Daily Headlines for December 27, 2012
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Securing America’s Schools
Washington Times, DC, December 26, 2012
Though the benefits of creating maximum-security schools is questionable, the negative impact on young minds is undeniable.
FROM THE STATES
ALASKA
State School Board Wants Teacher Evals Based On Student Performance
Homer Tribune, AK, December 26, 2012
A controversial move by the Alaska State Board of Education last week to incorporate student performance into teachers’ job evaluations has educators bristling at what feels to them to be an attempt to fit unstandardizable qualities into a standardized system of evaluation.
CALIFORNIA
Five Local Schools Earn Statewide Excellence Awards
Vail Daily, CA, December 26, 2012
Five Eagle County schools are being recognized as among the state’s best. Brush Creek Elementary School and the Eagle County Charter Academy are two of 151 Colorado schools tabbed for this year’s John Irwin Award.
Upfront: Un-chartered Territory
Pacific Sun, CA, December 26, 2012
It’s been easy to get lost in the weeds during the debate over a proposal to open a new charter school in Novato. The issues that touch Novato parents have a visceral resonance. They also echo larger issues that affect the education system throughout the state.
‘F’ for ‘No Child Left Behind’ Act
Press Telegram, CA, December 26, 2012
The federal government last week denied California’s request to get a waiver from the increasingly impossible-to-meet goals of the old No Child Left Behind Act. That means a really lousy grade for education throughout the Golden State.
INDIANA
Charter Schools Will Succeed, Show Public System’s Failure
Evansville Courier & Press, IN, December 27, 2012
I am writing this in response to Michael J. Kuhn’s comment on Nov. 28, “Conflict of interest colors Neal’s opinion.”
IOWA
Iowa Business Leaders Will Target Education Reform At Summit
Des Moines Register, IA, December 27, 2012
Education reform could get some high-powered lobbyists next session: the state’s top CEOs.
KANSAS
Rural Life Fuels Kansas School’s Revival
Wichita Eagle, KS, December 26, 2012
In 2007, it re-established itself as a charter school focused on agriculture and project-based learning, one of only 17 charter schools in Kansas. Since then its enrollment has more than doubled, and the Walton Rural Life Center – “Fresh eggs for sale,” says a sign near the entrance – has become an example of charter school success.
MARYLAND
‘Classical’ Charter School Closer To Reality
Maryland Gazette, MD, December 27, 2012
It took one rejection by the school board, one unexpected delay and almost three years of planning and advocacy, but the Frederick Classical Charter School is finally starting to take shape.
Dorchester BOE Denies Application For Charter School
Star Democrat, MD, December 26, 2012
By a 4-0 vote Thursday, the Dorchester County Board of Education accepted Dorchester School Superintendent Dr. Henry Wagner’s recommendation to deny the application to create the Dorchester Preparatory Public Charter School.
MASSACHUSETTS
Starkly Different Views On Charter School’s Demise
Boston Globe, MA, December 27, 2012
Two starkly different views are emerging from proponents and critics of a Gloucester charter school set to close at the end of the school year.
Education Reform: The Battle Ahead
The Boston Phoenix, MA, December 26, 2012
Five years ago, as George W. Bush was pushing No Child Left Behind, his younger, even sleazier sibling Neil was picking the initiative’s pockets. Before Dubya left office, his brother’s education-software company, Ignite, sold more than $1 million worth of products to schools, encouraging districts to make the purchases with NCLB funding.
Schools Seek Cash For Exiting Charter Kids
Gloucester Times, MA, December 27, 2012
The Gloucester School District has requested their own chunk of cash from the city’s pot of leftover fiscal 2012 dollars, seeking help not only with repairs and upgrades, but also for “unanticipated special education expenses and plus tutoring,” with the school noting that “coming changes” could increase the district’s financial needs.
Mass. Lawmakers OK Bill Allowing “Virtual Schools”
News Times, CT, December 27, 2012
Some Massachusetts children could begin attending virtual schools under a bill approved by state lawmakers and sent to Gov. Deval Patrick’s desk.
MICHIGAN
Verizon, Samsung Donate 60 Tablets To Detroit School
Detroit News, MI, December 27, 2012
The Milky Way Galaxy just got a little closer for some students at one Detroit charter school. Earlier this month, 60 seven-inch computer tablets were delivered to students at Washington-Parks Academy, a K-8th grade school operated by Cornerstone Schools. The portable computers came compliments of the Verizon Foundation and Samsung.
MISSOURI
Parent Trigger Is Not The Answer
St. Louis American, MO, December 27, 2012
It is disappointing that Senator-Elect Jamilah Nasheed wants to bring the parent trigger law to Missouri. It is interesting that she did not explain what parent trigger does. Parent trigger laws are the fad du jour of right wing enemies of public education. It is another scheme for expanding the tentacles of charter schools in our community.
NEVADA
‘Teacher Evaluations’ Won’t Help In Classroom
Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV, December 27, 2012
Having taught in Clark County School District high schools for 25 years, I read the Review-Journal’s Dec. 24 story about new teacher evaluations with bewilderment.
NORTH CAROLINA
Outgoing Senator Wants Charter School Process Reviewed
News & Observer, NC, December 27, 2012
Republican State Sen. Wes Westmoreland, a Shelby businessman, served one year in the legislature. He was appointed to replace the retiring Sen. Debbie Clary and didn’t seek re-election. But before he left, the Republican lawmaker made sure to get one more pet cause on a legislative study list.
NORTH DAKOTA
Make Sure Teachers’ Grades Matter
Grand Forks Herald, ND, December 26, 2012
Congratulations to the Grand Forks School District for setting up a stronger evaluation system for teachers. Now, the challenge for the district will be to make sure the evaluations count.
PENNSYLVANIA
Philly Shows How Charter, Public Schools Can Collaborate
Erie Times-News, PA, December 27, 2012
Committed to improving American education and competitiveness, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $25 million in grants to encourage additional cooperation and collaboration between traditional public schools and charter public schools.
Increasing Number Of Students Opting For Charter Schools
Tribune-Review, PA, December 26, 2012
A growing number of Western Pennsylvania students attending taxpayer-funded charter schools is changing public education, as parents take advantage of school choice.
TENNESSEE
Charter Wants To Talk
Commercial Appeal, TN, December 27, 2012
The Achievement School District is a statewide initiative committed to improving the education of every student, regardless of ZIP code, race or family income. Its goal is to transform the bottom 5 percent of schools into the top 25 percent.
TEXAS
Clash Over Vouchers Comes Down To Vastly Different Views On Texas Schools
Dallas Morning News, TX, December 26, 2012
The brewing fight between conservative legislators and education groups over efforts to send tax dollars to private schools offers a sharp contrast in the debate over how best to fund Texas’ public schools.
WYOMING
Test Scores Improving Quickly at Charter School
KGWN, WY, December 26, 2012
Cheyenne’s charter school is proving to be beneficial to students when it comes to test scores.
ONLINE LEARNING
The Hidden Revolution in Online Learning
Wall Street Journal, December 27, 2012
Few people believe that online instruction will ever completely replace the college campus experience or substitute for the social, psychological and recreational benefits of a K-12 education. But the current thrust of academic innovation is clearly in the direction of “blended learning,” where a student taking five courses in a semester might take one, two or even three of them online.