Daily Headlines for October 25, 2012
Audit: US Oversight Of Charter School Funds Lax
Associated Press, October 24, 2012
An audit of the U.S. Department of Education’s division overseeing hundreds of millions of dollars in charter school funding has criticized the office for failing to properly monitor how states spend the money.
Camilla Benbow: Romney, Obama Differ On Education Ideology
The Tennessean, TN, October 25, 2012
With the election looming, let us take a look at where the two major candidates for president stand on education.
How The World’s Longest-Running School Voucher Program Fared
Washington Post Blog, DC, October 25, 2012
Though Gov. Mitt Romney and President Obama agree on some education issues, there are important differences, including the extent of federal involvement in local school issues and voucher programs.
Obama Would Better Support Education
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, WI, October 25, 2012
When you think about it, how do we really create a nation that is prosperous, healthy and progressive with the ongoing world? You educate our youths to be better prepared to make the future decisions that will affect the nation as a whole.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Charter Schools Going Strong For 20 Years
San Francisco Chronicle, CA, October 24, 2012
Charter school enrollment in California has reached record levels this year with nearly 1 in 10 students now attending the alternative public schools.
Settlement Voided; Teacher Layoff Process To Go To Trial
Los Angeles Times Blog, CA, October 24, 2012
The state Supreme Court has declined to reinstate a settlement that allowed local officials to shield schools from having disproportionate numbers of teachers laid off during a budget crisis. The voided settlement had allowed exceptions to rules stating that less-experienced teachers must be let go first.
L.A. Schools Chief Urges Union Cooperation On Federal Funds
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 24, 2012
Supt. John Deasy seeks teachers’ backing on a grant application that could bring $40 million to LAUSD. The union fears the grant won’t cover all the costs of implementing the district’s proposal.
COLORADO
Dougco Launches Call For Charter Schools
EdNews Colorado, CO, October 24, 2012
A second large Colorado school district has approved the launch of a “call for new schools” process, though the focus of the Douglas County plan is charter schools.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Rise In D.C. School Enrollment
Washington Post, DC, October 24, 2012
The number of students enrolled in public and public charter schools in the District rose 5 percent this fall, to nearly 81,000 students, the highest level in more than a decade, according to a raw enrollment count that city officials plan to release Thursday.
FLORIDA
Lake Wales Charter System Seeks Injunction for IB Program Recruitment
The Ledger, FL, October 24, 2012
Parents with students in the Lake Wales Charter System and its officials say the Polk County School District is not playing fair.
GEORGIA
Gwinnett At Center Of Charter Amendment Fight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, October 25, 2012
In the highly contested fight over the charter school amendment, Gwinnett County is ground zero.
Charter School Parents Explain Why We Need Amendment One
Atlanta Journal Constitution Blog, GA, October 25, 2012
“How can I in good conscience send my child to a school that didn’t even cheat right?” The question from Shelby McDonald has surely been asked by many an Atlanta parent since rampant cheating on standardized tests was uncovered in the city’s public schools. Only rhetorically, of course, because the answer is: You can’t.
State Superintendent John Barge Shares Concerns About Charter Amendment
Savannah Morning News, GA, October 25, 2012
State Superintendent of Schools John Barge came to Savannah on Wednesday to discuss his vision for education but got grilled for opinions on the upcoming charter school Constitutional amendment.
Charter Amendment Isn’t Answer
Athens Banner-Herald , GA, October 24, 2012
This week, many of us are opening our mailboxes to find a slick, full-color, very expensive piece of propaganda. It’s full of children’s smiling faces, and it also contains false statements and misleading assertions about the proposed charter school amendment.
IDAHO
Idaho Seeks Names Of Education Reform Campaign Donors
Spokesman Review, WA, October 25, 2012
The state of Idaho asked a judge Wednesday to order a secretive group to disclose its funding sources for more than $200,000 in campaign ads in support of three school-reform ballot measures, and do it before the election.
INDIANA
Forum Held For State Superintendent Candidates
Journal Review, IN, October 25, 2012
The choice for Indiana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction is clearly between two different paths.
EVSC Enrollment Declines
Evansville Courier & Press, IN, October 25, 2012
Enrollment in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. for 2012-13 is 21,510 students, a decline of 94 from last school year.
MASSACHUSETTS
Taking The Reins At Charter School
Gloucester Daily Times, MA, October 25, 2012
Classes at the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School begin each morning with a meeting, with teachers and their students on all grade levels sitting down to talk and setting the tone for the day.
Charter School Company Shows That Time Is On Students’ Side
Boston Globe, MA, October 25, 2012
It is maddening that Boston’s public schools must reach the precipice of collapse before they can use one of the most important tools of school reform — a longer school day.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Derry Charter School Puts Focus On Next Year’s Opening
Union Leader, NH, October 24, 2012
With a board of trustees and state approval in place, the NEXT charter high school in Derry can now focus on opening its doors to students for the 2013-14 school year.
NEW JERSEY
Ocean City Schools Ready For Teacher Evaluation Program
Shore News Today, NJ, October 25, 2012
Administrators in Ocean City are optimistic about the district’s participation in the Excellent Educator’s for New Jersey pilot program.
NEW YORK
Children Left Behind
New York Daily News, NY, October 25, 2012
A report on college-readiness among high school graduates in New York’s poorest neighborhoods paints a stark, depressing picture of the future for thousands of black and Latino young people. But while the results of the study are clear, the conclusions that can be drawn from them are far less so.
Lack Of Evaluation Accord May Mean $58.7 Million Loss
Buffalo News, NY, October 24, 2012
The Buffalo Public Schools stand to lose $58.7 million – some of it earmarked for the district’s lowest-performing schools – if the district cannot work out a teacher-evaluation plan with its union soon, Superintendent Pamela C. Brown told the School Board on Wednesday night.
Graduation Rates, Test Scores Show An Entrenched Gap For Syracuse African-American, Latino Students
Syracuse Post-Standard, NY, October 25, 2012
Fifteen years and countless dropouts ago, a review of the Syracuse school district revealed an achievement gap between African-American and Latino students and their white peers. The gap mirrored a national disparity.
OHIO
First Charter School In Cleveland’s Central Neighborhood Hosts Open House
NewsNet5, OH, October 24, 2012
Stepstone Academy hosted an open house Tuesday for perspective students and their parents. It is the first charter school in Cleveland’s Central Neighborhood.
Ohio Teachers Seek A Voice In The State Legislature By Running For Office
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, October 25, 2012
Remember last year’s Senate Bill 5? The legislation that cut public employees’ power to collectively bargain, which was met with some support, a lot of outrage and ultimately a ballot measure that struck it down?
PENNSYLVANIA
No Curve For Charter Schools
Citizen Voice, PA, October 25, 2012
State education officials haven’t finished their investigation into alleged cheating on standardized tests in some public school districts, including Scranton. But they have found their own side door to increase test results for charter schools, which the Corbett administration and legislative Republicans aggressively have promoted as alternatives to conventional public schools.
Critics: Pa. Inflating Success Of Charter Schools
Beaver Times, PA, October 24, 2012
Pennsylvania education officials have asked to measure charter school achievement by a different yardstick than traditional schools, a standard that critics say inflates the success of charters for political reasons.
Tighten Funding Formula For Charter Schools
The Reporter, PA, October 24, 2012
LAWMAKERS HAVE made some valuable changes to the law covering public charter schools but have punted on the most important issue.
Pa. Charter Bill Fail Is Business As Usual
York Dispatch, PA, October 24, 2012
We can’t say our state Legislature does nothing. That wouldn’t be fair. Occasionally, a meaningful bill slips through and becomes law. There was the, um …And the one that fixed that thing with the … oh, what was it now?
TENNESSEE
Metro School Board Should Move Past Charter Debate, Focus On Future
The Tennessean, TN, October 25, 2012
Student progress measurements, teacher evaluation implementation and planning for the future must all be well in hand in Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.
TEXAS
Why Not Improve Texas Public Schools?
The Cross Timbers Gazette, TX, October 25, 2012
In 1876, state leaders in Austin approved the Texas Constitution, which included establishing and providing “for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.” Our forefathers had a vision that the Constitution would provide a quality and equal educational system for all future young Texans.
Proposed Texas School Vouchers Program Won’t Work
Houston Chronicle, TX, October 24, 2012
Now that state Sen. Dan Patrick has been appointed chairman of the Senate Education Committee, the battle over school vouchers will begin in earnest. I have always in theory endorsed the concept of allowing school choice and permitting state funds to follow the kids.
WASHINGTON
Why Teachers Will Love Charter Schools
Auburn Reporter, WA, October 24, 2012
Bob Dean is a public school teacher and a supporter of Initiative 1240, the ballot measure to allow public charter schools in Washington. He is the head of his school’s Math Department, teaches Advanced Placement calculus and is a past member of the State Board of Education Math Advisory Panel.
7 Seattle Schools Apply To Use “Creative Approach”
Seattle Times Blog, WA, October 24, 2012
Seven Seattle schools are applying to become Seattle Public Schools’ first “creative approach” schools which, similar to charter schools in other states, will be allowed significant flexibility to pursue innovative approaches to learning.
WISCONSIN
Proficiency Plummets At Voucher Schools, MPS With New Test Scoring
Journal Sentinel, WI, October 24, 2012
Based on a new and tougher yardstick for academic competency in Wisconsin, about 90% of the students in Milwaukee’s private-school voucher program are not proficient in reading and math, according to recalibrated fall 2011 state test results released this week.
ONLINE SCHOOLS
Milwaukee Area Schools Lose Enrollment To Virtual School
Marquette Tribune, WI, October 25, 2012
Schools in the four-county Milwaukee metro area have been hit by a significant decrease in enrollment this year, while virtual charter schools have made gains, according to data released by the state that provides a preliminary head count of all students in public schools.