Daily Headlines for October 9, 2012
The Imaginary Teacher Shortage
Wall Street Journal, October 9, 2012
Forty years and a million more teachers later, student performance is unchanged. Yet Obama and Romney both say schools need more staff
Next On School Reformers’ Agenda
Washington Post, DC, October 8, 2012
According to Michael Petrilli, executive vice president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and a research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, school reformers aren’t resting on their laurels and have some new goals in mind.
Paul Ryan Appears To Tear Up At Detroit Charter School, Mentions Auto Industry At Fundraiser
The Grand Rapids Press, MI, October 8, 2012
Before an evening rally in the Detroit suburbs, Republican vice presidential hopeful Paul Ryan Ryan toured a Cornerstone charter school in Detroit and attended a fundraiser in Pontiac.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Preuss School Reflects Cofounder’s Passion For Teaching
San Diego Union Times, CA, October 8, 2012
So when she heard a UC San Diego provost at a luncheon years later talking about creating a school to prepare low-income students for the rigors of college, she wanted to help make the idea a reality.
FLORIDA
Amendment Stirs School Voucher Debate
Bradenton Herald, FL, October 9, 2012
There’s a reason you’ll find no mention of school vouchers when you read Florida’s proposed Amendment 8. If you believe the ballot initiative’s supporters, it’s because it has absolutely nothing to do with the state using tax dollars to pay for students to attend private schools. If you believe the opponents, it’s because it’s all a veiled effort to get private school vouchers approved and that if that succeeds in Florida, it will be attempted in more than 30 other states.
State Board Plans To Invest In Tech, Charter Schools
Tallahassee Democrat, FL, October 8, 2012
When it meets in Orlando today, the Florida Board of Education will take up an ambitious agenda to continue its transformation of the public school system and increase technology in the state’s classrooms.
Approve Harrison ‘s Charter Application and Preserve Arts Education
The Ledger, FL, October 8, 2012
Today the Polk School Board will vote on the application for Harrison School for the Arts to become a charter school. The Harrison Parents’ Association is dedicated to preserving and protecting the original intent and purpose of Harrison, which is to provide Polk County students the opportunity to be educated in a positive, rigorous environment of academics and arts excellence.
GEORGIA
Charter School Campaign Isn’t Going To End Well
The Alma Times, GA, October 9, 2012
The campaign on the charter school constitutional amendment seems destined to end up in a courtroom rather than a classroom.
School Boards Sued Over Charter Amendment Opposition
Athens-Banner Herald, GA, October 8, 2012
A lawsuit filed Monday claims that local school boards in the state have illegally spent taxpayer money to oppose a proposed state constitutional amendment about charter schools.
Gwinnett, Fulton School Districts Sued Over Charter Opposition
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, October 8, 2012
Threats gave way to action Monday as supporters of the charter schools constitutional amendment sued Georgia school districts, which they accuse of illegally using taxpayer resources to oppose the amendment.
Don’t Be Fooled
Rome News-Tribune, GA, October 8, 2012
When a campaign devolves into this level, as it has on the Nov. 6 ballot’s constitutional amendment to grant the state the power to create local public schools over the opposition of local citizen majorities and their elected representatives, it is intended to divert attention from the actual issue and its satanic elements. In this case those now “evil people” are the very ones who have dedicated their lives to educating children in the public schools.
INDIANA
Schools In Market For Students; No Aggressive Efforts So Far Locally
Daily Journal, IN, October 8, 2012
Two districts, Fort Wayne and South Bend , each spent about $30,000 this year on radio, television, print and Web ads, mailers and yard signs.
Effort To Survey Indianapolis Teachers Meets Resistance
Indianapolis Star, IN, October 8, 2012
Sound like good news? Not to Marion County school superintendents, who have become increasingly suspicious that such efforts are nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to erode public schools and steer parents and students to private and charter schools.
KENTUCKY
Court vs. School Choice
State-Journal, KY, October 9, 2012
We’ve seen that many in Kentucky’s legislature and teachers unions are adamant enemies of school choice in the commonwealth. The Kentucky Education Association has worked for years with powerful politicians to keep even the most rudimentary types of school choice – like the charter schools found in 41 other states and the District of Columbia – from winning out in Kentucky.
MAINE
SAD 22 School Board, Teachers Union Near Performance-Based Pay System
Bangor Daily News, ME, October 9, 2012
There has been no official deal yet, but after 14 meetings and 11 months of negotiations, members of the SAD 22 school board and the Tri-22 Teachers’ Association are poised to agree on a groundbreaking new contract.
MARYLAND
A Devastating Indictment
Baltimore Sun, MD, October 8, 2012
Allegations of financial mismanagement and lax oversight by the city school system threaten to diminish public support for Baltimore’s school reform effort
MISSISSIPPI
Charter School Issue Up For Vote
Natchez Democrat, MS, October 9, 2012
The Concordia Parish School Board will consider a resolution Thursday that could impact the future of a new charter school in Ferriday.
MISSOURI
Language Immersion Schools Make Strides In St. Louis Area
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, October 8, 2012
It is the third language immersion program offered at the public charter school in the city. Schools that focus on French and Spanish are now in their fourth year and are popular, with total enrollment more than doubling from two years ago to about 800 students this year. The schools, which are tuition-free, have a waiting list and now a second campus.
NEBRASKA
District Considers Big Change To Save School
KETV, NE, October 9, 2012
A committee of two parents, a community member and a staff member came up with a plan to turn all three Walnut schools into charters.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Charter School Supporters To Put Up A Fight
Portsmouth Herald, NH, October 9, 2012
Charter school supporters intend to be vocal about the state Board of Education’s recent moratorium. Representatives from the Seacoast High School of the Arts, a proposed regional charter high school in North Hampton, are expected to speak at the board’s next meeting on Oct. 17 in Concord . The meeting is open to the public.
New Law Could Cost School District Hundreds Of Thousands
Portsmouth Herald, NH, October 9, 2012
The law, SB 300, changes the state’s charter school statute and requires a student’s resident district to pay to transport a special education student when his parents send him to a charter school outside of the child’s home district, Parsons said Thursday night.
NEW JERSEY
New STEM School Builds on LEAP Academy’s Success
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ, October 9, 2012
12.5 million school dedicated to teaching science, technology, engineering and math in the heart of downtown celebrates its grand opening beginning at 10 a.m. today with a host of speakers, led by state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf.
NEW MEXICO
CCSD Teacher Union Pushes Back On Evaluation Program
Farmington Daily-Times, NM, October 8, 2012
The Central Consolidated Education Association filed a grievance against its own district last month with hopes of backing out of a statewide teacher and principal evaluation pilot program.
NORTH CAROLINA
Charter Schools vs. Cleveland County Board of Education
Shelby Star, NC, October 8, 2012
A $100,000 lawsuit involving area charter schools and the Cleveland County Board of Education is scheduled to go to trial today.
For Many, Educational Fabric Already Torn
Citizen –Times, NC, October 9, 2012
A new poll shows that the majority of North Carolina voters want more education reform options, including opportunity scholarships (funding which allows students to attend private schools). It also points to the need for eliminating a family’s income or geographical location as barriers to accessing a quality education.
OKLAHOMA
Building Woes Plague Okla. Charter Schools
News9 KWTV, OK, October 8, 2012
The number of charter schools and students who attend them in Oklahoma are growing, but officials say the potential of charter schools is being held back because of the high cost of school buildings and facilities.
PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania Eases NCLB Rules to Help Charter Schools
Washington Post Blog, DC, October 8, 2012
How is this for fair? Charter schools in Pennsylvania are now being assessed by easier rules than are traditional public schools when it comes to determining whether No Child Left Behind mandates have been met.
Charter Schools Outperforming Public, State Data Show
Reading Eagle, PA, October 9, 2012
A higher proportion of charter schools hit state-set educational benchmarks in 2012 than traditional public school districts, according to recently released data.
New Science, Technology School Might Open In Millcreek
Erie Times-News, PA, October 9, 2012
A new science and technology driven charter school might open in Millcreek Township for the 2013-14 school year.
Catholic School Foundation’s New Chief Starts His Job By Talking With Students
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, October 9, 2012
On his first day as chief executive of the foundation that is running high schools and special-education schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Samuel Casey Carter toured SS. John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School, speaking to students and observing some new technology-enabled classrooms.
Controversial Charter Access Provision Back Before Penna. Legislature
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, October 9, 2012
A controversial proposal that would deny public access to records of private managers of charter schools has surfaced again in the Pennsylvania legislature after it was rebuffed during the summer.
Gov. Corbett Must Step Up For Charter School Reform
Patriot News, PA, October 9, 2012
Gov. Tom Corbett celebrated two important education victories last spring: First, he passed an on-time budget that revamped our 40-year-old teacher evaluation system. Second, he expanded a scholarship system for Pennsylvania’s low-income students.
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Group Urging Voters To Vote No On Education Measure
KSFY, SD, October 8, 2012
In just 27 days you’ll head to the polls not just to pick a President but to also vote on some South Dakota measures and there’s one measure that has a local group fired up. The measure is called Referred Law 16. You’ll see it on your ballot in November. It’s an education reform act supported by South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard. The measure is from Daugaard’s education plan.
TENNESSEE
Education Chief Works To Support State Schools, Not Monitor Paperwork
The Tennessean, TN, October 9, 2012
Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman is celebrating reaching his goal of visiting every last one of the state’s 136 school districts, a commitment he made when Gov. Bill Haslam appointed him in April 2011.
County Commission May Refuse Funding To Municipal School Districts
Commercial Appeal, TN, October 8, 2012
In a legal document filed Friday afternoon, the County Commission indicated it may refuse to provide funds to proposed new suburban municipal school districts unless ordered to by the federal judge refereeing the battle over the structure of the county’s public schools.
State Dems, Ragan Trade Barbs Over Lawmaker’s Record
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, October 9, 2012
The Tennessee Democratic Party and state Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, are stepping up a war of words over the freshman lawmaker’s voting record, with Democrats now saying Ragan is “in the pocket” of the school voucher lobby.
TEXAS
Vouchers Face Long Odds In Legislature
Beaumont Enterprise, TX, October 8, 2012
Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, the new head of the Senate Education Committee, says public education in Texas needs “bold changes” and he’s vowing to bring them. He’s right in the general sense and in many specific areas too, like more charter schools.
UTAH
Martell Menlove Picked As State Schools Superintendent
Salt Lake City Tribune, UT, October 8, 20123
Martell Menlove, the state’s current No. 2 man in education, will become Utah ’s next state schools superintendent.
VIRGINIA
Parents Oppose Fairfax’s First Charter School
Washington Examiner, DC, October 8, 2012
Parents opposed to the construction of what would be Northern Virginia’s first public charter school say they fear that school board approval of the venture would end up diverting already-dwindling education funds away from their kids’ schools.
WASHINGTON
Support Charter Schools For Washington Families
Bellingham Herald, WA, October 9, 2012
Usually coming late to the dinner table means cold leftovers and the good stuff already is gone. Not the case with charter schools.
Vote Yes On Charter Schools
Everett Herald, WA, October 9, 2012
Public charter schools, like religion and politics, should not be discussed in polite company (or at a union hall, a PTA meeting or happy hour for wonky foundation staffers.) Advocates figure to bleed money from a tapped-out system and change the architecture of public education, opponents claim. Opponents are labor diehards unwilling to yield on an innovative, non-bureaucratic approach to K-12 education, supporters say.
For Kitsap Education Leaders, Impact Of Charter Schools Is Hazy In Details
Kitsap Sun, WA, October 8, 2012
If voters approve the charter school initiative on the Nov. 6 ballot, many questions remain about what it means for local students.
ONLINE SCHOOLS
Dallas Board Approves Trial Agreement For Cyber-School Instruction
Times-Leader, PA, October 9, 2012
The Dallas School Board on Monday night approved a trial agreement for cyber-school services with Seneca Valley School District.
Pinellas Charter Recommended For Approval Despite Concerns
Tampa Bay Times, FL, October 9, 2012
A proposed online charter school that would hire a Virginia firm under investigation for using uncertified teachers is up for approval today before the Pinellas County School Board.
Senate Committee Monitoring Progress of ‘Virtual Schools’
Austin YNN, TX, October 8, 2012
The Senate Committee on Education heard testimony on so-called “virtual schools” Monday. It’s a program that takes students out of a classroom and puts them in front of a computer screen. The project is designed to allow students to work at their own pace, and supporters say it’s a good resource for students who struggle in school.
Should Texas Embrace Virtual Schools?
KUT, TX, October 8, 2012
The Texas Senate Education Committee is holding a hearing to address virtual education and its growing use in Texas . Committee members will hear testimony on virtual education and recommendations to improve programs that are underperforming.