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Education News for Thursday, June 29

Teacher Union Speaks Out Against Closing Schools – Leaders of the Chicago Teachers’ Union went before a City Council committee Tuesday to spell out their objections to the public schools’ Renaissance 2010 plan. (more)

Reform for L.A. Schools Advances – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s bid to assert significant control over the Los Angeles Unified School District cleared its first legislative hurdle Wednesday, with state lawmakers voting 7-1 in support of his plan despite expressing deep reservations. (more)

Mayor clears hurdle No. 1 – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s controversial Los Angeles school-takeover plan cleared one of its first significant legislative hurdles Wednesday, winning approval from the Senate Education Committee even as lawmakers, school officials and parents questioned whether it would really help schools. (more)

Union bosses today, school bosses tomorrow – Editorial: In the muddled deal for authority over L.A. schools, one thing is clear: The teachers union would win. (more)

Antonio’s Theory of Relativity – Can Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa really claim victory with his compromise school plan? (more)

Passing Marks – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s plan for L.A. Unified still faces another committee, the full Senate and the state Assembly. But Wednesday’s 7-1 committee vote sent some strong messages to partisans on both sides: The train is leaving the station, and Democrats are going to send the bill to a welcoming governor no matter how many questions are raised regarding the new L.A. Unified flow chart — one crafted in a burst of late-night negotiations just last week. (more)

Napolitano defends acceptance of school-choice measures – Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano said Wednesday she still opposes vouchers, but accepted several measures helping students afford private schools to gain legislative approval of additional spending for all-day kindergarten, teacher pay and other priorities. (more)

It’s a Wrap! – A super-sized legislative session comes to an end in Arizona, with education the big winner of the budget negotiations. (more)

Panel calculating how U.S. schools should teach math –  The National Math Advisory Panel is holding its second-ever meeting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina this week, with members discussing ways to raise math achievement of students across the United States. (more)

Unions: For the Children? – Opinion:  Who would obstruct the fight against sex trafficking of children? The Vancouver Education Association (VEA) comes to mind. (more)

State needs to step up – Editorial: Massachusetts has long boasted of the strongest public schools in the nation.  It’s discouraging to see new data showing we’re losing ground. (more)

How did primary affect the schools? – Both sides of Utah’s education reform debate are claiming victory after this week’s primary election. (more)

Reforming the school district – Los Angeles teachers and residents weigh in on the mayor’s LAUSD takeover plan. (more)

Parents applaud, complain as LAUSD proposal advances – As California lawmakers push ahead with a radical shake-up of the Los Angeles Unified School District, parents are as divided as the politicians over the plan promoted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. (more)

Teacher unions to merge Sept. 1 – New York’s two teachers unions will officially merge Sept. 1, creating a lobbying entity 600,000 strong. (more)