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.
Duncan Says He Misspoke When Describing Pink Slips for Teachers
Wall Street Journal, March 5, 2013
Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Monday he chose the wrong words last week when he said teachers were already receiving “pink slips”—layoff notices—due to the spending cuts mandated by the sequester.
On School Choice
Huffington Post, March 4, 2013
Something remarkable is occurring in the arena of schools: shopping. Not late summer back-to-school specials or runs on novelty lunch-boxes, but shopping for schools themselves.
FROM THE STATES
ALABAMA
Voucher Bill Irks Educators
News Courier, AL, March 5, 2013
School leaders across the state are still fuming over a bill passed last week that will provide tax credits to parents who want to move their children from a failing public school to a private school.
Blow to Public Schools
Times Daily, AL, March 5, 2013
Republicans in the state Legislature embarrassed themselves Thursday with the covert passage of a law that funnels tax dollars from public schools to private ones.
CALIFORNIA
Late Donations Bolster Pro-Deasy School Board Candidates
Los Angeles Times Blog, CA, March 5, 2013
Two eleventh hour donations have added financial muscle to a campaign seeking to bolster Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy through the results of Tuesday’s Board of Education elections.
Potential Layoffs Tied To Temecula Valley Charter Changes
San Diego Union Tribune, CA, March 4, 2013
“It’s becoming too costly for the charter school to follow the district’s pay scale,” she said, adding that the Temecula Preparatory Charter School operates under a similar arrangement.
County Superintendent Frustrated By Snub Related To Charter Report
Contra Costa Times, CA, March 4, 2013
The latest flare-up occurred after the district superintendent and a couple of school board members secretly commissioned a financial analysis of the costs to the district from Clayton Valley High School’s conversion to a charter school.
California School Districts Are In Better Financial Shape, Officials Say
Los Angeles Times, CA, March 5, 2013
A state report shows that the number of districts at risk of not meeting financial obligations dropped to 124 from 188 last May. But 2 L.A. County districts joined the list of at-risk districts.
Students Learning Lessons In Social Responsibility
Los Angeles Times, CA, March 5, 2013
World-renowned inventors, explorers and artists encourage student teams participating in the Aspen Challenge to develop solutions to social problems.
Parents Allege Massive Enrollment Fraud at Carpenter Community Charter in Studio City
Los Angeles Daily News, CA, March 4, 2013
Los Angeles Unified will let schools use public records to verify student addresses after a high-performing charter in Studio City complained that scores of parents from outside the neighborhood committed fraud to get their kids admitted, officials said Monday.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Another Reason Charters Are Taking Over D.C.
Washington Examiner, DC, March 4, 2013
On Monday, The Washington Examiner’s Rachel Baye reported that the D.C. Public School system is negotiating with the Washington Teachers’ Union to implement longer school days and a longer school year.
FLORIDA
Another Failed Orlando Charter ‘A Disaster’ For Students, Teachers
Orlando Sentinel, FL, March 4, 2013
It was clear to teachers at the Einstein Montessori School in Orlando that something was very wrong when school opened for business last fall.
Bills Would Let Funds Follow Students
Tallahassee Democrat, FL, March 5, 2013
Legislation filed by committee chairmen in both the House and Senate would allow students to use state education funds to pay for private schools or other education options.
GEORGIA
Federal Judge Rules Against DeKalb School Board
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, March 4, 2013
A federal judge refused to prevent the replacement of six DeKalb County school board members who lost their seats over a threatened loss of accreditation, and now Gov. Nathan Deal must find appointees to mend the torn district.
INDIANA
More Need Flexibility Of Vouchers
Journal Gazette, IN, March 5, 2013
Indiana’s school voucher program is thriving, and lawmakers are looking for practical ways to increase access so that more families can benefit from high-quality education options. This is good news for Hoosiers – and here’s why.
IOWA
Iowa Senate Bill Would Raise Starting Teacher Pay To $35K
Sioux City Journal, IA, March 4, 2013
Starting teachers would earn $35,000 a year and districts would be required to adopt new professional career ladders under an education reform bill filed Monday.
KANSAS
Legislation Promotes Kansas Charter Schools
Kansas City Star, KS, March 4, 2013
Two bills in the Legislature would give charter schools greater freedom to open and operate in Kansas, where such schools have struggled to find a foothold.
LOUISIANA
Ruling Could Work Against Vouchers
Daily Advertiser, LA, March 5, 2013
Monday’s ruling striking down Jindal administration changes in teacher tenure may be used to attack the voucher system, which is already on its way to the state Supreme Court.
Judge Throws Out Tenure Law
The Advocate, LA, March 5, 2013
One of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s signature laws that makes it harder for teachers to earn and retain a form of job protection, called tenure, was declared unconstitutional Monday.
Algiers Charter Group Promotes Interim CEO To Permanent Status
Times-Picayune, LA, March 4, 2013
The Algiers Charter School Association board voted on Feb. 28 to hire Adrian Morgan as CEO, giving him a one-year contract. Morgan had served as interim CEO since August 2012.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Lift The Cap: Free The Charter Schools
Union Leader, NH, March 5, 2013
The House will have the opportunity this Wednesday to fix a recent mistake that has hindered the expansion of needed public schools. Legislators should pass it with no hesitations.
Voucher Program Takes Cash From Public Schools
Portsmouth Herald, NH, March 5, 2013
The more I learn about New Hampshire’s school voucher program, the more I realize it is a solution in search of a problem.
NEW JERSEY
State Board of Education to Release Regulations for Teacher Evaluations Tomorrow
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, March 5, 2013
Some wiggle room built in to give system room to evolve, but will it be enough to head off arguments over student test scores?
NEW MEXICO
Bill’s Merit Pay Idea Isn’t Best Solution
Albuquerque Journal, NM, March 4, 2013
Hidden within HB2, the budget bill now under consideration in our state Senate throws $3 million into a merit pay program based on proven failed policies.
NEW YORK
Just Another Hijacked Parents’ Group
New York Post, NY, March 5, 2013
Mind you, CPAC is supposed to be the voice of parents inside the city Education Department. But, like everything education-related, the teachers union successfully got its hooks into the group.
NORTH CAROLINA
New STEM Charter School Proposed in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem Journal, NC, March 4, 2013
A proposal for a new K-5 charter school in Winston-Salem focused on science, technology, engineering and math is among 70 applications for new charters received by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
State Gets Record Number of Charter Applications for 2014
Durham Herald Sun, NC, March 4, 2013
Seven new public charter schools could be on the way to our region. The state Department of Public Education’s Office of Charter Schools Monday announced it had received 70 applications for charter programs that would, if approved, open in August 2014 throughout North Carolina.
29 Seek To Open Charter Schools In Charlotte Area
Charlotte Observer, NC, March 4, 2013
Charlotte’s charter boom is poised to keep growing, with 19 applications to open new schools in Mecklenburg County in 2014 and another 10 from surrounding counties.
NORTH DAKOTA
Baesler Withdraws State’s Application For Waiver
Minot Daily News, ND, March 5, 2013
“The idea of developing a state-determined plan was very inviting,” said Baesler in a press release. “The further we progressed through the waiver process the more we felt we were being asked to adopt another national, one-size-fits-all model. We discovered there is very little flexibility for us in the ESEA Waiver. Schools and teachers would actually see very little relief.”
OHIO
State Should Give Cleveland School Reform Plan A Chance To Work
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, March 4, 2013
The Cleveland and Lorain school districts have fallen into the academic doghouse, failing to meet federal standards for four years and earning the state’s lowest academic rating — “emergency,” essentially an F. Under state law, that triggers the creation of academic distress commissions for each district with the right to run both systems.
The Future Of Ohio Schools
Youngstown Vindicator, OH, March 4, 2013
But it is already clear that charter schools — or community schools as they’re called in Columbus — and parochial schools are potentially huge winners. This is both perplexing in the case of charter schools and troublesome in the case of parochial schools.
PENNSYLVANIA
Senators Want Scrutiny Of Charter Schools In Pa.
Times Leader, PA, March 4, 2013
Some lawmakers on Monday called for stronger state regulation of Pennsylvania’s charter and cyber-charter schools, while others derided Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan to finance new school grants by privatizing liquor and wine sales as a political gimmick.
Proposed Pay Cuts Enrage PFT Members
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, March 5, 2013
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers is looking at a grim future if school-district officials get their way in current negotiations.
Philipsburg-Osceola Area Board Members Reject Charter School Application
Centre Daily Times, PA, March 5, 2013
An application for a charter school in the Philipsburg-Osceola area has been officially rejected by the school board.
RHODE ISLAND
Achievement First Selects 176 Students From 1,150 Applicants
Valley Breeze, RI, March 4, 2013
Achievement First, a network of nonprofit public charter schools, held a blind lottery for its initial class of 176 kindergarten and 1st-grade students at Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy last Friday. The results were verified by independent auditor Andsager, Bartlett & Pieroni, and a separate witness from the Rhode Island Department of Education.
TENNESSEE
KIPP Is Working
Memphis Commercial Appeal, TN, March 5, 2013
The results are in. And they are impressive. A new independent study of the KIPP schools operating in 20 cities and states, including Memphis, shows without a doubt that the KIPP method of educating at-risk kids works.
School Board Has Sticker Shock Over Increased Charter School Costs
Nashville City Paper, TN, March 4, 2013
A routine meeting to review Metro Nashville Public Schools’ nearly $765 million budget proposal for next school year Monday afternoon broke into a makeshift policy meeting about the financial effect of opening more charter schools.
House to Consider Broadening State Charter Authorizer
Nashville Public Radio, TN, March 4, 2013
The state House will consider creating an entirely new panel for authorizing charter schools at the state level. It’s part of a compromise set to be heard in an education committee Tuesday.
Fight Over School Voucher Bill Escalates In Tenn. Legislature
Memphis Commercial Appeal, TN, March 4, 2013
The legislative battle over school vouchers in Tennessee is escalating, with the bill set for committee votes in the House on Tuesday and the Senate on Wednesday, and the state Democratic Party chairman attacking it Monday.
New Democratic Chairman Roy Herron Criticizes Voucher Campaign By Outside Groups
The Tennessean, TN, March 5, 2013
The new leader of the Tennessee Democratic Party attacked “out-of-state guns” for trying to sway the state legislature on education issues through hefty political contributions and television advertising.
Schools Boost Budget Request
The Tennessean, TN, March 4, 2013
Metro Nashville school officials are looking to increase the district’s budget by $44 million for next year — a sizable bump they say is largely to replace money drained by new charter schools.
Charter School Compromise Under Consideration in Tennessee
WKYU, TN, March 5, 2013
The Tennessee House will consider creating an entirely new panel for authorizing charter schools at the state level. It’s part of a compromise set to be heard in an education committee Tuesday.
TEXAS
Senate Panel To Look At Proposal For Special Education Vouchers
Austin American-Statesman, TX, March 4, 2013
Underlying the expansive “school choice” debate roiling the Texas Capitol is the contention that a traditional neighborhood public school might not be right for every child.
VIRGINIA
Gov. Bob McDonnell to Lead School Choice Scholarship Foundation in Virginia
Washington Examiner, DC, March 4, 2013
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is helping organize a nonprofit foundation to provide voucherlike scholarships to Virginia students who want to attend private schools, capitalizing on a new law he championed last year.
Patrick Henry Charter School Gets Another 5 Years To Prove Itself
WWBT, VA, March 4, 2013
Parents, children and teachers at the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts are breathing a collective sigh of relief. The Commonwealth’s first charter elementary school has been granted another five years to prove itself.
WASHINGTON
WEA Targets Initiative 1240
The Columbian, WA, March 4, 2013
As expected, the teachers union has filed a legal challenge to Washington’s new charter school law, Initiative 1240, which was approved by voters last fall.
WEST VIRGINIA
Grade: Incomplete: Tomblin’s Education Proposal Lacking Key Parts
Martinsburg Journal, WV, March 5, 2013
West Virginians need all the help we can get to improve our public school system. A massive education reform bill introduced last week in the Legislature includes at least one failure to seek help from a source ready, willing and very able to provide it.
Too Much Emphasis Put On Seniority In Teacher Hiring
The Herald-Dispatch, WV, March 5, 2013
One of the critical elements of Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s education reform package is giving local school officials more flexibility.
WISCONSIN
District Considers New Design Charter For High Schoolers
La Crosse Tribune, WI, March 5, 2013
A design-focused charter school in the La Crosse School District could expand to include high school students.
Gov. Walker’s Voucher System Problematic
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, March 5, 2013
Gov. Scott Walker recently announced plans to expand the school voucher program in Wisconsin, providing more students from underperforming school districts the option to attend private schools. He said doing so would allow all students in the state access to a quality education, “regardless of their zip code.”
WYOMING
Opinions Vary On Wyoming No Child Left Behind Waiver Application
Casper Star-Tribune, WY, March 5, , 2013
Wyoming Department of Education officials say feedback about an application to waive federal education requirements has been positive. However, Superintended of Public Instruction Cindy Hill opposes the waiver and says she’s not the only one with concerns.
ONLINE LEARNING
Schools Offer More Online
Port Huron Times Herald, MI, March 5, 2013
The 21st century classroom is evolving, and school districts are trying to keep up.
Bridges Virtual Academy In Merrill Continues To Attract Attention
Wausau Daily Herald, WI, March 5, 2013
Families are clamoring to get into the Merrill Area Public Schools charter school, which delivers public education resources to home-schooling families.
Virtual Public Charter School Opens Enrollment For The 2013-2014 School Year
KATC, LA, March 4, 2013
Louisiana Connections Academy. a fully accredited provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual K-12 schooling, opens enrollment for the 2013-2014 school year today, March 4, and enrollment sessions with parents and students will begin across the state on March 5.
Grapevine-Colleyville’s ‘virtual Academy’ Won’t Be Easy
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX, March 4, 2013
The Grapevine-Colleyville school district’s decision to offer a full-time, open-enrollment virtual academy puts it at the forefront of the merger between education and technology, offering students across Texas the chance of significant learning advantages.
USD 308 Considers Virtual School Option
Hutchinson News, KS, March 5, 2013
Hutchinson USD 308 could launch a virtual school, an online alternative for students in elementary school through high school, in 2014-2015.