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November 12, 1999
On Tuesday, Florida Governor Jeb Bush announced a multi-phased plan called the "One Florida Initiative" to increase minority enrollment in colleges and universities. The plan will improve resources in under-performing schools and reform university admissions policies. It focuses on improving low performing schools by ending social promotion and promoting accountability, while providing incentives and rewards for improvements. This program offers both the resources and flexibility for schools to succeed.
Said Governor Bush "... we will clearly communicate how schools do, based on student achievement.... It may anger schools when they are given a D or an F, but it also creates resolve ... we've moved back to that principle of imposing different consequences for success and failure in some very meaningful ways."
CER President Jeanne Allen said in the St. Petersburg Times on Tuesday, "I think Governor Bush has the right focus; you don't solve the higher education problems without looking at K through 12. When you have kids entering college and taking remedial courses, you're not solving the problem." [Link to more CER In The News. Link to full article: Bush details anti-bias plan, by Barry Klein and Stephen Hegarty, St. Petersburg Times, November 10, 1999.]
Also in Florida: On Friday, November 12th, the first step in the legal defense of the statewide Opportunity Scholarships an integral part of the A+ Plan for Education begins. The Institute for Justice and the State of Florida will argue their motions to dismiss before Judge L. Ralph Smith in the Circuit Court of Leon County, Florida. We hope that the Milwaukee wave floods the Florida shores!
North Carolina charter schools fight for their equal right to monies collected in fines and forfeitures that are by law distributed to the counties for use in the public schools. The Francine Delany New School in Asheville has taken the local authorities to court in an attempt to obtain these funds. Charter schools are typically small and function on a fraction of the money allotted to district public schools.
In Wisconsin: Kudos to another charter school! In the Verona School District, the Core Knowledge Charter School has taken it to heart that parental participation enhances the quality of education for children. They hold regular Parent Round Table meetings, the last of which was attended by about 70 parents. The Governing Council of the school will continue to hold an ambitious schedule of meetings all year. For information, please contact Jane Jung at 608-278-0755.
As an endnote: Tune to ABC's 20/20 tonight, Friday November 12 at 10pm (EST), when they will air a segment on teacher competency produced by John Stossel.
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The CER Newswire is published by The Center for Education Reform, the nation's leading authority on school reform. CER is dedicated to making schools better for America's children by improving educational access and excellence for all. CER works with parents, teachers and policymakers to advance meaningful education improvement initiatives.
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