Daily Headlines for August 2, 2012
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
98 D.C. Teachers Fired For Poor Performance
Washington Post, DC, August 1, 2012
D.C. school officials said Wednesday that 98 teachers were fired this week for poor performance, a large-scale dismissal that has become almost routine in the city but remains rare among school systems nationwide.
School Reform Impossible Without A Plan
Washington Times, DC, August 1, 2012
Students who attend traditional D.C. Public Schools are still struggling academically, but they may have turned a corner, if recently released data can be believed.
FLORIDA
A Tumultuous Year For Outgoing State Education Commissioner
Miami Herald, FL, August 1, 2012
Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson traveled statewide to quell frustration among many parents, teachers and school leaders over testing, but he was criticized heavily for sounding tone-deaf on the issue
Harrison Submits Charter Application; Would Provide More Autonomy From LHS
The Ledger, FL, August 2, 2012
Harrison School for the Arts went down to the final hours in submitting an application for charter school status before Wednesday’s deadline.
Charter School Curriculum Will Include Horse Therapy
Bradenton Herald, FL, August 2, 2012
While some elementary school curriculums include physical education, mathematics and science, the soon-to-open Just For Girls Academy in Bradenton will include a distinctive set of courses.
GEORGIA
Democratic Voters Say No To Charter School Amendment
Augusta Chronicle, GA, August 1, 2012
Democratic voters went against a proposal to let the state establish charter schools over objections of local school boards in Tuesday’s primary, but local educators said there is still much work to do before the final votes are cast in November.
ILLINOIS
St. Scholastica Academy Leased For Charter School
Chicago Tribune, IL, August 2, 2012
The UNO Charter School Network’s latest plan for expansion, a new K-8 school in the historic St. Scholastica Academy building in Rogers Park, comes as the city’s cash-strapped public school system looks to raise money by selling vacant schools.
LOUISIANA
Schools’ Rejection Of Vouchers Brushed Off
The Advocate, LA, August 2, 2012
A move by two private schools to decline state voucher dollars will have negligible impact on the program, state officials said Wednesday.
Day of Firsts Around J.S. Clark
Opelousas Daily World, LA, August 2, 2012
The first day of school at St. Landry Parish’s only charter school, the J.S. Clark Leadership Academy , was about getting acquainted — acquainted with the building, teachers and students.
Baird: Charter School Decision Cause To Celebrate
Shreveport Times, LA, August 2, 2012
The approval of the first charter school in Caddo Parish by the Caddo Parish School Board recently is a moment of monumental celebration in support of more choices for parents and students, as well as an indication that local school boards are embracing a variety of “tools” in an effort to improve academic outcomes for students they serve.
MICHIGAN
Highland Park EM Hosts Charter Meeting To Inform Parents
Detroit News, MI, August 2, 2012
A standing-room-only crowd packed the Highland Park Community High School cafeteria Wednesday to learn more about the transition of schools to a charter system.
MINNESOTA
Schools Celebrate Student Improvements
Bemidji Pioneer, MN, August 2, 2012
Scott Anderson had good reason to boast about Schoolcraft Learning Community this week as the state’s Department of Education released student test results, but he was modest about his students’ achievements.
NEW JERSEY
Gov. Christie Touts Tenure Reform, Charter Schools On First Day Of Colorado Trip
Star-Ledger, NJ, August 2, 2012
Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday kicked off a two-day mix of Republican politicking and Mitt Romney fundraising that will highlight his Jersey profile in one of the states both presidential contenders believe could help sway this election.
Deadlines Set For Teacher Evaluations
The Record, NJ, August 2, 2012
State education officials spelled out deadlines Wednesday for all districts to gear up for new teacher evaluations — and faced questions about how they will be done fairly.
Five Lessons from Pilot Changing the Way Teachers, Principals are Graded
NJ Spotlight, NJ, August 2, 2012
A year into the New Jersey’s pilot program for developing a new teacher and principal evaluation system, Christie administration officials yesterday gave an update of the program and the prospects for the year ahead.
School Review Process Halted
Courier Post, NJ, August 1, 2012
The plan was for the city’s board of education to begin weighing three proposals for Hope Act schools Wednesday night. But the process was halted when legal and procedural questions were raised.
NEW YORK
Merit Pay Matters
New York Post, NY, August 2, 2012
New York schools have a major problem: For every terrible teacher who quits or retires, the city also loses one of its very best.
Documents Detail Christie Administration’s Plan for School Reform
WNYC, NY, August 2, 2012
The New Jersey Department of Education is moving forward with a reform plan for the state’s lowest performing schools by using private money from a California-based foundation.
NORTH CAROLINA
State School Board To Take Up Increasing Number Of Charter Schools
Winston-Salem Journal, NC, August 2, 2012
North Carolina’s school board could increase the number of charter schools in the state by a third within the next year if it accepts a screening committee’s recommendations.
OHIO
Improve the System
Columbus Dispatch, OH, August 2, 2012
As allegations of attendance-report rigging by Columbus City Schools and other districts spread, many are wondering if the annual school report cards put out by the state can be trusted.
OREGON
Bethel Rejects Charter’s Plan
Register Guard, OR, August 2, 2012
HomeSource Family Charter School stands on shaky ground after failing to create a financial plan for the coming school year that meets the requirements of the Bethel School District .
PENNSYLVANIA
Consultant: Philadelphia District Needs To Close 29 To 57 Schools
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, August 2, 2012
Six months into its study of the troubled Philadelphia School District, a global management firm has made public its extensive, game-changing analysis and recommendations for how the system should proceed to overhaul operations and avoid insolvency.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Year-Round Charter School Opening Brings Comparisons With Public System
Myrtle Beach Sun, SC, August 2, 2012
Parents and teachers of students in charter schools have reasons they believe that alternatives to public schools fit them and the students better.
TENNESSEE
Charter Schools’ Role May Expand in Shelby County
The Tennessean, TN, August 2, 2012
As six suburban Shelby County cities have referendums on starting their own school systems, local officials say a possible backup plan could be charter schools.
ONLINE SCHOOLS
Florence Online School Earns Accreditation
Tri Valley Tribune, AZ, August 2, 2012
Principal Dr. Chris Lineberry announced that the Florence Virtual Academy , the online school available through the Florence Unified School District , has earned accreditation from the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED. This action was taken at the AdvancED Accreditation Commission meeting held in Phoenix in June of 2012.