Daily Headlines for February 8, 2013
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NATIONAL COVERAGE
A Long Struggle for Equality in Schools
New York Times, NY, February 8, 2013
Looking back at the school desegregation case he took as a young lawyer, Rubin Salter Jr. sees a pile of wasted money and squandered opportunities. After almost four decades in court and nearly $1 billion in public spending, little has changed for the black children whose right to a good education he had labored to defend.
The Demographic Power Behind Effective Charter Schools
National Journal, February 7, 2013
Still, Angrist’s work continues to inform the public discussion on charter school expansion. Many states have laws capping the number of charter schools; in 2010, thanks in part to new research, Massachusetts passed a law that relaxed its caps for “proven providers.” As Angrist and colleagues argue in their upcoming paper, policies that favor schools with “documented effectiveness” could go a long way toward reducing achievement gaps.
Feds May Use Education Reforms To Gain More Control
Everett Daily Herald, WA, February 8, 2013
It’s not a new law, just a clarification of an old one, but as clarifications go, it could certainly be very interesting.
Education Reform Will Trump Waivers
Washington Times, DC, February 7, 2013
If Congress decides to do its job, the hard work of education officials in nearly three dozen states suddenly will go down the drain.
Schools Need A Timeout On Standardized Tests
Washington Post, DC, February 7, 2013
The Common Core State Standards have been adopted by 45 states and the District as the foundation for what students in America’s public schools need to know and be able to do. They will require our children to develop a deeper, more conceptual understanding in mathematics and English-language arts. They hold tremendous promise for improving our international competitiveness.
FROM THE STATES
ARIZONA
Charter With Tie To UA To Close
Arizona Star, AZ, February 8, 2013
A Tucson charter school hailed as a model for the future when it opened in 2006 because of its partnership with the University of Arizona will close its doors at the end of this school year.
CALIFORNIA
More Exploratory Options For District 303 Kids
Daily Pilot, CA, February 8, 2013
St. Charles middle school students will have more choice and control over their exploratory classes next school year after administrators say they took parent suggestions to shift the exploratory curriculum.
Closing The Achievement Gap Before It Starts
San Diego Union-Tribune, CA, February 7, 2013
It’s well-known that many children in our community come into the education system at a distinct disadvantage. By the time they are 3 years old, high-income children have a vocabulary of more than 1,110 words, while very low-income children possess only about 500 words.
Outside Spending Pours Into L.A. School Board Race
Los Angeles Times Blog, CA, February 7, 2013
Outside groups are mounting campaigns to influence the outcome of three races for seats on the Los Angeles Board of Education.
FLORIDA
Payouts at NorthStar Charter Spur Legislative Reform Effort
Orlando Sentinel, FL, February 7, 2013
Florida lawmakers outraged that a failed Orlando charter school paid its outgoing principal more than $500,000 last year are moving to tighten the state’s charter laws so taxpayer money doesn’t go to “unreasonable compensation” or to schools “failing our students.”
Galvano: Teacher Pay Raise Needs A Lot Of Work
The Florida Current, FL, February 7, 2013
Members of the Senate Appropriations Education Subcommittee Thursday listened politely while Kim McDougal, the governor’s education policy coordinator, explained Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed education budget. Senators had few questions about the $22 billion spending plan that includes $488 million to give public schoolteachers across-the-board pay raises of $2,500.
GEORGIA
‘Parent Trigger’ Charter Bill Passes House Subcommittee
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, February 8, 2013
A Georgia House subcommittee approved a “parent trigger” charter schools bill Thursday, setting the stage for its consideration next week by the full Education Committee.
New Charter School Report: Success Or Failure Set By Year Three
Atlanta Journal Constitution Blog, GA, February 8, 2013
Interesting study on charter school successes and failures: A new report by Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes found that charter schools, as they age or replicate into networks, are very likely to continue the patterns and performance set by their early years of operation, and that for most charter schools their ultimate success or failure can be predicted by year three of a school’s life.
ILLINOIS
Mayor Says The UNO Should Be “Held Accountable” For Contract Cronyism
Chicago Sun Times, IL, February 7, 2013
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Thursday the United Neighborhood Organization should be “held accountable” for contract cronyism with a $98 million state grant believed to be the nation’s largest government investment in charter schools.
INDIANA
House Committee Approves Expansion Of Indiana’s School Voucher Program
Evansville Courier & Press, IN, February 7, 2013
The Indiana House Education Committee signed off Thursday on an expansion of the Republican-backed school voucher system.
LOUISIANA
BESE President Wants More Charters
Monroe News Star, LA, February 8, 2013
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education President Chas Roemer believes creating charter schools, including chartering both high- and low-performing existing schools, and empowering people at local schools to make their own decisions will help reform public education in Louisiana.
Value Of School Waivers Questioned
The Advocate, LA, February 8, 2013
A national report Thursday questioned one of the key strategies Louisiana is using to improve student performance after the state landed some highly touted waivers last year from the federal government.
MAINE
Legislators Working To Close Spending Gap, Resolve Conflict Over Budget Proposals
Morning Sentinel, ME, February 7, 2013
LePage administration has proposed $153.2 million in adjustments to meet 2013 budget gap
MASSACHUSETTS
Tears at Charter School Lottery; Applications Up 20 Percent
Farmington Patch, MA, February 8, 2013
The Christa McAuliffe Regional Public Charter School held its annual lottery for admission Thursday night.
MICHIGAN
Charter School Staff Votes To Seek Union Representation
Detroit Free Press, MI, February 8, 2013
Eva Coleman is looking to have more of a voice in how the school she has taught at for nearly 12 years operates, which is why she is among the staff at Cesar Chavez Academy to vote Thursday to seek union representation.
Attorney General Bill Schuette Loses Effort To Remove 7 Of 11 Detroit Public Schools Board Members
Detroit Free Press, MI, February 8, 2013
The state attorney general lost a court challenge this week to remove most of Detroit’s school board.
Friends School of Detroit Reviving Slowly, Battling to Survive
Detroit News, MI, February 8, 2013
It’s the little school that could stay open.
The Friends School of Detroit — opened 48 years ago near downtown to promote Quaker values — is trying to battle back from declining enrollment and financial problems.
School Advocates Say Budget Increase Is A Start, But Not Enough
Detroit News, MI, February 8, 2013
Education advocates applauded Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed funding increase in the 2013-14 budget unveiled Thursday, but said more needs to be done to get back on the path to prosperity.
MINNESOTA
Vouchers Are Not Best Bet For Minnesota Schools
Star Tribune, MN, February 7, 2013
When even an advocate of private-school choice has to admit there is no convincing evidence that vouchers produce better student achievement (“Minnesota falls behind on school choice,” Jan. 28) it raises the question: How is Minnesota missing the boat?
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Senators Approve Education Reform Efforts Aimed At Kids’ Early Years
Commercial Appeal, TN, February 7, 2013
State senators on Thursday approved two key provisions of education reform efforts: legislation authorizing an $8 million pre-kindergarten program and a bill requiring children to be able to read before leaving third grade.
MISSOURI
Governor’s Idea To Lengthen The School Calendar Could Get Complicated
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, February 8, 2013
Students in Missouri who grumble about too much time in school should take comfort: The state’s minimum requirement for school days is one of the shortest in the country.
NORTH CAROLINA
Wake Schools Chairman Accuses County Commissioners Of ‘Power Grab’
News & Observer, NC, February 7, 2013
Wake County school board Chairman Keith Sutton accused county commissioners Thursday of attempting a “power grab” with proposed state legislative changes that he said would “decimate” the school system.
PENNSYLVANIA
Planners Offer Vision of New Bear Creek Community Charter School
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, PA, February 8, 2013
The new Bear Creek Community Charter School started to take shape Thursday during a marathon planning session involving the school’s board of trustees, administrators and representatives of the construction team for what the presenters called “the school in the woods.”
Closing Schools: It’s Not Just About Money
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, February 7, 2013
School District of Philadelphia recently issued its list of 37 schools to be closed permanently this year. We just can’t afford them anymore, the district tells us. The deficit is too big, so it’s time for parents and students to make “painful choices.” The financial crisis is one reason neighborhood schools are on the chopping block, but it is not the only one.
TENNESSEE
Education Chief Praises Tennessee’s Progress
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, February 8, 2013
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan lauded Tennessee’s new teacher evaluation system Thursday as an example of how states are working to boost teacher quality and student performance.
TN School Voucher Issues Ripple Far
The Tennessean, TN, February 8, 2013
When deciding whether to support Gov. Bill Haslam’s school voucher proposal, state lawmakers will need to consider if ultimately allowing 20,000 students to take advantage of vouchers is really the best use of public money, a Vanderbilt University professor said Thursday.
VIRGINIA
McDonnell, Jindal Meet Today To Talk About Education Reform
Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA, February 8, 2013
A week after enlisting former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in his campaign for education reform, Gov. Bob McDonnell is calling on another prominent fellow Republican.
WASHINGTON
Seattle’s New Elementaries Would Be Among State’s Biggest, Most Expensive
Seattle Times, WA, February 7, 2013
The average price tag of the elementary schools in Seattle’s levy proposal is at least 20 percent higher than every similar project approved in the state in recent years.
School Funding Should Be Tied To Improvement In Student Learning
Seattle Times, WA, February 7, 2013
Washington state should reconnect learning to spending so as we add additional dollars into public education it means better results for our students, writes guest columnist Steve Litzow.
WEST VIRGINIA
Governor, Officials Urge Education Reform
Charleston Daily Mail, WV, February 7, 2013
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, legislators and education officials agree: the time to reform West Virginia education is now.
ONLINE LEARNING
Virtual Academy Deal Was Thoroughly Botched
Greenville News, TN, February 7, 2013
Gov. Bill Haslam has sponsored a bill to cap student enrollment in the Tennessee Virtual Academy. This is essentially a vote of “no confidence” by the governor for the program in particular and online primary and secondary schooling in general.
Glendora-Based Online Academy Offers Alternative For K-12 Education
San Gabriel Valley Tribune, CA, February 7, 2013
Since its inception three years ago, Oak Knoll Virtual Academy has provided an alternative way to get a public education for grades K-12.
A Los Angeles High School Illustrates the Strengths and Challenges of Blended Learning
Paramus Post, NJ, February 7, 2013
Blended learning, an innovative educational model that combines online with traditional instruction, is starting to take hold across the country as a means for improving efficiency, reducing costs, and boosting student achievement.
Southern California Online Academy Progressing, Officials Say
Press Enterprise, CA, February 7, 2013
Southern California Online Academy is progressing well, district officials told the Lake Elsinore Unified school board during a special workshop Thursday, Feb. 7.
Students Praise Charter School Online Program
Friday Flyer, CA, February 8, 2013
Canyon Lake families sometimes wonder about alternatives to public education for their children – alternatives that include private school, home school or charter school.