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WHAT'S NEW HOME PAGE
WHAT'S NEW ARCHIVE 2001
WHAT'S NEW ARCHIVE 2000
WHAT'S NEW ARCHIVE 1999
WHAT'S NEW ARCHIVE 1998
NEW READING GUIDE: Take Me On A Reading Adventure, A Literacy Guide For America's Charter Schools assists charter schools in developing high-quality reading programs. The guide profiles nine charter schools that have implemented reading programs resulting in significant student achievement, and also provides information and resources on how children learn to read, teaching strategies and faculty development, and building family involvement with reading. The Guide was created by America's Charter School Finance Corporation with assistance from The Center for Education Reform and other charter organizations. Link to more information and Literacy Guide in .pdf format.
CER
PRESIDENT JEANNE ALLEN'S LETTER TO FRIENDS: As we head into the
New Year, nearly half the legislatures will consider bills affecting new or
existing charter schools. Policymakers remain under-informed about how the
nuances of a charter law can help, or hinder, vigorous charter activity in a
state. Get the low-down on this and other reform developments in the December
2002 Monthly Letter.
CER Grades the States: CER has released its latest ranking scorecard of the country's 40 charter school laws. Find out how your state rates.
ESEA and CER IN THE NEWS: Just in time for the New Year, the U.S. Department of Education issued final regulations concerning the implementation of No Child Left Behind: districts must offer choices to families stuck in failing schools -- capacity is no longer an excuse. The result, CER President Jeanne Allen told the New York Times, may be "constructive chaos" which will hopefully spark states and districts to into creating more, and better, supply to meet demand.
SOLUTIONS TO THE BIG CITY COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEM: Recently CER asked people to submit good suggestions for how New York City -- and others -- can get the word out to parents that there are "supplemental" or tutoring services available for children in schools that are failing. The number and quality of the responses were overwhelming. These are not only ways to inform parents and the community about tutoring, but also about their choices, period. The moral to this story is that there is no end to the good people can do when they put their minds together. Click here for more.
HONORING THE VICTIMS OF 9-11: "As part of the Students in Service to America initiative, the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Education are encouraging educators and students to honor September 11 victims through community service projects. The agencies are suggesting that educators and others who work with students begin incorporating service activities into their plans for spring term courses and programs. President George W. Bush launched Students in Service to America at the start of the 2002-2003 school year. He urged all American students to begin a volunteer service activity or project this school year as part of the USA Freedom Corps effort to create a culture of service, responsibility, and citizenship." For more information, view the entire US DOE press release and visit http://www.studentsinservicetoamerica.org/.
HISTORY FAILURE: Doomed to Repeat Itself?: For years U.S. students have not received substantive teaching in history. CER's new analysis takes stock of the problem, and offers some recommendations for programs and books that could help transform history teaching, not ten years from now but today.
LATEST CER CHARTER FINDINGS: CER's 2002 Charter School Survey finds the nation's charter schools successfully educating children under-served by traditional public schools, with more instructional time, innovative curricula, and cost-effectiveness.
Election Results 2002: Education Reform Triumphs for School Choice and Charters -- Analysis of States' Governor and Education Superintendent Race Results
Election Day and Education Reform --
Making Your Vote Count: Once elected, many lawmakers are more
beholden to the lobbyists and professional organizations than to parents. Change
all that by making education a priority when you vote -- and after the election
be vigilant about holding education officials responsible for schools. This
year, use the expert advice offered in this issue of Parent Power! to
investigate where your official or candidate stands on the issues and make your
vote count for education reform.
EDUCATION REFORM 2002: A VOTER'S GUIDE: Americans in 36 states will head to the polls next month to cast their vote for governor, and in seven of these states they will also select the state schools chief. The Center for Education Reform has cut through the rhetoric and spin to bring you this important guide to evaluate candidates' education reform pedigree on key issues.
NEW CHARTER REPORT: Closures and Accountability!: The success rate for charter schools is extremely high. The federal government has told us that 11% of the nation's schools are failing - yet those schools continue to stay open. Since the first charter school opened, in 1992, less than seven percent have closed. CER's new report Charter School Closures: The Opportunity for Accountability identifies the closures and provides insights into the operational challenges of this growing reform.
CER AND EDUCATION REFORM IN THE NEWS: Here are just a few samplings of recent stories. Go to In The News for all the latest coverage.
STATE WARNS PARENTS OF HOME-SCHOOL EDICT, Los Angeles Times, October 10, 2002.
CHARTERING SUCCESS, By Jeanne Allen, The Washington Times Opinion / Editorial, September 16, 2002.
BROOKINGS STUDY ON CHARTER ACHIEVEMENT, Education Week, September 11, 2002.
ONLINE SCHOOLS WON'T GET AN EASY 'A', Wired News, September 2, 2002.
NEW TOOL FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS: The Charter School Experience contains information about charter schools, provides resources to which organizers and funders can go for additional information, and hopes to create opportunities for individuals and communities to participate in the charter school movement by increasing awareness of and funding for charter schools. Published by the Americas Charter School Finance Corporation. Contributors include The Center for Education Reform and Education Leaders Council. Link to .pdf document in English or Spanish.
ELECTION WATCH '02: Education is heating up in state and local
elections. Separate the spin from the substance with CER's Candidate Survey.
And tune in to CER's Weekly Newswire for highlights of education
reform debates and issues that are making campaign season interesting.
* Governor races in Alabama & New
Hampshire.
* Governor races in New York and Florida.
HISTORY FAILURE: Doomed to Repeat Itself?: For years U.S. students have not received substantive teaching in history. CER's new analysis takes stock of the problem, and offers some recommendations for programs and books that could help transform history teaching, not ten years from now but today.
JEANNE ALLEN'S
BACK-TO-SCHOOL LETTER TO FRIENDS: With the arrival of fall focus is
again on a most important public priority, the education of the next generation.
Here's a look at where education reform stands, from the ups and downs faced by
charters, to election issues and BLOB antics, to school choice and the new ESEA.
Get the details.
September 2002: Between
the new federal law - called No Child Left Behind - that empowers parents
to move their children out of failing schools, and the U. S. Supreme Court's
ruling upholding Cleveland's voucher program, there is excitement and energy
behind school choice. Find out all about it and learn what you, as a parent, can
do to maximize educational choices, and achievement, for your children and your
community.
Monday, September 16, Washington DC: Don't miss the inaugural lecture of CER's National Leaders in Education Reform Lecture Series, featuring Frank Wang, Chairman, Saxon Publishers. Link to details...
A STUDY IN CONFUSION: A recent study by the Brooking Institute offers an inconclusive look at charter student achievement, revealing once again that better studies, that measure student gains over time, must be conducted if we want to give charters a fair hearing and get a true picture of how well they are educating students.
REMEMBERING,
ONE YEAR LATER: In the wake of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, how can schools
best teach about this assault on American citizens, ideals and traditions? Check out Mom, Apple Pie and the
Schools for timely, constructive lesson plans and reflections on valuing
and achieving civic literacy in our schools.
As
predicable as the return of the yellow school bus in Fall is the renewed
emphasis on Education Reform In The
News, from standards and testing to school choice and charter schools.
Some recent coverage:
New York Times: Local efforts are slow in providing
federally mandated school
choice options to kids in failing schools ... AP Wire: The ongoing demise of the
SATs ... San Diego Union Tribune and Los Angeles Times: Students'
test scores on the rise. Washington Post: Charter school test scores. Link
to details.
And get the Real Scoop on SAT Scores
and the latest on Charter Schools, from their Triumphs and Tribulations
to the Newest Numbers and Data in our Back-to-School CER Weekly
Newswires.
POLL POSITION: Whether answering questions biased against vouchers or more objectively phrased, Americans continue to be strongly in favor of school choice. CER's own 2002 National Survey of Americans' Attitudes Toward School Choice found that 63% of Americans Favor School Choice. Meanwhile, the Phi Delta Kappa / Gallup annual poll's biased questions continue to try to downplay Americans' dissatisfaction with the status quo and their support for meaningful education reform. Link here to CER's analysis of the PDK poll.
TEACHERS UNION DELIBERATELY SKEWS DATA AGAINST CHARTERS: Leaders of six leading national education organizations that support charter schools dismissed a new American Federation of Teachers report for tired and dated misrepresentation of charter school performance. "An AFT study on charter schools has about as much credibility as a Philip Morris study on smoking," says Lawrence Patrick, president of the Black Alliance for Educational Options. Details.
June 2002: We've all
probably heard that "reading is fundamental " -- this month we
learn it is also rocket science. With that explained, we go on to present a
checklist of what to look for in your school's reading program, and give tips to
help your child learn to love reading. Finally, we take a look at the fact and
fiction surrounding small classes and small schools, and serve up lots of
resources for further reading.
HISTORIC VICTORY FOR SCHOOL CHOICE AND CHILDREN: There is no longer any Constitutional cloud over whether or not policymakers can establish educational programs that allow parents to choose the school that best fits their child's needs, be it public or private. On June 27 the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the state of Ohio was within its constitutional power to enact a program to help Cleveland's children gain access to schools that parents believe will serve them better than the schools that for more than twenty-five years have failed by every measure. This landmark decision will shore up nationwide reform efforts to transform U.S. education in to a system of schools that responds first and foremost to families and children. Link to details and additional information.
WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: Struggling to decipher how the new federal education law established by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) affects you and your school? The New ESEA: A Primer for Policy Makers (.pdf format) addresses some basic questions and answers to help schools and districts meet the new Federal demands for making and assessing annual student achievement gains. And check out CER's new ESEA How-to Guide, written particularly for charter schools. And link here for more background on the NCLB Law.
PRESIDENT JEANNE ALLEN'S MONTHLY
LETTER TO FRIENDS, June 2002:
Highlights · The California Union’s Power Grab ·
On Tests, Standards and More · Waiting for the
Supremes · Looking to the Grassroots ·
On Charters · Reality Check 2002 ·
Chicken Little and Edison Schools.
SIZING UP WHAT MATTERS: The Importance of Small Schools: It is taken almost as an article of faith that smaller classes produce better academic results, and that reducing class size is a proven way to help America's schools. What is proclaimed less often is the truth of "smaller is better" when applied to school size, which is in fact far more important than having children sit in small classes. Get the full story.
Learn more about What No Child Left Behind Means for Parents (including links to online Resources), as well as the latest on Charter Schools. Parent Power! is CER's electronic newsletter specially created for for parents who want to know more about the issues that affect their children’s education. Join today.
OVERHAUL: Seventy Philadelphia Schools Privatized, Converted to Charters, or Reconstituted: Philadelphia's School Reform Commission voted in a split decision to privatize 42 of the district's low-performing schools, with 20 to be managed by Edison Schools and six other firms managing the rest. An additional 9 schools will be converted to charters, and 19 others will be reorganized but still managed by the district. Get more details and links to articles In the News, as well as ongoing coverage in CER's Newswires and the June 2002 Monthly Letter.
NEW REPORT: Public-Private Partnerships: A Consumer's Guide: Public-private partnerships are at an all time high but parents and others often have difficulty making decisions without concrete information to guide them. This CER guide is here to help, with history and individual company information on public-private education partnerships.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS: In preparation for National Charter Schools Week (April 29-May 3), CER has created a free Planning Kit to help schools create a dynamic week of outreach to showcase and celebrate charter schools' efforts and achievements. Get your free kit today.
April 2002: The
Education of Mary June: An original story about the danger of falling complacent ·
What’s New in Research That You Should Know About The First “R” ·
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO HEAD NATIONWIDE SALUTE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS: US Senators and Representatives sign on to help kick off the Third Annual National Charter Schools Week, coming April 29-May 3. Check back often for updates on activities for the week.
STUDIES IN CONTRAST: Flawed
Michigan Commission on Charters offers misleading and inconsistent
conclusions. As is the case with many political commissions, the group ignored
the facts, from growth in test scores to their ripple effect on the improvement
of public school districts. Meanwhile, a recent California
Study Notes Achievement Gains, and particular benefit to low-income and at-risk students,
validating what has long been clear to parents and communities that have
embraced charter schools.
SPECIAL
ALERT: CONSIDERING
CHOICE: On Wednesday, February 20, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on
the Cleveland, Ohio, School Choice Program, which offers 3,800 of that city's
poorest students a better alternative to 25 years of failed efforts to improve
district schools. Their line of questioning suggests, as CER's Amicus Brief
urged, that the educational landscape of Cleveland will be the central issue
that guides the Court when it rules in June on the program's constitutionally.
· Link to CER's
analysis of opening arguments.
· Link to background
and updates.
Debunking Six Common Criticisms of Charter Opponents: Critics of charter schools continually serve up arguments claiming charters are so bad as a way to divert attention from why traditional public schools aren't good enough. But the evidence shows that charters are serving students fairly and well, and are boon to parents and the education system.
CER's SCHOOL BOARD NETWORK: For too long, local School Board members have found it a challenge to move education reform forward in their communities. But now there¹s help! The Center for Education Reform has created The School Board Network to help reform-minded local school board leaders dedicated to building achievement and accountability in their districts, with resources on issues from textbook selection to teacher effectiveness to standards and testing. School board members, click here for more information.
STRAIGHT FROM THE TOP: Support for Charters: With hostilities mounting toward charter schools in more than half the states that have substantial laws, charter leaders and supporters find themselves fighting an uphill battle. But a recent meeting, coordinated by CER, between U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige and charter representatives from around the country, reveals an unprecedented understanding of and interest in this important reform from the top levels of government.
January 2002: Learn more about How Schools and
Curriculum Fit Into The World Since 9/11 and ways to enhance the teaching of
history and science, all in the January
issue of Parent Power!, now online. Parent
Power! is CER's electronic newsletter specially created for for parents
who want to know more about the issues that affect their children’s education.
Join today.
Beyond Brick and Mortar: Cyber Charters Revolutionizing Education: The joining of the internet and the decades old charter movement is leading to a whole new 21st Century school house, and offering parents additional choices, especially for children physically or emotionally unable to attend traditional schools.
Charter Directory 2001-2002: CER announces the publication of its seventh edition of the National Charter School Directory, documenting the growth and success of charter schools in the decade since the passage of the first charter school law in 1991. The Directory profiles 2,431 schools in 34 states and Washington, D.C., including 374 charter schools that opened this school year.
No Child Left Behind: Real accountability is closer to reality with President Bush's signing on Tuesday, January 8, 2002, of this long awaited and highly touted Education Bill.
See Also:
WHAT'S NEW HOME PAGE
WHAT'S NEW ARCHIVE 2001
WHAT'S NEW ARCHIVE 2000
WHAT'S NEW ARCHIVE 1999
WHAT'S NEW ARCHIVE 1998
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