Daily Headlines for August 18, 2011
Treason on Schools
Washington Post, DC, August 17, 2011
“Where’s the outrage?” is always the last cry of those losing a political argument, but when it comes to Americans’ complacency over mediocre schools, things get more complicated. Poor families know perfectly well that their kids are getting the shaft, but they lack the clout to demand (and pay for) better teachers and facilities.
Americans Love Teachers But Split Over Teachers’ Unions, Poll Shows
Christian Science Monitor, MA, August 17, 2011
Americans show strong support for public-school teachers, according to a new poll. But a partisan divide exists over the role of teachers’ unions.
Time to Can Middle Schools
New York Post, NY, August 18, 2011
We should simply eliminate the city’s regular public middle schools: They do more harm than good.
Urban Superintendents Want Review of Teacher-Prep Programs
Baltimore Sun Blog, MD, August 17, 2011
The national network schools has endorsed a review of the nation’s teaching programs, a feat that has been taken up by the National Council on Teacher Quality this year. The Council of Great City Schools represents more than 60 superintendents from large, urban cities, including Baltimore city schools CEO Andres Alonso.
FROM THE STATES
ALABAMA
Poll Shows Alabamians Have Doubts Schools Will Improve
Montgomery Advertiser, AL, August 18, 2011
The Capital Survey Research Center , an arm of the Alabama Education Association, recently conducted a statewide survey of registered voters about Alabama’s public schools that showed a majority of those polled gave good marks to schools, but were concerned about the future.
CALIFORNIA
L.A. Unified Bests Reform Groups In Most Cases, Data Show
Los Angeles Times, CA, August 18, 2011
Struggling schools under district control see test scores rise more than most operated by the mayor, a charter organization and others, a Times analysis finds
COLORADO
Private Schools To Keep Douglas County Voucher Students During Court Fight
Denver Post, CO, August 18, 2011
Private schools that agreed to enroll students through the Douglas County district’s voucher program are standing by those students, even though a judge halted the program Friday.
CONNECTICUT
Schools Need More Than Money
Norwich Bulletin, CT, August 18, 2011
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and legislative leaders have completed the appointments to a 12-member task force charged with examining the way the state funds education, and to make recommendations on how to improve upon that process.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
After Charter Schools Close, Parents Race To Find New Placements
WAMU, DC, August 18, 2011
Nearly 750 D.C. students were left looking for new schools after three charter schools closed and two eliminated their high school programs.
FLORIDA
Charter Rally To Attract Thousands
Orlando Sentinel, FL, August 17, 2011
A for-profit charter school management company that operates a school system larger than a majority of Florida’s public school districts is busing its employees to Orlando Thursday for a rally to kick off the new school year.
New Charter Schools Tout New Learning Methods
Pensacola News Journal, FL, August 18, 2011
Arlynn Abramson, director of both schools, said they drew students from Escambia public and private schools. There is now a waiting list and a lottery system has been set up, she said. The schools will use the Apex Learning curriculum, which is designed for students to work at their own pace.
Union To Negotiate Teacher Evaluation Plan
Highlands Today, FL, August 18, 2011
Administrators and teachers agree that the new teacher evaluation system going into effect this year is one of the biggest changes in education in years, but Teachers Union President Steve Picklesimer advised Tuesday that the union has to weigh in on the plan prior to school board approval.
GEORGIA
Georgia’s Charter Schools Need A Voice
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, August 17, 2011
Recently, hundreds of people packed in a school auditorium heard a Cherokee County school board member boldly proclaim: “If you parents don’t like the education our school district is providing for your children, then you should move out of Cherokee County!”
INDIANA
Religious Schools Dominate Vouchers
Indianapolis Star, IN, August 18, 2011
Families who want to use new state-funded vouchers for private school tuition in Marion County, so far, have only one choice: a religious school.
LOUISIANA
Carroll H.S. Pushes Past ‘Choice’ Limit
Monroe News Star, LA, August 18, 2011
Monroe City School Board member Clarence Sharp believes Carroll High School parents were done a disservice by the district and the administration when parents received late notification of the school’s academic status.
MARYLAND
Two New Imagine Charter Schools Open In Clinton Area
Maryland Gazette, MD, August 18, 2011
Imagine Andrews Public Charter School, located at Joint Base Andrews, and Imagine Foundations 2, in the building that used to hold Morningside Elementary School, are part of Imagine charter schools.
MICHIGAN
Local Schools Oppose Governor’s School of Choice Proposal
WLNS, MI, August 17, 2011
A key element in the Governor’s education reform effort is running into stiff opposition from local schools that do not want to open their classrooms to students from all parts of th
e state.
MISSOURI
Back To Work On Our Schools
St. Louis American, MO, August 18, 2011
As area children returned to school this week, their parents and teachers were digesting new data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In the city of St. Louis, there is some good news against a backdrop of an unaccredited public school district.
NEW JERSEY
Should Taxes Be Used to Fight the Opening of Charter Schools?
Courier Post, NJ, August 17, 2011
Should public school districts be allowed to use tax money for lawsuits that seek to keep charter schools from opening? As charter schools increasingly go from urban to suburban it’s a question that needs the public spotlight.
Bold Changes in N.J.’s Education System Are Necessary
Times of Trenton, NJ, August 18, 2011
The question has been around for decades: How do we fix New Jersey’s worst-performing schools? For too long, the state has come up with one main answer: more money. Now, finally, many state policy leaders are looking at new ways to improve these schools, and they’re using successful business practices as a starting point.
Charter Gains Ally
South Brunswick Post, NJ, August 17, 2011
The legal battle between a proposed charter school and three public school districts has been joined. The New Jersey Charter Schools Association threw its support behind the Princeton International Academy Charter School (PIACS) in its recent legal battle with the districts of South Brunswick, West Windsor-Plainsboro and Princeton, according to a Aug. 12 press release from the association.
OHIO
Leaders Break New Ground With Urban Charter Schools
Cleveland Jewish News, OH, August 17, 2011
Two years ago, Shelly Saltzman, a veteran educator at suburban private schools, set a challenge for herself: Why couldn’t she translate the education she had so successfully provided for suburban youngsters to inner-city youth?
Panel Reviews Teacher Evaluation
Columbus Dispatch, OH, August 18, 2011
The new Ohio Teacher Evaluation System will place greater emphasis on measuring how much students learn and how teachers go about their job.
OREGON
Educators Gather In Tualatin For Charter School Conference
The Tualatin Times, OR, August 17, 2011
This week, speakers, educators and administrators from around the state met at the MITCH Charter School in Tualatin for the League of Oregon Charter Schools’ annual statewide conference. This was the first year that MITCH was able to host the conference having just found a permanent building last year.
‘We’re Not Going To Let Them Fail’
Portland Tribune, OR, August 18, 2011
With the motto “Youth potential realized,” the mini-empire hosts a middle-grades charter school, a summer program, free meals, community-based internships and afterschool enrichment including sports, music, dance and art.
PENNSYLVANIA
Pa. House Education Committee to Hold Two Days of Hearings on Education Reform
Patriot News, PA, August 17, 2011
A line-up of heavy hitters, including national education reform experts and staunch public education advocates, will testify before the House Education Committee today and tomorrow to provide testimony on reform initiatives under consideration.
Business Leaders Solicited For Ackerman Buyout Donations
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, August 18, 2011
In recent weeks, high-ranking business leaders in the region have received calls asking them to donate to a charitable education organization that would then contribute funds to help buy out Philadelphia School Superintendent Arlene C. Ackerman’s contract, sources said.
WISCONSIN
Test Scores Same At State Public, Voucher Schools
Wisconsin Rapid Tribune, WI, August 18, 2011
State auditors on Wednesday confirmed a report that found little difference in test scores between students in Milwaukee’s school-voucher program and those in the city’s public schools.
On, Wisconsin
Wall Street Journal, August 18, 2011
On Monday, the Wisconsin Education Association Council announced it will lay off about 40% of its staff, a change executive director Dan Burkhalter blamed on Mr. Walker’s “union-busting legislation.”
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Online Charter School Starts
The Advocate, LA, August 17, 2011
Nearly 600 students started school from the comfort of their homes Monday as Louisiana’s first online charter school for kindergarten through 12th grade opened.
Qualified Online Schools Offer Option To Certain Students
The Tennessean, TN, August 18, 2011
In response to the Aug. 15 article, “Free virtual school casts statewide web,” we must remember that every child deserves access to a public school that works for them, regardless of their education background or geographic location. It is this principle that led Union County Public Schools to open the Tennessee Virtual Academy (TNVA) to students statewide.
Virtual Schools Bad for Education Reform
State Gazette Blog, TN, August 17, 2011
Last year under Governor Phil Bredesen, Tennessee made great strides in education reform when we won the Race to the Top Grant. Unfortunately, one year later, we have back tracked and jeopardized our standing as a national model for education. Over the next few weeks, I want to cover these changes and show why I think it’s so important to reverse course next session and preserve our public education system.
Online Learning Keeps Keota High School Accredited
Keota Eagle, IA, August 17, 2011
Online learning is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to learn and take classes at the high school and college level. You may hear your sons/daughters mention ILO classes when filling out their course requests for the new year. ILO stands for Iowa Learning Online and following are some details
in regard to this program.
Mandate For Online Classes Could Cost Districts Thousands
Kuna Melba News, ID, August 17, 2011
Part of Idaho’s new education reform legislation seeks to eliminate what some see as financial double dipping when it comes to teaching online classes.