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Education News for Monday, May 15

Star Parker: The NAACP and vouchers – Why would an organization that calls itself the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, whose motto is "Making Democracy Work Since 1909," oppose individual choice and freedom and dedicate itself to promoting public policy that guarantees the perpetuation of black poverty? (more)

New ideas on school choice needed – Six years after a court settlement scrambled student assignment, 47 community activists are giving Pinellas schools something the two opposing attorneys never did. (more)

Newark’s hope – CORY Booker rode to victory last week in Newark’s mayoral race by pledging to end corruption, patronage and ineffective government – problems that have plagued New Jersey’s biggest city for decades. (more)

AZ budget contains more school choice – The perennial battle with Napolitano over school choice is likely to catch fire again. The plan contains several school-choice measures that Napolitano has opposed. A $5 million corporate tuition tax credit that Napolitano reluctantly let pass into law earlier this year would be doubled to $10 million. (more)

UPDATE:

AP: Education law leave children behind – The Department of Education on Friday ordered every state to explain how it will have 100 percent of its core teachers qualified — belatedly — in the 2006-07 school year. (more)

Poll: Voters oppose tax increase for schools – By a wide margin, Wake County voters would rather avoid a tax increase than keep students from attending mandatory year-round schools, according to a poll for The News & Observer and WRAL-TV. (more)

GOP’s quiet power broker – With his prized school voucher program heading down the tubes in the final days of the legislative session, Jeb Bush and his allies worked ferociously to flip some key votes. Who better to pressure than state Sen. Dennis Jones, a strong Republican who displays pictures of Barbara Bush in his Treasure Island home and George W. in his office? (more)

GOP Lawmakers Deal a Setback to Governor Bush in Florida – Seven months before Gov. Jeb Bush leaves office, his chance of leaving a legacy on his signature issue of education has been significantly impaired by state legislators from his own Republican Party. (more)

Correct voucher policy? Stick to McKay vouchers – Gov. Bush and other school voucher advocates could have made more progress if they had focused exclusively on the only voucher idea that makes sense. (more)

CON: An air of scholarship, but contention is not proven – The Fraser Institute, on its website, credits itself with having moved people to a "recognition of the importance of market competition." Though Michael Walker, one of the institute’s founders, would like us to view the report card on British Columbia’s Elementary Schools as a scholarly analysis, it could be seen as a marketing initiative that ranges from the creation of a need to a description of the means to satisfy it. (more)

PRO: Giving parents a clear, unambiguous picture – Over the years, the Fraser Institute’s report cards — now annually rating more than 5,500 schools in four provinces — have become increasingly popular. (more)

The Catholic-School Crisis – One of the city’s most reliable institutions for educating minority and poor children is dying, and New York politicians are doing nothing about it. (more)

Institute on Race and Poverty report released today reveals… – A new report being released today (Monday, May 15) by the Institute on Race & Poverty (IRP) at the University of Minnesota reveals the disturbing extent of school segregation in the Twin Cities region. However, the authors of the report envision a brighter future if an already successful school choice program is expanded and existing affordable housing programs are broadened. (more)

Charter Schools Dominate Scores – Maricopa County charter schools have a lock on top reading scores. — A recent New York Times editorial on the failure of charter schools inspired me to do a little checking. Feel free to play along on your computer. (more)