. These independent charter schools take the same standardized tests and are accountable to the state, or to the local school board, if approved locally.

But unlike traditional public schools, charter schools are subject to closure if they don’t perform, and will go out of business if parents don’t choose them.

The financial numbers obviously are important in this conversation, but the bigger issue is why independent charter schools are necessary. First, public charter schools are needed because traditional public schools aren’t adequately serving all children, and many parents are looking for options. Yes, there are some great things happening at some of our schools. My son is at Clarke Central High School, and I am expecting a high-quality education. But the reality is that 1-in-3 kids in Georgia drop out of school, and in Clarke County the numbers are even worse. I think charter schools can serve as a model for raising standards and expectations.

In a hypothetical scenario in her column, Blackmon asks readers to consider a “local board of education (that) denies the (charter) proposal on legitimate — not political or personal — grounds.” The truth is that school boards do reject charter schools for personal and political reasons. School boards are unwilling to relinquish the control and the educational dollars, even when groups propose high-quality, accountable charter schools.

The vast majority of charter schools in Georgia (and the two in Clarke County) are district charter schools — and yes, school districts fully support these schools because they are run by the school districts. They use the term “charter” for effect, not substance.

But I most disagree with Blackmon’s view that traditional public schools are entitled to all the K-12 education dollars and that public charter schools will deprive traditional schools of their money. Public schools do not create money, they operate on our tax dollars. As a parent, if I choose to put my child in a public charter school rather than a traditional public school, that’s my choice — true local control — and the money should follow that child. Incidentally, the amendment allows local school boards to keep their share of the money, even though they aren’t educating the student. The state will provide a percentage of the local dollars.

And, charter schools don’t have the large bureaucracy that characterizes many traditional schools. The governance structure of charter schools allows them to be innovative and to implement decisions quickly.

In Georgia, charter schools serve higher percentages of minority or economically disadvantaged students than the traditional public schools and have consistently outperformed traditional public schools.

I think it is important that we continue to expand public educational options for all students. I encourage a “yes” vote on the amendment.

• Jim Geiser coordinates a high school internship program at the University of Georgia. He served as principal of Children’s Charter School in Baton Rouge, La., and as executive director of the Louisiana Charter Schools Association.

Filed Under: CER in the News

Daily Headlines for October 2, 2012

October 2, 2012 By Shapiro Consulting

More Students Enrolling In AP Math, Science
USA Today, October 1, 2012
Woodside, a large arts magnet school in this industry-rich peninsula an hour’s drive southeast of Richmond, is among a group of schools nationwide that is pushing to expand access to advanced math and science courses to match those of more affluent suburban schools.

If Chicago Took On Teachers Unions . . .
Charleston Daily Mail, WV, October 2, 2012
It is hard for education reformers to be too optimistic about the post-strike prospects for Chicago schools. The resulting contract significantly boosts teacher pay in exchange for some modest changes such as a lengthened school day and improved teacher testing.

Study: Obama Turnaround Plans Force ‘Schools To Run Like Corporations’
Grand Rapid Press, MI, October 1, 2012
President Obama’s School Improvement Grant program should be overhauled because it works on the assumption that educational improvement can come from market-based reforms, “forcing schools to run like corporations,” according to a new report from a union-backed think tank.

No Child Left Behind A Key Issue As Voters Weigh Obama’s And Romney’s Plans
Hattiesburg American, MS, October 2, 2012
No Child Left Behind a key issue as voters weigh Obama’s and Romney’s plans to help improve country’s educational system

Faith Leaders Sound Off On Role Of Church In Public Education
CNN Blog, October 2, 2012
Dozens of faith leaders from across the country recently gathered to attend The Stand Up Education Policy Summit in Atlanta, Georgia , to talk education reform. The daylong conference was hosted by education organizations Students First, founded by Michelle Rhee and Stand Up, led by her husband, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. The purpose of the event was a call for action for clergy to take part in the national movement to transform public education.

FROM THE STATES

CALIFORNIA

Jerry Brown’s School Bailout
Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2012
Democrats howl about bank bailouts, but then they also treat public schools as if they’re too big to fail. As a case in point, California Governor Jerry Brown is throwing the Inglewood school district in Los Angeles’s South Bay a $55 million lifeline in the name of “saving” 14,000 kids. But as with most government bailouts, the real intended beneficiaries are the unions.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Charter Schools’ Role In Serving Neighborhoods To Be Examined
Washington Examiner, DC, October 1, 2012
D.C. schools officials are set to discuss Tuesday whether charter schools should give preference to children who live nearby, as DC Public Schools prepares to close some neighborhood schools.

FLORIDA

Sarasota School Board To Weigh In On Amendment 8
Herald Tribune, FL, October 1, 2012
Sarasota County public schools could join the ranks of several districts across Florida opposing a controversial state amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot.

GEORGIA

BOE Opposes Charter Amendment
Douglas County Sentinel, GA, October 1, 2012
As expected, the Douglas County Board of Education (BOE) voted to officially oppose a Nov. 6 amendment to the Georgia Constitution underlining the state’s authority to approve charter schools.

Out-Of-State Donors Active In Georgia Charter School Campaign
Augusta Chronicle, GA, October 1, 2012
Out-of-state donations and business groups continue to fuel much of the campaign for changing the Georgia constitution so a panel of state appointees could issue operating charters to schools over the objections of local school boards.

Geiser: Charter Vote About Educational Choice
Athens Banner-Herald, GA, October 1, 2012
On Nov. 6, Georgia voters will be asked to decide on the following question: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?”

ILLINIOS

Teachers Poised To Vote On New Contract
Chicago Tribune, IL, October 2, 2012
Chicago teachers Tuesday will vote on whether to accept a contract agreement and end a contentious labor battle that culminated in a seven-day strike last month.

INDIANA

Charter School Switching Gears
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN, October 2, 2012
The founding board of the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy believes its work starting a new charter school is done and hopes to bring a new 11-member governing board to handle oversight.

Crowd Supports Charter Proposal
Palladium-Item, IN, October 1, 2012
A larger crowd than expected — about 70 people — attended Monday an Indiana Charter School Board public hearing on a proposed high school for adults in Richmond .

IOWA

Urbandale Modifies Teacher Evaluation Process
Des Moines Register, IA, October 1, 2012
The superintendent of the Urbandale Community School District is seeking to improve the quality and performance of staff by creating a new evaluation process — and the idea has the support of the Iowa Department of Education.

Iowa City Schools Failing To Meet Targets
Iowa City Press-Citizen, IA, October 2, 2012
A new report from the Iowa Department of Education highlights concerns about the way the federal government measures classroom progress.

KANSAS

Kansas Schools’ Achievement Gap Widening, But Less Than Originally Thought
Wichita Eagle, KS, October 1, 2012
The achievement gap between minority and non-minority students in Kansas schools is widening, but not as dramatically as state education officials thought.

LOUISIANA

State to Overhaul pre-K
The Advocate, LA, October 2, 2012
State education leaders are about to announce plans to revamp Louisiana’s sprawling pre-kindergarten programs.

MAINE

A Maine First: 60-Student Cornville Charter School Opens
Kennebec Journal, ME, October 1, 2012
An American flag from the closed Cornville Elementary School was raised and then lowered Monday morning in a ceremony marking the opening of the new Cornville Regional Charter School .

MARYLAND

Teachers, Principals Volunteer For Evaluation Pilot
Baltimore Sun, MD, October 1, 2012
New teacher and principal evaluation systems mandated by the state don’t take effect until next year, but 129 Howard County teachers and 23 principals have volunteered to participate in a pilot evaluation: a test run that places more emphasis than ever on student achievement.

MASSACHUSETTS

Proposal for New Fall River Charter School Advances
Herald News, MA, October 2, 2012
A charter school proposed to serve secondary education students in the city will take its next step toward becoming a reality.

Blackman’s Drastic Cut Shows Need For Charter Reforms
Gloucester Daily Times, MA, October 1, 2012
The drastic step by Gloucester Community Arts Charter School Executive Director Tony Blackman to cut his own job to save the school some $80,000 toward a $550,000 budget deficit indeed shows his commitment to the school, which never could have opened without his efforts and those of several parents in the late summer and fall of 2010.

Community Charter School of Cambridge Celebrates MCAS Scores
Boston Globe, MA, October 1, 2012
Students and faculty at the Community Charter School of Cambridge took a short break from classes Monday to celebrate MCAS scores that placed the school at the top of public school systems and charter schools throughout the state this year.

MICHIGAN

Student Count Will Go Beyond Count Day
Detroit News, MI, October 2, 2012
School districts across Michigan are gearing up for Count Day on Wednesday, when students in seats equal dollars for the year.

NEW JERSEY

State Gives Preliminary Go-Ahead to Two New Charter Schools
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, October 2, 2012
The Christie administration continues to be picky about new charter schools, with just two applications approved in the latest round announced yesterday — one in Newark and one in Camden .

Newark Parochial School Is First To Use N.J. Law To Become Charter School
Star-Ledger, NJ, October 1, 2012
An Episcopal day school serving students in Newark will become the first in New Jersey to take advantage of a law allowing parochial schools to convert to charter schools, officials from the state Department of Education announced today.

Charter School Advocates Speak Up
Cherry Hill Courier-Post, NJ, October 2, 2012
Advocates for Hope Act schools stepped up the pressure on the city’s school board Monday, with Mayor Dana Redd saying board members “missed a chance” to help local youngsters when they rejected all Hope School applicants last week.

NEW YORK

Schools’ Failure to Improve May Lead to More Closings
New York Times, NY, October 2, 2012
New York City’s Education Department may step up its efforts to close schools after more than 150 of them posted a third straight year of mediocre results on their annual progress reports.

Schools Flunk Out
New York Post, NY, October 2, 2012
Posted: 2:16 AM, October 2, 2012
The number of public elementary and middle schools that could face closure or other major overhauls has nearly doubled since last year, to 217, based on A-through-F letter grades released by the city yesterday.

NORTH CAROLINA

Pender Board of Education Settles Lawsuit
Star News, NC, October 1, 2012
The Pender County Board of Education settled a lawsuit brought against it by a local charter school, board members announced at their Tuesday meeting.

Charter School Tentatively Agrees To Repay Federal Money For Lunch Program
Winston-Salem Journal, NC, October 1, 2012
Quality Education Academy, a Winston-Salem charter school, has tentatively agreed to pay back $52,000 in federal money after the N.C. Department of Public Instruction accused the school of mishandling its federal child-nutrition program last year.

OKLAHOMA

Triggering The Necessary Change In Schools
Edmond Sun, OK, October 1, 2012
I saw a special preview of the movie “Won’t Back Down” last week. It’s a powerful movie with a powerful message. Based on true events, the movie details the fight of one parent, mired in poverty, who wants a better learning environment for her academically struggling daughter. She finds an ally in a teacher, who is also the parent of a struggling student. The two fight through incredible adversity at many levels to open a school. It was inspiring.

OREGON

Portland School Board To Hold Public Hearings For Two Charter Schools
The Oregonian, OR, October 1, 2012
The Portland School Board tonight will have a hearing on two charter schools vying for approval to open within the district in 2013.

PENNSYLVANIA

Penn Gets $2.5M Boost For Charter School Partnership
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, October 2, 2012
The University of Pennsylvania’s partnership with the national network of KIPP charter schools is getting a big financial boost.

Head Of National Teachers Union: Touring Philadelphia Schools, Assessing Political Obstacles
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, October 2, 2012
Walking and driving around Philadelphia on Monday, Randi Weingarten was struck by the vibrant, dynamic city she saw.

Propel Looks Into Charter School In Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood Section
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, October 2, 2012
Since 2006, Hazelwood has been without a public school, but Propel Schools wants to change that by starting a K-8 charter school next fall.

Court Says Charter School Signatures Are Legit
Courier Times, PA, October 1, 2012
The group that proposed a twice-denied charter school for the Bensalem School District can move forward to the Pennsylvania Charter School Appeal Board following a recent decision in Bucks County Court.

Pa. Must Pull Parent Trigger To Save Education
Pottstown Mercury, PA, October 2, 2012
But what happens when parents don’t get the final word, what then of their reality? Sadly, in the case of their children’s education, thousands of Pennsylvania parents have been held hostage by economic and political realities undergirded by poor, unimaginative policies yielding negative or negligible returns.

TENNESSEE

Parents, Students Must Be Empowered To Aid Schools
The Tennessean, TN, October 2, 2012
Parent trigger laws are heavily backed by a powerful and well-funded network of education reform advocacy organizations (ERAOs) that support more school choice, charter schools, test-based accountability and aggressive interventions such as school closings. None of these strategies has any demonstrated record of effectiveness, and yet they represent the narrow menu of options to which parent decision-making is limited under such laws.

Most In Tennessee Races Say Keep Charter School Decisions In ‘Local Hands’
Times Free Press, TN, October 2, 2012
Most Southeast Tennessee legislative candidates are giving a thumbs down to the possibility of cutting local school boards out of the decision-making process when it comes to approving public charter school applications.

Charter Schools Pressing For Free Space In Memphis
Commercial Appeal, TN, October 2, 2012
Two kinds of charter schools exist in Memphis. One gets free rent and one does not. The schools that don’t have 15 to 30 percent less money to spend on students and teachers, creating a new layer of haves and have nots in public education.

Accelerated Students Already Have Options
The Tennessean, TN, October 2, 2012
She said that includes students from both public and private schools; those who were home schooled; and those who excel in art, math, science or the humanities.

TEXAS

19 Kids Move To Schools Meeting Federal Marks
Times Record, TX, October 2, 2012
Nineteen elementary students in the Wichita Falls Independent School District began classes at a different school Monday than the one where they began the school year, and most of them will require district-provided transportation.

WASHINGTON

I-1240 Gives Parents More Options On Education
Bellingham Herald, WA, October 2, 2012
Owing to this record of success, I am voting yes on Initiative 1240 this November to bring charter schools to our state.

WISCONSIN

Tougher Report Cards Set To Debut In Eau Claire School District
Leader-Telegram, WI, October 2, 2012
Eau Claire school officials say they’re anxiously awaiting Monday, when Wisconsin schools will receive new, tougher report cards from the state.

ONLINE SCHOOLS

Yuma School Illustrates How To Seize The Day
Arizona Republic, AZ, October 2, 2012
We’ve all heard bad things about Arizona’s education system. But Yuma’s Carpe Diem High School is being held up as a national model for integrating technology into the classroom.

Filed Under: Daily Headlines

Daily Headlines for October 1, 2012

October 1, 2012 By Shapiro Consulting

“Parent Power” Film Stirs Hopes Of Education Reform Activists
Reuters, September 29, 2012
Education reform film “Won’t Back Down” opened Friday to terrible reviews – and high hopes from activists who expect the movie to inspire parents everywhere to demand big changes in public schools.

Fostering Tech Talent in Schools
New York Times, NY, October 1, 2012
When he is not volunteering as a computer science instructor four days a week, Mr. Edouard works at Microsoft. He is one of 110 engineers from high-tech companies who are part of a Microsoft program aimed at getting high school students hooked on computer science, so they go on to pursue careers in the field.

School Reform At Odds With Itself
Washington Post, DC, September 30, 2012
Education reformers contradict themselves every day and don’t seem to know it. This includes President Obama, Mitt Romney and many mayors, scholars and activists who all say we need more charter schools, more systems that evaluate teachers based on student test scores and more merit pay.

The Bottom Line On ‘No Excuses’ And Poverty In School Reform
Washington Post Blog, DC, September 29, 2012
The issue of the role of poverty in student achievement is far more complicated than the usual depiction of the school reform debate in much of mainstream media.

An Insecure Profession
Indianapolis Star, IN, September 30, 2012
We must build a sustainable and dedicated teaching force, she in effect argued, rather than a profession built of teachers who will come and go quickly because of low respect and poor working conditions.

More Evidence For Education Reform
Indianapolis Star, IN, October 1, 2012
The College Board provided sobering evidence last week as to why education reform continues to be so vital in this state and nation.

Film About School Reform Is A Story Of Hope
The Oklahoman, OK, September 30, 2012
EDUCATION reform is a bipartisan issue that too often gets mired in polarized positions. In the tussle between teacher unions going to the mattresses for the status quo and conservative think tanks storming the citadels, what can be forgotten is that reform is about children and how they learn.

FROM THE STATES

CALIFORNIA

LAUSD, 3 Charter Groups Win Grants To Develop Evaluation Systems
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 1, 2012
L.A. Unified wins $16 million for its teacher and principal evaluation system. Charter-school groups Alliance College-Ready, Aspire and Green Dot also win grants.

Alternative Programs Offer Tailored Education Options
Santa Maria Times, CA, October 1, 2012
The rapid growth of charter school programs throughout the Central Coast indicate parents are more interested than ever in diversifying their children’s education. The programs also may provide some relief to traditional public schools on the verge of overcrowding, but the impact has been minimal, officials say.

Oakland Schools To Let Feds Monitor Discipline Of Black Students
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 1, 2012
Agreement with U.S. Department of Education is aimed at ensuring that African American students are not disciplined more frequently and harshly than their white classmates

COLORADO

CDE Model For Teacher, Principal Eval Bill Touted
Brush News-Tribune, CO, September 29, 2012
Discussion on Senate Bill 191 (SB 191) — the teacher and principal evaluation bill — continues, but Superintendent of Schools Michelle Johnstone informed the Brush Board of Education (BOE) at last week’s meeting that she will eventually ask the board to approve and adopt the model proposed by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).

CONNECTICUT

Charter Schools Are Critical For New Hampshire Students
Concord Monitor, CT, October 1, 2012
I am an educator, the mother of a high school student and aunt of 10 other New Hampshire students. I am heartsick over the prospect of the state suspending and potentially eliminating funding for charter schools. This would be an enormous disservice to the children of this state.

FLORIDA

Parental Takeover Isn’t A Cure-All For Schools
Tampa Bay Times, FL, October 1, 2012
Fortunately, in Hillsborough County our public school system has been a pioneer in choice for parents and students. Our school district has a wide variety of magnet programs, career academies and innovative alternatives for a wide range of students. Our programs in teacher enrichment, peer review and mentoring have set a standard for our nation. The commitment of everyone involved in public education in our county makes it easy to say, “We Won’t Back Down” when it comes to offering the very best education for all of our students

Palm Beach County Readies School Choice Process For Next Year
Palm Beach Post, FL, September 30, 2012
This school year has barely started, but for parents clamoring to get their kid a seat in the popular school district magnet program of their choice next year, the process already has begun.

Miami-Dade Bond Issue Aims To Upgrade School Technology
Miami Herald, FL, September 30, 2012
Upgrading the digital network across Miami-Dade County Public Schools is a big piece of the spending plan for a $1.2 billion bond issue residents will vote on Nov. 6

GEORGIA

Charter School Opponents Set For Ground War
Marietta Daily Journal, GA, September 30, 2012
The increasingly bitter fight in Georgia over a constitutional amendment to allow more state charter schools isn’t likely to play out in expensive television ads before the Nov. 6 referendum.

Charter Schools Mean Choice For Parents
Savannah Morning News, GA, September 30, 2012
Fifteen years ago, I was one of a group of interested Savannah citizens who proposed that Savannah open its first start-up charter school, the first of its kind in Georgia.

ILLINOIS

Even After Fourth Denial, GreenTek Charter Organizers Not Giving Up
Rockford Register Star, IL, September 29, 2012
The public heard just four short, generic reasons Tuesday why the Rockford School Board and administration denied the plan for a dropout recovery charter high school.

INDIANA

Excel Center Deserving
Palladium-Item , IN, September 29, 2012
There’s a connectiveness between two public school stories appearing in Thursday’s Palladium-Item that should be apparent to even the most casual reader.

IOWA

Teacher Pay Hikes Good Place To Start
Globe Gazette, IA, October 1, 2012
Grab your chalk and write “uncertainty” on the board. Because there’s a fair amount of it in a task force recommendation on education that will wind up going to Gov. Terry Branstad.

LOUISIANA

School Board Debates Location For Lee High
The Advocate, LA, October 1, 2012
Location, however, could prove critical. Throughout the history of the magnet program, an attractive location has often made a big difference in whether a magnet program reaches its potential. Magnet programs established in less attractive neighborhoods have usually struggled.

Governor Makes Unforced Errors
Monroe News Star, LA, October 1, 2012
School choice is a good thing and people often choose to pay more for a home and taxes to live in a better school district. Parents should be able to move their children to higher functioning schools of their choice and these schools should have to meet standards that demonstrate the schools are practicing educational strategies that have documentation of success over the past five years.

MAINE

RSU 19 Among Six Districts Getting $25 Million For Teacher Evaluation Systems
Morning Sentinel, ME, October 1, 2012
Six school districts, including Newport-based Regional School Unit 19, will share nearly $25 million in federal money to create teacher evaluation systems, the Maine Department of Education announced this weekend.

Maine’s 1st Charter School Opens In Fairfield
Kennebec Journal, ME, October 1, 2012
The Maine Academy of Natural Sciences uses hands-on methods focused on agriculture, forestry and environmental sciences.

MASSACHUSETTS

MTA Picks Wrong Fight
Boston Herald, MA, October 1, 2012
Last week officials from the Massachusetts Teachers Association complained that the four hours the state has mandated to train teachers on new evaluation systems isn’t enough. They want teachers to undergo at least 12 hours of training before the new systems — which for the first time will consider measures of student performance — can be implemented.

Charter Schools Essential To Western Massachusetts’ Future
The Republican, MA, September 30, 2012
With the recent opening of Veritas Preparatory Charter School on Pine Street , Springfield families will have more options when it comes to choosing the right public school for their children.

MICHIGAN

Walled Lake Parent Hopes To Start Academy In Ferndale
Oakland Press, MI, September 30, 2012
Walled Lake mother Amy Niebert is living her own dream of starting a new school just as the controversial movie “Won’t Back Down” opens at area theaters.

MINNESOTA

More Kids With Disabilities In Minneapolis And St. Paul District Schools Than In Area Charters
Twin City Daily Planet, MN, September 30, 2012
Twin Cities charter schools enroll a smaller proportion of special education students than St. Paul and Minneapolis district schools.

Counseled Out: How Some Twin Cities Charter Schools Push Kids With Disabilities Towards District Schools
Twin City Daily Planet, MN, September 30, 2012
Last fall, only 4 percent of the students attending Dugsi Academy in St. Paul were in special education. That proportion is smaller than in most charter schools, and it’s much smaller than in Minneapolis and St. Paul district schools, where overall 18 percent of students are in special education.

MISSOURI

Delasalle Charter School Begins $7 Million Expansion, Renovation
Kansas City Star, MO, September 30, 2012
The charter school will spend $7 million to add facilities, programs and room for more students.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Moratorium On Charter Schools Puts 2 Seacoast Plans In Jeopardy
Portsmouth Herald, NH, September 30, 2012
Seacoast High School of the Arts, a proposed regional charter high school in North Hampton that would focus on the arts, has already submitted its full application to the state Board of Education, which has reviewed it, and was ready to undergo the board’s rigorous full review process when the moratorium was declared by the board earlier this month. The school was shooting for a September 2013 opening.

NEW JERSEY

Appeal Cites OK’ing Use Of Warehouse By Charter School
Canbury Road, NJ, October 1, 2012
Hatikvah spokesman Dan Gerstein said the school is aware of the township’s concern about enrollment and is reviewing the approved plans with its engineer to determine if any modifications are necessary.

NEW YORK

Parents Pitch In to Help Schools Face Budget Cuts
New York Times, NY, September 30, 2012
The space used to be a vacant field, sandwiched between Casis Elementary School and a parking lot.

Districts Face State Mid-January Deadline On Teacher, Principal Evaluations
Journal News, NY, October 1, 2012
With a mid-January deadline for state approval looming, about half of New York’s roughly 700 school districts have submitted union-negotiated proposals for the new state-mandated teacher and principal evaluations.

OHIO

Levy Battles
Columbus Dispatch, OH, October 1, 2012
Pushback from taxpayers means school officials must make a better case

OREGON

Corvallis Charters Offer Lesson In State System
Coos Bay World, OR, September 30, 2012
A dispute between an Oregon charter school and the local school district offers some insights into the complex and sometimes tense relationship between charter schools and their sponsoring districts.

PENNSYLVANIA

Hearts Ruled In Making Renaissance Decision
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, September 29, 2012
Members of the Camden Board of Education were being patted on the back for turning down four proposals by politically connected interests to add new Renaissance schools to the school system.

President of Harrisburg Teachers Union Thinks New Evaluation System Will Hurt Urban, Rural Teachers
Patriot-News, PA, October 1, 2012
Teachers at more affluent suburban school districts will have an unfair advantage over urban and rural educators when the state’s new teacher evaluation system is implemented next year, the president of Harrisburg School District’s teachers union said.

Pa. Must Pull Parent Trigger To Save Education
Patriot-News, PA, September 30, 2012
With seven states now adopting similar laws that put parental and student interests before those of government unions, it’s time Pennsylvania lawmakers pull the parent trigger lest the final word on King’s dream becomes unreachable.

TENNESSEE

Tennessee Planning For School Vouchers Nears Final Stages
Commercial Appeal, TN, October 1, 2012
A special commission appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam is about to begin drafting its final recommendations on how a Tennessee school-voucher program would operate, including who would be eligible for taxpayer dollars for private school tuition.

Nashville Schools’ Diversity Goals Clash With Charter Law
The Tennessean, TN, September 29, 2012
Although Metro Nashville school officials see diversity in the classroom as a moral imperative, state education leaders say Tennessee law may prevent the district from imposing that vision on charter schools.

Vouchers Hot Topic For Tennessee Campaigns
Times Free Press, TN, October 1, 2012
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says he expects the question of using taxpayer dollars to fund private school vouchers will be a major issue in the General Assembly come January.

TEXAS

It’s Harder For Charter Schools To Keep Teachers
San Antonio Express Times, TX, September 30, 2012
Teachers leave Bexar County charter schools almost three times more often than at traditional public schools, which generally pay more and perform better academically, according to an Express-News analysis of five years of state data.

UTAH

High Quality Preschool Closes Achievement Gap For At-Risk Children
Desert News, UT, September 30, 2012
The Education Interim Committee on Sept. 19 heard and discussed research based on Granite School District’s high quality Title I preschool program. The research proved the program was successful in addressing school readiness, closing the achievement gap for at-risk children and reducing special education costs.

WASHINGTON

School Reform Ad Selective
Spokesman Review, WA, September 29, 2012
A new television commercial touting Idaho’s controversial school reform laws makes claims that are accurate but still mislead voters about the impact of the laws.

Simplistic And Costly, Charter Schools Aren’t Solution To State’s Education Problems
Bellingham Herald, WA, September 30, 2012
The charter schools measure on this year’s ballot is a simple solution that is wrong. Fortunately, researchers across the nation are unveiling the myths of this quick fix to public education. The most extensive study on charter schools done so far was conducted by Stanford University and showed that only 17 percent of charters perform better than traditional public schools, while twice that number perform at a lower level.

Charter Schools Provide Important Public Option To Help Struggling Students Succeed
News Tribune, WA, September 30, 2012
As a proud graduate of Tacoma Public Schools, an advocate for public education and an elected official who cares deeply about our city and state’s future, I urge you to join me and cast your vote for Initiative 1240.

WEST VIRGINIA

W.Va. BOE Wary of Teacher Unions In Reform Talks
Charleston Gazette-Mail, WV, September 30, 2012
The members of the West Virginia Board of Education knew that responding to a $750,000 audit of the state’s public education system would be politically dangerous.

ONLINE SCHOOLS

York-based Cyber School Seeks State Approval
The York Dispatch, PA, September 29, 2012
The first cyber charter school based in York County could open in the fall of 2013.
The proposed Urban Cyber Charter School would be designed for students in grades 6 through 12 and focus on the specific needs of the urban students and those at risk of failing.

Cyber/Charter Enrollment Hits 1,000 In Beaver County
Beaver County Times, PA, September 30, 2012
Ten significant facts gleaned from the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit’s 2012-13 enrollment survey involving public schools in Beaver County , as well as Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School , Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School and Baden Academy Charter School :

Florida Districts Fight K12′s Plan for Virtual Charter Schools
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, FL, September 30, 2012
Thousands of Florida students already are taking classes from Virginia-based K12, Inc., the nation’s largest online education company.

School Application Advances
Tampa Tribune, FL, September 30, 2012
A charter school applicant that plans to operate an online school is getting a tentative go-ahead nod from members of the Pasco County School District staff.

Online Schools Enroll Thousands Of Ohio Student
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, September 30, 2012
More than 30,000 Ohio students attend school online, skipping buses, cafeterias and classrooms to do their lessons entirely by computer, often at home, typing in tests and papers to be reviewed by a teacher far away.

How Much Does It Cost to Run an Online School?
NPR StateImpact , OH, September 30, 2012
Robert Mengerink didn’t know how much an online school really costs to operate — until he started one.

Online Schools Serve Students With A Range Of Goals, Officials Say
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, September 30, 2012
Few graduates of Ohio’s statewide online schools attend postsecondary training: not a two-year community college, not a four-year publicuniversity and often not even training for a vocational certificate.

Newark Digital Academy Seeking Improvement, Pursuing Waiver
Newark Advocate, OH, September 29, 2012
Preliminary report card data released Wednesday for the Newark Digital Academy shows a school that has not met adequate yearly progress and was below value-added growth.

Filed Under: Daily Headlines

Engler, Allen To Headline Roundtable Discussion on Role of Private Companies in Public Education

What the Candidates Debate Has to Offer Ed Reformers

Daily Headlines for October 3, 2012

The First Presidential Debate

The Sad, Sad SAT Factor: How Long Do We Accept Dismal Scores?

How Long Do We Accept Dismal Test Scores

Charter vote about educational choice

Daily Headlines for October 2, 2012

Daily Headlines for October 1, 2012

Voucher Talk Resumes

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