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Education News for Friday, April 28

Florida voucher controls within reach – This year, lawmakers appear to be closer than ever to enacting legislation that would tighten rules on how state money is handled by the schools and parents. The House passed its version of the bill on March 29. The Senate is scheduled to debate its version next week. (more)

Lawson’s vote switch roils Black caucus – Sen. Al Lawson disappointed Democratic colleagues at a caucus meeting Thursday morning when he refused to agree to vote as part of their bloc against a bill that would amend the constitution to protect school vouchers. (more)

Bargains begin in Florida over class size – Old-fashioned pork-barrel politics could shape the outcome of today’s Senate showdown over a Republican plan to weaken the voter-approved class size limits in Florida schools. (more)

Kentucy coalition calls for more accountabiity, school choice – There will not be meaningful change in Kentucky’s schools until parents are fully empowered to decide which school is best for their children and the funding follows those decisions. (more)

Kansas Senate to study NCLB – Kansas senators considered taking a step back Thursday from the federal No Child Left Behind Act but, in the end, decided against it.After an hourlong public hearing, they agreed to recommend further study of the idea. (more)

Philadelphia will seek share of $100 incentive to improve teaching – In a visit to Philadelphia yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings touted a $100 million federal fund to reward teachers and principals who raise student achievement in high-need schools, and city schools chief Paul Vallas was eager to apply for a share. (more)

Tutoring didn’t pay off in Minneapolis – The dominant provider of required after-school tutoring in Minneapolis didn’t produce any better reading gains last year than those for students who skipped tutoring. (more)

Ohio schools have more money despite charter school drain – School districts have long blamed charter schools for their money problems. Although they are losing thousands of students — and the more than $5,000 in state money that follows each one –– to charters, some districts actually have more money now than they did before charter schools opened (more)

4 out of 5 Mass. candidates for governor send their kids to private schools – Nothing wrong with that — millions of parents would move their kids out of public schools tomorrow if they thought they could afford something better. (more)

Return later for more education news.

UPDATE:

NY judge stymies mother’s attempt to have state fund child’s tuition – A judge has shot down a Queens mother’s attempt to get the state to pay for her children to attend private school… (more)

Justice denied again – Justice Leland DeGrasse gets a "C" for effort for his latest ruling in the Dianne Payne case since he has at least typed out a short ruling dismissing her plea for school vouchers for her children… (more)

Vote on South Carolina tax credits missed deadline, but may return – Tax credits for private and public schools and a higher levy on cigarettes missed a key legislative deadline for passage Thursday. But they are likely to be back, forcing House members at least to cast high-profile votes next week. (more)

Seems like Oprah can’t take a hint – While at The Meyerhoff to raise money for a private school, Oprah Winfrey blasted Baltimore public schools and said she had considered – but decided against – contributing some of her millions to the system. (more)

LA mayor endorses universal preschool measure – His call for city voters to support Proposition 82 is the latest in a flurry of announcements both for and against the initiative that reveal a surprising lack of traditional partisanship. (more)

Texas Houses passes fair school finance reform – Following Gov. Rick Perry’s leadership, he House has passed a comprehensive reform of the school finance system that provides a 33 percent reduction in property taxes, a net tax decrease of $6 billion over the next three years… (more)

Chicago union: Most teachers fired got high marks – One day before nearly 1,100 nontenured Chicago Public Schools teachers formally get the ax, the city’s teachers union released the results of a study Thursday… (more)

Baltimore Sun editorial: Help more disabled students – The decision by Baltimore school officials to stop fighting a federal court order requiring the state to take more responsibility for special education in the city is a triumph of good sense over pride. (more)

Des Moines: Don’t forget about teacher training – Training for teachers should be a high priority as legislators and the governor wrap up negotiations on education funding. (more)

North Carolina test scores up, but more live in poverty – Children in North Carolina have made some strides in academic competence and smoking prevention, while conditions have worsened for youngsters who don’t have medical insurance, live in poverty and drink alcohol, a child advocacy group reports. (more)