Daily Headlines for October 8, 2012
Loopholes Seen at Schools in Obama Get-Tough Policy
New York Times, NY, October 6, 2012
With an agenda that Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, has described as a “quiet revolution,” the Obama administration has pushed rigorous new standards for a majority of the nation’s public schools as well as requirements that states and districts evaluate not just schools but individual teachers, in part by assessing their ability to improve student scores on standardized tests.
Obama Policies Working; Romney Ideas Need Vetting
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, October 6, 2012
We know what President Barack Obama’s educational policy would be – Race to the Top on steroids.
Hidden Rival of Charter School Growth
Washington Post, DC, October 7, 2012
Public charter schools are a hot topic among us education wonks. Charters have been growing rapidly. They enroll more than 2 million students. Research papers on them proliferate. Editorials worry over what this exodus of kids and their involved parents is doing to regular public schools.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Schools Urged To Use Up Technology Vouchers
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 7, 2012
About $66 million, including $10 million for LAUSD, remains from a state antitrust settlement with Microsoft, and officials want districts to use the vouchers before they expire during 2013.
Novato Charter School Plan Sparks Debate
Marin Independent-Journal, CA, October 7, 2012
As proponents of a new charter school in Novato prepare to file paperwork with the school district, a group of parents has organized in opposition, saying the charter would siphon funds from other schools.
Future of Desert Trails Still Being ‘Chartered’
Victorville Daily Press, CA, October 7, 2012
Desert Trails Elementary School in Adelanto is the closest any parents in the United States have gotten to executing a parent trigger, allowing parents to force a major overhaul of an underperforming school.
Teacher Evaluation Resolution Pulled From LAUSD Agenda
Daily Breeze, CA, October 6, 2012
School board member Steve Zimmer has pulled his controversial resolution on teacher evaluations from Tuesday’s board agenda because of concerns it could interfere with sensitive negotiations between the district and its teachers’ union.
Hanson Needs To Own Up To Charter Debacle
The Fresno Bee, CA, October 6, 2012
The next Fresno Unified board meeting should begin with an apology by Superintendent Michael Hanson for misleading the community about important facts in the New Millennium charter school debacle.
DELAWARE
Kuumba School May Expand Soon
News Journal, DE, October 8, 2012
A Wilmington elementary school with a focus on math might expand into middle school.
FLORIDA
With Record Number Of Charters Applicants, Duval School Board Takes A Stand
Florida Times-Union, FL, October 6, 2012
The number of organizations clamoring to start charter schools in Duval County continues to bloom.
Charter School Lobbies For Potential Miami-Dade Bond Money
Miami Herald, FL, October 7, 2012
As Miami-Dade schools chief Alberto Carvalho stumps for the district’s $1.2 billion bond proposal, schools and groups have started jockeying for potential dollars.
GEORGIA
Education Law Expert: Language Of Charter Schools Amendment Lesson In Subversion
Atlanta Journal Constitution Blog, GA, October 8, 2012
Attorney Thomas Cox represented Atlanta and DeKalb schools in the lawsuit that led to the abolition of the state-run charter schools commission. That 2011 legal victory by school systems prompted the current campaign to change the Georgia Constitution so the state can recreate the commission and go back to approving charters over the objections of local boards of education.
Trouble For Local School Boards?
Walton Tribune, GA, October 7, 2012
Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens said Thursday he is looking into whether or not local school boards violated state law when approving resolutions in opposition to the Nov. 6 ballot initiative related to charter schools. And what Olens determines to be legal will have an impact here, as both Walton County school systems passed resolutions opposing what is seen as supplanting local control of education.
IDAHO
Students Must Come First
Coeur d’Alene Press, ID, October 6, 2012
We will all be faced with a deciding vote on the first steps of education reform in November and it is important that everyone understand what is proposed and what is at stake. Idahoans will vote on three referenda aimed at repealing what may be one of the most sweeping education reforms in the country.
LOUISIANA
Public Has Right To Know Details Of State Voucher Program
American Press, LA, October 6, 2012
The state Education Department continues to trip over its own tongue in explaining why it is stonewalling the public about details of its voucher program.
MASSACHUSETTS
Proposed Charter Schools In Lawrence, Saugus, And Woburn Advance To Final Round
Boston Globe, MA, October 6, 2012
Proposals for three new charter schools in the region have advanced to a final application round, while four others were turned down.
Fitchburg Charter School Avoids Probation By Raising Exam Scores
Sentinel and Enterprise, MA, October 7, 2012
On the face of it, the North Central Charter Essential School appears to have undergone an overnight transformation.
Schools Will Use MCAS Data For Teacher Evaluations
Metro West Daily, MA, October 7, 2012
Administrators have spent months understanding and planning for the state’s new teacher evaluation system that, for many districts, goes into effect this school year – and the Massachusetts Department of Education has matched those efforts with accompanying updated technology.
MINNESOTA
Twin Cities Education Reformers To Coordinate Attack On Achievement Gap
Pioneer Press, MN, October 7, 2012
An uncommon mix of reformers are syncing up their efforts to fight the achievement gap in education.
MISSOURI
Charter Schools Must Focus On Academics And Fiscal Responsibility
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, October 6, 2012
Missouri’s education commissioner told charter school administrators Friday morning that academic and fiscal accountability are keys to quality as the state moves into a new era of growth and change in the charter movement.
MONTANA
Race For State Superintendent Of Schools Heats Up
Independent Record, MT, October 8, 2012
For Sandy Welch, the state superintendent of public instruction race essentially comes down to just one thing. “I’m focusing on student learning,” she said.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
New N.H. Law May Cost Seacoast School Districts Hundreds Of Thousands
Seacoast Online, NH, October 6, 2012
The law, SB 300, changes the state’s charter school statute and requires a student’s resident district to pay to transport special education students when their parents send them to charter schools outside their home district, Parsons said Thursday night.
Two Years After Zuckerberg’s $100 Million Gift, Newark Schools Have ‘A Long Way To Go’
NBC News, October 8, 2012
Two years ago, Mark Zuckerberg got the attention of the education world with his announcement of a $100 million gift of his personal Facebook stock to the public schools of Newark , N.J. After two years, how has the money been spent? As it did last year, NBC News visited Newark and its public schools to find answers to that question.
Hope School Decision ‘Unusual’ Defeat for Norcross
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ, October 7, 2012
Nor does he lose easily: When Camden’s school board recently rebuffed a Norcross-backed bid to bring a Hope Act school to the city, the de facto leader of South Jersey Democrats quickly renewed the push for his goal.
NEW YORK
Big Change in Gifted and Talented Testing
Wall Street Journal, October 8, 2012
A new test for admission into New York City’s gifted and talented program will account for the bulk of a student’s score, upending a testing regime that a growing number of children had appeared to master.
Rochester Prep Charter School System Looks To Expand
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, NY, October 7, 2012
One of the city’s most successful charter schools is looking to expand its reach in Rochester , with a plan to open new schools that will give True North Rochester Prep Elementary School the capacity to serve nearly 10 percent of city students.
Bronx Charter School Soars to Success
DNAinfo, NY, October 8, 2012
Just a few years ago, the Bronx Charter School for Excellence (BCSE) was suffering from low test scores and in danger of becoming a failing school. But in a remarkable turnaround, the K-8 Parkchester school has spent the last two years rebuilding its curriculum and is now ranked first in test results for all New York City charter schools.
OHIO
Correct Numbers May Fuel Vouchers
Columbus Dispatch, OH, October 8, 2012
But if East High’s state report-card marks aren’t really as high as the district reported, his daughter might have qualified for a $5,000 tuition voucher. She also might not have to sit out a year to play basketball at her new school.
OKLAHOMA
Parent Trigger Law Proposed To Allow Parents To Overhaul Underachieving Schools
Tulsa World, OK, October 8, 2012
A parent trigger law – as portrayed in the new movie “Won’t Back Down” – may be on the horizon for Oklahoma .
Letter Grades Are A Starting Point For School Accountability
The Oklahoman, OK, October 8, 2012
WHEN the state releases its first letter grades for schools, the voices of reform and the voices of status quo won’t go away. In fact, they may get louder. Here’s our advice to parents, for whom the information is ultimately intended: A little common sense goes a long way.
PENNSYLVANIA
Potential Charter School Legislation Forthcoming
Times Herald, PA, October 7, 2012
Charter schools have grown in popularity in recent years. These schools do not have to follow the rigid state standards and are marketed as having the ability to provide students with a “better” education because the curriculum can be adjusted and potentially specialized.
Once Afraid, Parochial Converts Praise Kids’ New Public Schools
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, October 8, 2012
WHEN the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced in January that it was closing St. Bridget’s elementary school in East Falls, Nancy DiGiovanni couldn’t imagine transferring her two children to the local public school.
World Communications Charter Awaits Outcome of Philadelphia Inquiry
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, October 8, 2012
The Philadelphia School District is investigating one of the oldest charter schools in the city for financial and management irregularities, problems that might eventually force the school to close.
No Area Public Schools Open For Opportunity Scholarships
Altoona Mirror, PA, October 8, 2012
Public schools are on the sidelines as private schools pioneer the state’s opportunity scholarship program in its first year, but public school officials aren’t ruling out their participation in the program next year to offer students of low-achieving schools more education options.
Spin Test: More Than Cheating Was At Work On Student Scores
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, October 8, 2012
The percentage of Pennsylvania schools that met federal standards on reading and math tests dropped precipitously this year, and that was bad enough. But equally shocking was Education Secretary Ron Tomalis’ conclusion that cheating was the reason.
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School’s $10M Hall Spurs Debate On Privatization
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, October 7, 2012
There are no sound-distorting right angles in the music practice rooms at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School’s new Alumni Hall. Built-in recording systems digitally preserve every rehearsal in the acoustically excellent space.
Easton to Bus Students to Arts Academy
Allentown Morning Call, PA, October 6, 2012
Although traffic would make the trip take longer than desired, the path can carry Easton Area students only 10 miles from district boundaries to the Arts Academy Charter School in Salisbury . And the fact that it exists is all that matters under Pennsylvania School Code.
RHODE ISLAND
Two Providence Schools Look To Become Charters, Teaming Up With Other Schools
Providence Journal, RI, October 8, 2012
Two elementary schools have applied to become district-run charter schools, which could set the stage for a new approach toward educating students.
The schools are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School on the East Side and Frank D. Spaziano Elementary School on Laurel Hill Avenue.
SOUTH CAROLINA
School Choice A Good Idea, But Not A Simple Fix
Morning News, SC, October 7, 2012
Dr. Mick Zais, the state’s superintendent of education, says public schools in South Carolina are “tremendously varied.” The state is home to some of the nation’s finest schools. It is also home to the fabled “Corridor of Shame,” and other pockets of educational inequity that represent some of the poorest examples of public education around.
TENNESSEE
Memphis Teachers Seek Stronger Voice In Reforms
Commercial Appeal, TN, October 8, 2012
Still reeling from a host of education reforms and new job mandates, the Memphis Education Association is bracing for more difficult battles ahead on such issues as how teachers are evaluated and libraries are staffed.
Putnam Develops Charter School Policy
Herald Citizen, TN, October 7, 2012
There are no charter school applications in Putnam County just yet, but interest by a local group has prompted the Putnam County School Board to establish a charter school application review team.
Rapidly Growing Segment Provides Unique Learning Experiences
Commercial Appeal, TN, October 7, 2012
Rapidly growing segment provides unique learning experiences, chance for personal development
Lack of Choice Is ‘Old School’ in Memphis Area
Commercial Appeal, TN, October 7, 2012
This is what school choice looks like in a city that fewer than 10 years ago had essentially two choices — private or public schools. For a great majority of public school parents, the price of private schools meant there really was no choice.
TEXAS
New IDEA Mcallen Campus Part Of Broad Expansion Plan
The Monitor, TX, October 7, 2012
Eleven-year old Horacio Garcia Rojas said outside a pep rally for IDEA McAllen on Friday that, weeks into his first semester at the charter school, he was picking up faster on math — one of his toughest subjects.
WASHINGTON
Would Public Charter Schools Help, Hurt Our Kids?
The Columbian, WA, October 7, 2012
As an involved parent of students who attend public schools, and as an active member of the Parent-Teacher Association both locally and statewide, I’m a strong supporter of our public school system and its teachers. That’s why I support a “yes” vote on Initiative 1240, which will allow more public school options for parents, students and teachers in our state.
Let’s Get Rid Of Compulsory School Days
Seattle Times, WA, October 7, 2012
Abolishing compulsory school attendance in our state could unleash a wave of creative and innovative education programs, writes guest columnist Jim Strickland.
ONLINE SCHOOLS
Virtual Schools
Toledo Blade, OH, October 8, 2012
Nearly 30,000 stu¬dents in Ohio, from kin¬der¬gar¬ten through 12th grade, take on¬line classes. Na¬tion¬ally, more than a mil¬lion stu¬dents en¬roll an¬nu¬ally in In¬ter¬net-based courses. But whether the rush to re-place teach¬ers with tech¬nol¬ogy is a good idea re¬mains an open question.
Plan To Expand Online Classes In Florida Meets Resistance
Miami Herald, FL, October 7, 2012
K12 Inc. wants to open virtual charter schools across the state, saying they would expand students’ options. The move has raised the ire of school district officials in some counties.
Do Students Behave Better In A Digital Learning Environment?
The Grand Rapids Press, MI, October 6, 2012
Do students behave better in a digital environment? People running “blended learning” schools seemed to think there is a link between students engaged in learning and a more disciplined school environment.
A Cutting-Edge Classroom
The Olympian, WA, October 8, 2012
Welcome to Tech Arts, a class where students use computer software programs to design the projects they want to build out of wood, plastic and other materials. “It used to be industrial arts,” said Morris, who has taught at the school for 28 years. “Now we’re incorporating technology.”