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
Education Panel: To Close Achievement Gap, Urgent State, Federal Action Needed
Washington Post, DC, February 19, 2013
The nation must act urgently to close the achievement gap between poor and privileged children by changing the way public schools are financed, improving teacher quality, investing in early-childhood education and demanding greater accountability down to the local school board level, according to a report issued Tuesday by an expert panel.
Closing Education Achievement Gap: Blue-Ribbon Panel Offers Blueprint
Christian Science Monitor, MA, February 19, 2013
Better teacher training, accessible early-childhood education, and school-finance reform are key components to closing the achievement gap between minority and white students, says a report.
MAP: States Pass Parent Trigger Laws
Columbian Missourian, MO, February 19, 2013
According to National Conference of State Legislatures, seven states have enacted a version of the parent trigger law.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
San Jose Unified To Sue County School Board Over Rocketship Education
San Jose Mercury News, CA, February 19, 2013
Anxious about its ability to plan where to locate schools, the San Jose Unified School District plans to sue the Santa Clara County Board of Education for allowing Rocketship Education to build a K-5 charter school next to the Tamien light rail station in San Jose.
Huge Spending Gaps Between School Districts, Report Finds
Los Angeles Times Blog, CA, February 19, 2013
Vast inequities still exist in education funding across the nation, contributing to an academic achievement gap that separates the students at well-funded schools from those who attend campuses with fewer resources, according to a report released Tuesday.
Campaign Finance Reporting Should Include School Boards
Silver City Sun News, CA, February 20, 2013
The reason we have campaign finance reporting is so voters can know who is trying to influence both the election and also the activities of those in office after the election is over.
FLORIDA
A Look At How Charter Schools Work
WWSB ABC 7, FL, February 1, 2013
Charter schools have become a popular choice for parents and students across the Suncoast, and many say that’s because of their non traditional teaching style.
Charter Schools: Still Sucking After All These Years
Orlando Weekly, FL, February 19, 2013
As Florida’s public education system continues its corporate-sponsored descent into the proverbial meat grinder, to the misguided chants of “choice,” you should probably know that your elected friends in Tallahassee are busy greasing that grinder so that your kids’ minds are minced that much more quickly.
GEORGIA
Dekalb County School Board Sues To Avoid Suspension, Eliciting Outrage From Parents And Employees
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, February 19, 2013
The DeKalb County school district filed a lawsuit Tuesday in a last-ditch effort to derail a process that could unseat all nine members of the school board.
IDAHO
Beware Motives Of Education Reform
Idaho Mountain Express and Guide, ID, February 20, 2013
Perhaps you haven’t heard that ALEC has come to Idaho. The American Legislative Executive Council claims to be a nonprofit charity with one of its missions to “improve education.” But don’t be fooled. This national organization of businesses and legislators brought us the Luna laws of 2012. Its interest is in influencing our legislators to pass laws to benefit corporations—for example, for out-of-state businesses to sell computers to Idaho schools.
DaVinci Charter School in Garden City to Close Friday, Impacting 130 Students, 18 Staff
Idaho Statesman, ID, February 19, 2013
Due to a budget shortfall, a charter school that has been operating in Garden City since the fall of 2006 will close its doors on Friday, school officials said.
ILLINOIS
Chicago Teachers Union Members To Run Against CTU President Karen Lewis’ Leadership Team
Chicago Tribune, IL, February 20, 2013
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis successfully tapped into the wrath of frustrated members and took on Mayor Rahm Emanuel last September when she led the city’s first teachers strike in 25 years.
Chicago Charter School Enrollment Climbs, Still Behind Many Other Major Cities
Chicago Magazine, IL, February 19, 2013
One of the ongoing tensions in the Chicago school closure debate has been the fear that the closing of public schools isn’t just a response to declining enrollment in neighborhoods that have shed school-age population (and most, though not all, are):
INDIANA
School Voucher Oversight May Change
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN, February 20, 2013
Indiana’s new Democratic state schools superintendent would no longer oversee the private school voucher program that she has opposed under a proposal approved Tuesday by a Republican-controlled legislative committee.
Failing Schools Would Face State Takeover More Quickly Under House Bill
Indianapolis Star, IN, February 19, 2013
Struggling schools could face state takeover much more quickly under a wide-ranging bill to overhaul the state’s A to F grading system for schools.
Rise of a Shadow School
Journal Gazette, IN, February 20, 2013
Carpe Diem charter school appears to have no local student or parent interest, but it does have a plan to collect as much as $550,000 a year in rent from Indiana taxpayers. With three Fort Wayne charter schools set to close, efforts are under way to keep the money flowing to schools promising more than they so far have delivered.
State Board Visits Marshall Academy
The Journal Gazette, IN, February 20, 2013
The Thurgood Marshall Leadership Academy board heard a report Tuesday from the Indiana Charter School Board about its accountability system for charter schools.
IOWA
House GOP Debates Education Reform Package, Vote To Come Wednesday Morning
Radio Iowa, IA, February 20, 2013
Members of the Iowa House debated a variety of education reform ideas for almost five and a half hours Tuesday evening, including a proposal to raise beginning teacher salaries. House Republicans settled on $32,000 as the minimum salary for rookie teachers.
LOUISIANA
Council Demands Reform From School Board
Opelousas Daily World, LA, February 20, 2013
Of the system’s six failing schools, five are in Opelousas. Creswell Elementary, in its fourth consecutive failing year, will close May 24 after the school board voted unanimously to do so after the state Recovery School District made a recommendation to take over the school.
Orleans Parish School Board President Fails To Win Support For Controversial Moves
Times-Picayune, LA, February 19, 2013
In the first full Orleans Parish School Board meeting of 2013, new President Ira Thomas tried to exercise his power on several fronts. In the end, though, all of his controversial moves were blocked.
Time Ticking For Charter School
Monroe News Star, LA, February 20, 2013
The Rev. Roosevelt Wright and members of the group representing Excellence Academy Inc. will travel to Cincinnati to meet with the Internal Revenue Service to ensure the charter school meets a deadline set by the Monroe City School Board.
Parent Group Prepares New Fight Against SBR School District
The Advocate, LA, February 20, 2013
Leaders of a Baton Rouge parent group formed a year ago to oppose the creation of a new Southeast Baton Rouge school district told an audience of about 45 people Tuesday night that they are gearing up to do it all over again.
MASSACHUSETTS
Chester’s Choices
Worcester Telegram, MA, February 20, 2013
State Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester last Friday gave his blessing to five charter school proposals, meaning that nearly 1,600 additional Boston children will have greater educational opportunities, along with hundreds of kids in Chelsea, Everett and Springfield.
MICHIGAN
Battle Over DPS Control Headed To Court Today
Detroit News, MI, February 20, 2013
Officials with Detroit Public Schools will be in court Wednesday morning searching for a legal resolution over day-to-day academic and financial disputes in the district.
MISSOURI
Children Living In Poverty Need Well-Funded Public Schools
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, February 20, 2013
I read the article “Charter success” (Feb. 17) with great interest and am delighted that this particular charter school has been successful in ways that other charter schools have not. I found a balance to the reporting as the concern, which I deeply feel, about the lack of funding for our city public schools, and the disadvantage to the children who live in poverty and whose parents are not savvy enough to either value education or to advocate for quality education for their own children.
NEW JERSEY
Two Newest Paterson Charters Are Well Connected — With Established Networks
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, February 20, 2013
The latest charter schools approvals may indicate the state is leaning toward providers with proven track records
NEW JERSEY
Gov. Cuomo Must Produce A Solid Teacher Evaluation Plan
New York Daily News, NY, February 20, 2013
While the terms are not yet public, Gov. Cuomo appears to be moving toward imposing a teacher evaluation system on the city that would avoid all the tricks and traps sought by the United Federation of Teachers.
NEW YORK
State To Speed Up Its Intervention In City’s Teacher Evaluations
New York Daily News, NY, February 20, 2013
After Mayor Bloomberg and the teachers union missed a deadline last month for an evaluation scheme, Cuomo pulled more than $240 million in state funding for city school. A source says the new evaluation system could be put in place by July 1.
NORTH CAROLINA
Plagiarism Charge Leveled Against Prospective Charter School
Charlotte Observer, NC, February 19, 2013
A Charlotte charter school’s plan to open in August could be derailed by accusations that the operators copied another school’s application. The dispute raises questions about North Carolina’s readiness to deal with a deluge of requests to create new, nontraditional public schools.
Wake School Board Opposes Giving Up School Ownership
News & Observer, NC, February 19, 2013
Amid heated debate over whether it would cause more harm than good, the Wake County school board passed a resolution Tuesday opposing the transfer of school ownership to county commissioners.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma School For The Blind Relieved To See Charter School Bill Fail
News On 6, OK, February 19, 2013
Supporters of the school for the blind are breathing a sigh of relief, after a senate committee shot down a proposal they say would have threatened the school in Muskogee.
PENNSYLVANIA
LEAP Academy Parents Show Support Amid Chef Controversy
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, February 20, 2013
Trustees of the LEAP Academy University Charter School heard an outpouring of praise from parents Tuesday for the difference the Camden charter has made in the lives of children enrolled there, despite questions raised this week about a $24,000 raise for the school’s executive chef.
New Philly District Plan Spares 11 Schools From Closing
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, February 20, 2013
Eleven city schools once headed for closure, merger, or relocation will be spared under new recommendations issued Tuesday by Hite. During the course of two months, Hite said, he heard a lot of good ideas and, “naturally, those led to an amended set of recommendations.”
Harrisburg School Board Denies Charter Bid by Capital Area School for the Arts
Patriot-News, PA, February 19, 2013
Harrisburg School District officials voted down an application Tuesday for charter school status from the Capital Area School for the Arts.
TENNESSEE
Nashville Foes Win Delay In Charter Authorizer Fight
The Tennessean, TN, February 19, 2013
Tennessee lawmakers stepped back from a controversial proposal to create a new state authorizer for school charters following a backlash from officials in Nashville and Memphis.
Dean Must Not Cave In To State On Charter Process
The Tennessean, TN, February 20, 2013
Metro is the envy of the state — successful and forward-focused. The state legislature loves messing in Metro’s business. Evidence the recent passage of a bill to invalidate Metro contracting policies.
Big Changes Could Be Coming To Charter Schools Bill
News Channel 5, TN, February 19, 2013
A bill in the state legislature giving charter schools a way to bypass school boards in Nashville and Memphis is under renovation.
TEXAS
Senate Bill Would Allow Charter Schools To Multiply
American-Statesman, TX, February 19, 2013
The number of charter schools in Texas could explode under a new bill being pushed by Senate Education Committee chief Dan Patrick, R-Houston.
Charter Schools Lost In Lawsuit, Hope To Win In Legislature
KUHF-FM, TX, February 19, 2013
In the latest lawsuit over Texas school funding, charter schools got their day in court. They didn’t get the ruling they wanted earlier this month — but charter schools still hope to win in the state Legislature.
VIRGINIA
Real Consequences For Va.’s Failing Schools
Washington Post, DC, February 19, 2013
CRITICS OF A PLAN by Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) that would allow the state to take over chronically failing schools argue that local officials should be given more time to get things right.
WISCONSIN
Walker’s Voucher Plan Goes Too Far, Too Fast
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, February 19, 2013
We have long supported choice in public education. We still believe that, despite its flaws, the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program should have a place in the cafeteria of publicly funded options for city parents.
School Voucher Expansion Proposal Flawed
Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, WI, February 19, 2013
Republicans in the state Legislature have walked in lockstep with Gov. Scott Walker on virtually every major issue since he took office in January 2011. Whether it is collective bargaining, a new mining bill or tax cuts for the middle class, party lawmakers are on board with the governor.
ONLINE LEARNING
Canton Considers Cyber Charter School Reform
Daily Review, PA, February 20, 2013
Some cyber charter school funding reform bills were discussed at the recent Canton Area School Board meeting. A copy of a legislative report from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) that board members reviewed at the meeting lists two reform bills.
Lawmakers Delay Vote On Nullification, Advance Virtual Schools Regulation
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, February 20, 2013
A proposal to tighten enrollment requirements at online-only schools passed a House committee on Tuesday after an amendment failed that would have allowed school districts to close failing schools.
Wauwatosa School District To Launch Online Program
FOX6Now, WI, February 19, 2013
The Wauwatosa School District will launch a tuition-free statewide virtual learning program for the 2013-2014 school year.
‘N.M. Virtual Schools Day’ at Capitol
Albuquerque Journal, NM, February 20, 2013
Kyla Anderson’s 14-year-old son had tried traditional public school and private school before he enrolled in the fully online New Mexico Virtual Academy.