Schools Face Test From Voters
Wall Street Journal, October 23, 2012
Voters in five states will decide next month whether to raise taxes to help fund public schools, part of a slew of ballot initiatives this year that reflect the intensifying nationwide battle over how to run government-funded schools.
Study Finds Obama’s Race To The Top Program Too Costly For Schools
Daily Freedman, NY, October 23, 2012
The implementation of President Barack Obama’s Race to the Top initiative in New York state is an expensive venture that may move public education in the state backward, according to SUNY New Paltz’s Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach.
Should State Education Chiefs Be Elected?
Stateline, October 23, 2012
If it were up to Walter Dalton and Pat McCrory, they’d have a little less company on the ballot in North Carolina this year. In particular, they wouldn’t be sharing space with candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
FROM THE STATES
ARKANSAS
The Billionaire Boys (And Girl) Club For Charter Schools
Arkansas Times Blog, AR, October 22, 2012
The charter school movement in Arkansas and everywhere has been accurately characterized as the Billionaire Boys Club. In Arkansas, Walton, Murphy, Stephens and Hussman money is the motive power of legislation to bust what few unions remain in Arkansas classrooms and promote charter schools (backers need not be proven) and other forms of “choice,” with vouchers the ultimate game.
CALIFORNIA
Charter To Take Over School In Parent-Trigger Case
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 23, 2012
Adelanto parents select LaVerne Elementary Preparatory Academy to operate Desert Trails Elementary School , ending months of court battles.
Near L.A. Live, Parents Press For Downtown Charter School
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 23, 2012
Residents of South Park have submitted plans for Metro Charter to L.A. Unified. They say a school that their kids can walk to is too important to give up.
More Than 2 Dozen L.A. Unified Magnet Schools Are Under-Enrolled
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 23, 2012
LAUSD magnet schools have long been considered prized programs, but more than two dozen of them are under-enrolled and actively looking to fill classroom seats.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Enrollment Fails To Keep Pace With D.C. Voucher Funds
Washington Times, DC, October 22, 2012
A decision this year to add nearly $5 million in funding for federal vouchers that help low-income families in the District send their children to private schools is not guaranteed to result in higher enrollment under the program than last school year, according to preliminary data.
FLORIDA
Gov. Scott To Push Against Spending Cuts At Fort Myers Education Summit
News Press, FL,October 23, 2012
Scott, a featured speaker, will outline an education agenda that address new academic standards, teacher accountability, funding cuts and charter schools, according to a draft provided to the Miami Herald.
Rick Scott’s Education Priorities: Keep Funding Steady, Expand Charter Schools
Miami Herald, FL, October 23, 2012
The Republican governor has crafted a set of education proposals to send to the Legislature in the spring with the goal of better preparing students for college and jobs.
Academy Seeks To Avoid $81K In City Fees For New Campus
Ocala Star Banner, FL, October 22, 2012
A Francis Marion Military Academy official said Monday he feels the charter school has become the latest pawn in a war between the city of Ocala and the School District over stormwater and fire service fees.
GEORGIA
Former Mayor” ‘No’ to Amendment One’
Savannah Morning News, GA, October 23, 2012
Citizens are being asked to vote on Nov. 6 for or against an amendment to the Constitution of Georgia that would expand the power of state government over local education and lead to a dual school system.
Former School Board Member: ‘Yes’ on Amendment One
Savannah Morning News, GA, October 23, 2012
The Savannah/Chatham Board of Education’s opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment to the Georgia Constitution is understandable but not logical.
Georgia Group Supports Charter School Amendment
Albany Herald, GA, October 22, 2012
Georgia voters will decide Nov. 6 if charter schools in the state will continue to exist in a kind of limbo.
Charter School Amendment Is More About ‘How’ Than ‘What’
Macon Telegraph, GA, October 23, 2012
Rep. Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta, majority whip in the Georgia House of Representatives says he finds himself bordering between “amused and disturbed” by opponents of the charter school amendment, which is set for a vote on Nov. 6.
IDAHO
Idaho TV Ads Prompt Lawsuit
Spokesman Review, WA, October 23, 2012
Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa went to court Monday, seeking to force a defiant secret-donations group to reveal the source of more than $200,000 spent on statewide TV campaign commercials backing three controversial school reform measures.
KANSAS
Democrats Create Own Kansas School Online Site
Garden City Telegram, KS, October 23, 2012
Kansas legislative Democrats on Monday launched their own online survey on schools to counter a new website created by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration.
LOUISIANA
State Superintendent Drawing Ire
Monroe News Star, LA, October 23, 2012
At least two members of the Louisiana Senate and Governmental Affairs committee believe State Superintendent John White lied to the committee during his confirmation hearing in May, and they want him to answer for it.
MARYLAND
HCEA Requests Withdrawal From Race To The Top
Baltimore Sun, MD, October 22, 2012
The Howard County Education Association last week formally requested the Board of Education withdraw from Race to the Top, a controversial federal program tied to teacher evaluations based on student performance on state assessments — evaluations that are now law.
MASSACHUSETTS
Marshall Elementary Proposed As Charter School
Boston Globe, MA, October 22, 2012
Boston school officials announced Monday that they intend to tap an education-management company to convert the Marshall Elementary School in Dorchester into a charter school next fall, under a proposal to boost student achievement at the academically struggling school.
MICHIGAN
Tougher Rules See Grad Rate Slip
Detroit News, MI, October 23, 2012
Tougher high school graduation requirements have caused graduation rates in Michigan to drop among lower-achieving students, says an analysis released Monday.
Laid-Off DPS Teachers Can Have Their Performance Scores Reviewed
Detroit Free Press, MI, October 22, 2012
Teachers who have been laid off as a result of their 2012 performance evaluations can request a review of their scores, Detroit Public Schools announced in a news release today.
MINNESOTA
Bridging The Gap
Minnesota Daily, MN, October 23, 2012
Minnesota has long been known as a state that values education and its importance for the future of the state. Making financial investments for K-12, as well as in our public universities, is traditionally seen as a top priority for our leaders and state lawmakers. Minnesota students’ test scores are consistently ranked among the highest in the nation.
NEW JERSEY
NJEA Boss No Fan of Newark Contract Deal
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, October 23, 2012
Vincent Giordano quietly disagrees with two key components of the tentative deal: performance benefits and peer evaluation
Judge To Rule On Camden Students’ Relocation
Courier Post, NJ, October 23, 2012
An administrative law judge will rule in several days if the state must move three Camden students to new schools outside the failing city school district.
Delaware Valley High School Board Considers Accepting Out-Of-District Choice Students
Hunterdon County Democrat, NJ, October 22, 2012
A lot of questions were asked, but no decision was made at tonight’s Delaware Valley High School Board of Education meeting about possibly accepting students under the state school choice program.
NEW MEXICO
Charter Fair Will Exhibit School Choice
Albuquerque Journal, NM, October 23, 2012
As a parent or a family looking for differing educational opportunities for children, trying to find the right school can be a somewhat daunting task.
NEW YORK
In Rochester, Randi Weingarten Makes Case For Cooperative School Reform
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, NY, October 22, 2012
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten was in Rochester on Monday to participate in a hearing of the governor’s New NY Education Reform Commission, which is looking for ways to improve the state’s schools.
Buffalo Teachers Reject Deal To Accept Transfers In Exchange For $2,500
Buffalo News, NY, October 22, 2012
Buffalo School Superintendent Pamela C. Brown offered to give $2,500 to each of the 106 teachers affected by involuntary transfers this fall in an effort to resolve the stalemate between the union and the district over the transfers.
TENNESSEE
More Than Money Is At Stake For Metro Schools
The Tennessean, TN, October 23, 2012
Unfortunately, Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) has reached an impasse with the Tennessee Department of Education. The state, despite our local school board’s efforts to reconcile the situation, has withheld $3.4 million in Basic Education Program (BEP) funds in response to the board’s repeated denials of the Great Hearts Academies charter school application.
Achievement School District Gets Jolt: Low Test Scores
Commercial Appeal, TN, October 22, 2012
Early tests results a few weeks ago showed that students in the state’s Achievement School District on average are performing at the 16th percentile in the nation in reading and math.
TEXAS
Schools, State Begin Battle In Court Again
San Antonio Express, TX, October 23, 2012
Lawyers representing hundreds of school districts challenging Texas’ school funding system argued Monday that it’s “hopelessly broken,” but a lawyer for the state said the situation isn’t as dire as the schools portray.
WASHINGTON
Give Charter Schools A Chance
The Daily News, WA, October 23, 2012
Whether or not to allow charter schools isn’t the major K-12 education issue facing Washington . The state’s biggest challenge is how to fully fund education, as the state’s Supreme Court directed in its McGeary decision earlier this year.
The Times Recommends Initiative 1240, Setting Up Charter Schools
Seattle Times, WA, October 22, 2012
Charter-school supporters claim that charters will serve the most disadvantaged students. However, the 40 schools this initiative will create will serve only 1 percent of our state’s students. Current statistics show that 37 percent of Washington students receive free or reduced price lunch, 13 percent receive special-education services and 18 percent live in poverty.