NEWSWIRE IS BACK! Click here for the latest weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else, spiced with a dash of irreverence, from the nation’s leading voice in school reform.
NATIONAL COVERAGE
High-School Graduation Rate Inches Up
Wall Street Journal, January 22, 2013
Percentage of Students in Public Institutions Getting Diplomas Reached 35-Year High in 2010, But Country Still Lags Peers
National Public High School Graduation Rate At A Four-Decade High
Washington Post, DC, January 22, 2013
The percentage of students at public high schools who graduate on time has reached its highest level in nearly 40 years, according to the most recent federal government estimates released Tuesday.
FROM THE STATES
ARIZONA
2 Tucson Charter Schools Approved
Arizona Daily Star, AZ, January 22, 2013
Two new charter schools are slated to open in Tucson this fall. The Arizona State Board of Charter Schools approved the applications on Jan. 14 for Model Community Learning Center and The Rising School, according to board documents.
CALIFORNIA
Chico School Board Faces Hefty Agenda, Including Ruling On Blue Oak’s Fate
Chino Enterprise-Record, CA, January 22, 2013
In their first meeting of the new year, the Chico Unified School District board of trustees will face a hefty agenda that includes the fate of a charter school, consideration of a pair of maintenance projects that have become “serious” health and safety issues, and a report on a community-based group laboring to help the schools.
Parents Plead For Charter Students To Play On Same Team
Tehachapi News, CA, January 22, 2013
Despite the recent explosion of charter school expansion and their accompanying success, there remains one component of charter schooling that falls short. The limitations on charter school student’s access to sports.
CONNECTICUT
Charter Editorial Was Too Vitriolic
Stamford Advocate, CT, January 22, 2013
Your editorial, “Charter school push fails math test” (Jan. 15), exemplifies a major problem with the education reform debate, which is the vitriol that ruins the opportunity for any reasoned conversation about how to better educate children, particularly ones who are underserved by the existing options.
Charter Schools The Right Investment
Connecticut Post, CT, January 21, 2013
As the pastor at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit — and as a member of the Bridgeport Board of Education — I found the Connecticut Post’s recent editorial “Wrong way to spend education dollars,” Jan. 14) to be misleading and insulting to those of us attempting to better the lives of children in our community.
FLORIDA
State Plan To Help Charter Schools Irks Palm Beach County School Board
Palm Beach Post, FL, January 21, 2013
Some Palm Beach County School District officials are incensed at a state proposal to offer once again millions of dollars next year for capital improvements at charter schools — and none at traditional public schools.
Downtown Miami Charter School Helps Students Succeed
Local 10, FL, January 21, 2013
Florida Trend Magazine named Charter Schools USA CEO John Hage its ‘Floridian of the Year’
GEORGIA
Members Selected For Georgia Charter School Panel
Augusta Chronicle, GA, January 21, 2013
The Georgia Department of Education last week approved the new State Charter Schools Com¬mission, a seven-member body that has the power to authorize charter schools even over the objection of local school boards.
INDIANA
Signature School Lottery Produces Stressful, Edge-Of-Seat Clutching Afternoon
Evansville Courier & Press, IN, January 21, 2013
It was a stressful, clutching-the-edge-of-your seat afternoon for the Schmidt family when Evansville’s Signature School held its lottery Jan. 15 for next fall’s incoming freshman class.
IOWA
New Paths To Teaching, Administrating
Spencer Daily Reporter, IA, January 22, 2013
Only one week into the 2013 legislative session, Gov. Branstad’s proposed bill to reform Iowa’s education system is already generating discussion. In the 157-page bill, Branstad focuses on changing four key areas of the education system: teacher compensation and career development, recruitment of educated professionals to become teachers, the “career or college ready” seal and online learning opportunities for students.
LOUISIANA
City School Board To Discuss Property Use
Monroe News Star, LA, January 22, 2013
Less than five hours after the Monroe City School Board added an agenda item that could have impacted charter schools the district has approved to open, the item was reworded and changed from an action item to only discussion.
Closing Of Achievement Gap For New Orleans Schools ‘Premature’
WWLTV, LA, January 21, 2013
In her commentary for WWLTV.com, Leslie Jacobs informs the public, “in case they missed it,” that “we have closed the performance gap” in New Orleans’ schools. Not only is this “gap” closed; it happened two years ago, in 2010-11. Somehow we missed it for two years.
MAINE
Proposed Harpswell Charter School Draws Heavy Support From Community
Bangor Daily News, ME, January 21, 2013
When the nearly 60 people who attended a public hearing Friday were asked if they support a proposed charter school in town, almost every hand went up.
MASSACHUSETTS
Incomplete Assignment: 20 Years Of School Reform In Bay State
Enterprise News, MA, January 22, 2013
Two decades after a sweeping law ushered in MCAS exams, charter schools and other major changes in the classroom, state leaders and experts say Massachusetts still has more homework to do on education reform.
Education Secretary Reville Closes Chapter On Public Service
Lowell Sun, MA, January 22, 2013
Education Secretary Paul Reville is leaving the governor’s cabinet this month after guiding the state through a series of major education reforms that are still being debated today.
MICHIGAN
Don’t Miss The Chance To Give Kids A Brighter Future
Detroit News, MI, January 22, 2013
They’re grown up before you know it. Moms everywhere understand how it can feel like just yesterday that we brought our kids home from the hospital; then before we realize it, they’re going off to school, taking driver’s training and looking at colleges. As a mother myself, I marvel with each New Year at how quickly the time flies as our children age, learn, mature and grow into exceptional people.
Charter School Firm Buys Vacant Warren Target Building
Detroit News, MI, January 22, 2013
A charter school may soon set up shop in a vacant Target store on Dequindre between 11 Mile and 12 Mile in Warren.
MISSISSIPPI
Miss. House Looks at Charter School Proposal
Local 15tv, MS, January 22, 2013
State House members are poised to take up their own version of charter school legislation.
Allow Charter Schools In Mississippi
Clarion Ledger, MS, January 22, 2013
For decades, Mississippi has shuffled and reshuffled its children through a public education system that lacks accountability, choice and innovation. As a result, many of Mississippi’s children are stuck with an education that fails to prepare them for life.
Comparing The House And Senate Charter School Bills
Clarion Ledger Blog, MS, January 21, 2013
Getting information out of the House leadership about their charter school bill is tough sledding today, but I’ve had a chance to read the entire House bill (pdf version) and compare it to the Senate version (pdf version). Here’s a quick-and-dirty analysis.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Teacher Evaluation Changes In Nashua Up For Discussion
The Nashua Telegraph, NH, January 22, 2013
The Board of Education’s Human Resources Committee is meeting Tuesday night to discuss a proposed revision to the teacher evaluation process in the city.
NEW MEXICO
Charter Authorizers Play Crucial Roles
Albuquerque Journal, NM, January 22, 2013
Recently I was asked, “Who approves or oversees charter schools and to whom are they accountable?” That is a great question! Like traditional public schools, charters are accountable to their students, parents, communities, the Public Education Department, the Legislature and to the taxpayers of New Mexico.
NORTH CAROLINA
Phoenix Academy to Expand
High Point Enterprise, NC, January 21, 2013
An expanding Phoenix Academy will start serving middle school students this fall as leaders begin construction planning.
A New N.C. Push For Teacher Tenure Reform
Charlotte Observer, NC, January 22, 2013
N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger didn’t spend much time on education last week in his preview of the upcoming legislative session, but the Eden Republican provided a new clue about how his party will pursue the delicate issue of how we reward and dismiss our teachers.
OKLAHOMA
Editorial Oklahoma Policymakers Shouldn’t Retreat From A-F Grading System
The Oklahoman, OK, January 22, 2013
FOR months, some administrators have loudly objected to the state’s new A-F grading system for schools. Now, the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administrators and the Oklahoma State School Boards Association have released a study declaring the grades “have statistical limitations that jeopardize their validity, reliability and usefulness.”
TENNESSEE
Tuition Vouchers Boost Competition In Education
Commercial Appeal, TN. January 22, 2013
Let’s shift the intensity of competition from “school systems” to schools and principals and teachers. Competition helps everyone — except those who give up. Competition helps us all become better, as individual people, as companies that produce products and services, and as entire nations and civilizations.
WASHINGTON
Teachers’ Test Boycott Draws Growing Support
Seattle Times, WA, January 21, 2013
Support is growing for Garfield High teachers in their boycott of a district-required test. Seattle Public Schools officials, while saying the test has value, also are acknowledging that some of the teachers’ concerns have merit.
Teachers Union Shouldn’t Go Against Voters
Bellingham Herald, WA, January 22, 2013
Washington voters approved a citizen’s initiative to experiment with charter schools by the narrowest of margins – 50.6 percent statewide, 50.19 percent in Thurston County – but that’s no justification for the teachers union to launch a lawsuit.
WISCONSIN
New Network of Charter Schools Coming
Urban Milwaukee, WI, January 21, 2013
A plan to open a network of charter schools has been delayed at least a year until funding can be secured by organizers, who continue to say their educational model will ultimately help close the city’s achievement gap.