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Education News for Friday, June 23

Attacks aside, school choice is the right choice – AZ Rep. Steve Yarbrough: I am indeed a supporter of school choice. I am also a product of and strong supporter of public education, which is the key to the future of more than 80 percent of our current students. (more)

Romer: Antonio sold out – The powerful teachers union in the Los Angeles Unified School District would get unprecedented control over what kids are taught and how schools are run under a deal brokered by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to save his reform plan, LAUSD Superintendent Roy Romer charged Thursday. (more)

Chaos creates opportunities – David Kirkpatrick from the U.S. Freedom Foundation writes about New Orleans schools. (more)

AZ Legislature wraps with something for everyone – The budget includes $2.5 million each for education vouchers for two programs, one that allows disabled children to attend the school of their choice at state expense, and the other providing the same benefit to former foster children who have been adopted. This sets an uncomfortable precedent of spending public dollars for private and parochial school tuition, but ended up being a bargaining chip. (more)

Ohio charter schools oversight criticized – State education officials handed out millions in federal dollars to charter schools, but failed to have an effective system in place to ensure that the money was being spent properly, Auditor Betty Montgomery said Thursday. (more)

Swann details his plan to boost education in PA – Lynn Swann, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, yesterday laid out his education platform in the most detailed fashion so far, pledging to double funding for the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program and to earmark the additional money for low-achieving schools. (more)

NY unions seek joint bargaining with city – Sixteen labor unions that represent about half of New York City’s municipal work force have formed a coalition to bargain on wages and benefits, a move intended to strengthen their leverage and speed negotiations. (more)

Update:

Attacks aside, school choice is the right choice – I was disappointed but not surprised to read on the very first day of the campaign that Donna Wallace chose to initiate a personal attack on me, my work and my ethics ("Use state tax dollars for underfunded public schools," My Turn, June 15). Mark Pentz, I understand a little bit of how you must feel. (more)

Swann details his program for boosting education in Pa – Lynn Swann, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, yesterday laid out his education platform in the most detailed fashion so far, pledging to double funding for the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program and to earmark the additional money for low-achieving schools. (more)

Educators praised for progress -State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum praised educators Wednesday for making "remarkable" improvements in South Carolina’s schools, but she also warned that challenges such as combating poverty, boosting the graduation rate and preparing students for a global economy remain. (more)