School Voucher Bills Flood GOP-Led Statehouses
Associated Press, August 2, 2011
More states than ever before have considered school vouchers this year, driven by resurgent Republicans who see the lagging economy as an opportunity for a fresh push on one of their most contentious education policies.
Most Education Funds Rightly Spent At Local Level
USA Today, August 1, 2011
He conveniently ignores the fact that the great majority of spending on education is at the state and local levels, as it should be. He would have the federal government spend more, but with that federal money comes the tangle of rules, regulations, standards and test requirements that have snarled the education process and handicapped capable teachers.
Education Cuts And Teacher Burnout
Los Angeles Times, CA, August 1, 2011
New education data from the National Assn. of State Budget Officers estimates cuts to K-12 spending could reach $2.5 billion this year. Nationally, they were slashed $1.8 billion in 2010. The news is even worse for higher education. Those budgets are expected to decrease by $5 billion this year; that’s after they were down by $1.2 billion in 2010.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Board Hears Different Views Of Green School
Chico Enterprise-Review, CA, August 2, 2011
In a brief hearing Monday night the Chico school board heard decidedly different reviews of the performance of the Chico Green (charter) School.
COLORADO
Colorado School-Funding Trial Begins In Lawsuit Against State
Denver Post, CO, August 2, 2011
The lockers are so old in the Center School District’s buildings, many doors just come off with a good pull, says George Welsh, superintendent for the rural school district in the San Luis Valley.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Maine Studies 5-Year High School Program
Washington Times, DC, August 1, 2011
High school may seem like the longest four years of a teenager’s life. For students in Maine , it soon could be even longer.
FLORIDA
Raines, Ribault Host Transfer Meetings, Urge Students, Parents To Stay
Florida Times-Union, FL, August 2, 2011
Nearly 500 people attended meetings at Raines and Ribault high schools Monday to hear presentations on the choices students have to leave each school – but also to learn why they should stay.
ILLINOIS
Charter Schools Want More Money From CPS
Chicago Tribune, IL, August 2, 2011
Charter school advocates are asking Chicago Public Schools to give more money to charter schools in the coming school year.
Already? Charter School Students Head Back To School
WBEZ, IL, August 1, 2011
Children pushed new yellow pencils into sharpeners, and a few kindergartners shed tears after their parents left them today, the first day of school for more than 5,000 charter school students in Chicago.
KENTUCKY
National Educators Meet With Blacks In Lexington To Promote Charter Schools
Lexington Herald Leader, KY, August 2, 2011
Representatives of a national education group met with African-American Lexington residents Monday, seeking grass-roots support for charter schools in Kentucky.
MASSACHUSETTS
New Charter Schools Proposed for Springfield, Holyoke
The Republican, MA, August 1, 2011
Three Western Massachusetts organizations are among seven statewide to submit proposals to open new charter schools.
Lowell Group Tries Again For Charter School
Lowell Sun, MA, August 2, 2011
Backers of a proposed charter school in Lowell are once again seeking approval from state education officials, nearly a year after its initial application was rejected.
NEW MEXICO
22 New Charter Schools Proposed
Albuquerque Journal, NM, August 22, 2011
Twenty-one charter schools have been proposed for next year, and next week the Public Education Commission will hear public comment on the applications and consider whether to approve them.
NEW YORK
Testing ‘Integrity’ Reviewed
Wall Street Journal, August 2, 2011
The state Department of Education said Monday it is reviewing New York’s testing system and that it plans to take action before the start of the school year to shore up its “integrity.”
Staten Island Parents: Charter School Recruits Handicap Kids But Doesn’t Provide for Special Needs
New York Daily News, NY, August 2, 2011
A Staten Island charter school hasn’t delivered on promises to provide extra services for disabled kids, outraged parents charge.
OREGON
School Board Votes To Deny Language Immersion Charter School Application
Wilsonville Spokeman, OR, August 2, 2011
Language Academy supporters unsurprised by result, say they’ll keep working on behalf of language immersion education
Big Money Donations For Schools Lose Some Glow
Portland Tribune, OR, August 2, 2011
Weeks after Northeast Portland parent Susan Barrett made national waves with a candid blog about school reform, there’s been a growing body of interest in the politics of education money.
TENNESSEE
State’s Achievement School District Launches Charter School Sign-Up Program
The Chattanoogan, TN, August 1, 2011
Tennessee’s Achievement School District (ASD) has announced the release of a request for qualifications (RFQ) from organizations interested in opening charter schools in ASD attendance zones for the 2012-2013 school year.
TEXAS
Competition Might Be Key To County’s School Rat
ings
San Angelo Standard Times, TX, August 2, 2011
Public school and district accountability ratings were released to the public Friday and, though many schools statewide saw their ratings fall, the schools in Tom Green County stand out as overall success stories.
UTAH
State School Board Member Would Like To See Charter Schools Funded Differently
Cache Valley Daily, UT, August 1, 2011
Money is scarce for public education in Utah, according to Tami Pyfer, a resident of Logan and member of the State Board of Education. On KVNU’s Crosstalk show last week, Pyfer was asked why the state continues to start charter schools which take money away from public schools.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Could a Cyber School Be the Right Educational Choice for Your Child?
WHPTV, PA, August 1, 2011
Hard to believe that August is here and that means getting set for back to school. There have long been kids that have been home schooled, but since 2003 there have been CYBER charter schools in Pennsylvania and there is a big difference.
Hall Schools Add Technology To Helps Students
Gainesville Times, GA, August 2, 2011
The more Hall County school teachers use technology in the classroom, the closer the school board is to achieving its goal of blended learning.
Which Oregon School District Teaches No Students?
Oregon Catalyst, OR, August 1, 2011
The highest profile bill in question was House Bill 2301, known as the virtual public charter school bill. The union has been trying to shut down online public charter schools ever since they started making inroads several years ago.