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.
Parent-Driven Education Gains Ground in States
Health Care News, March 6, 2013
Ten states rank a cut above the rest in offering parents extensive opportunities to control their children’s education, according to the 2013 Parent Power Index from the Center for Education Reform.
Advocacy Group to Monitor Reform Efforts in Public Schools
New York Times, NY, March 8, 2013
Diane Ravitch, the historian and former assistant education secretary who has become an outspoken critic of those who favor high-stakes testing, tenure reforms and other controversial measures aimed at the public schools, has joined with other education advocates to form a group that will grade and endorse political candidates.
Neovouchers: The Debate Continues
Washington Post Blog, DC, March 7, 2013
Generally speaking, Americans know what vouchers are. Cleveland and Milwaukee have had conventional voucher plans for decades. Ballot initiatives to institute conventional vouchers have been voted on (and, I believe, always defeated) in many states. But most of us know little or nothing about neovouchers.
FROM THE STATES
ALABAMA
Tax Credits, Vouchers A Mixed Bag
Dothan Eagle, AL, March 7, 2013
How the Alabama Accountability Act was passed has become a subject for heated debate and litigation. Its impact on education and student outcomes if it survives is also controversial, as there is a mixed body of research concerning the effectiveness of similar policies throughout the country.
Tax-Credit Bill Poses Threat To Public Schools
Decatur Daily, AL, March 8, 2013
The bill — stalled in litigation, but probably not for long — allows the roughly 80,000 students in 202 “failing” public schools to transfer to private schools. Every student who transfers would reduce the Education Trust Fund by $3,500. A scholarship fund of $25 million also comes from the ETF.
House Speaker Mike Hubbard Says School Bill Needs Changes, But Not Enough To Risk Killing It
The Birmingham News, AL, March 7, 2013
Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard today said there are changes needed in a controversial school choice bill but not enough to risk “killing the bill” if it is brought back before lawmakers.
Hubbard said he had talked to Gov. Robert Bentley about possible changes.
CALIFORNIA
Charter School Piques Parental Interest
Tracy Press, CA, March 8, 2013
Parental interest is gaining momentum for River Islands Technology Academy even as the board of trustees overseeing the project works out the new charter
FLORIDA
Controversial ‘Parent Trigger’ Bill Gets First Nod
Miami Herald, FL, March 7, 2013
A bill that empowers parents. A bill that hands public schools over to private interests. A red herring. No matter what you think of the so-called parent trigger proposal, one thing was made clear Thursday: The bill will be among the most contentious of the Legislative session.
GOP Clears First Step in Push for School Fixes, Accountability
Sunshine State News, FL, March 8, 2013
Another year, another highly-charged debate over educational accountability. The same players are arranging themselves around the same board. The number on the bill has changed, but not much else, with Republicans and conservative groups pushing for reforms versus Democrats and liberal groups opting for status quo.
Report: Charter Schools Out Perform Traditional Public Schools
News-Press, FL, March 8, 2013
Charter schools outpace traditional public schools according to a report from the Florida Department of Education.
Charter Schools Operate At The Expense Of Public Schools
Miami Herald, FL, March 8, 2013
The first Florida charter school opened in Miami in 1996 with fewer than 100 students. Today, there are more than 47,000 students attending charter schools in Miami-Dade County
IDAHO
Charter School Funding Bill Reviewed By Senate Committee
Idaho Reporter, ID, March 7, 2013
The Senate Education Committee Thursday got its first look at a bill to improve the finances of the state’s charter schools. House Bill 206, which passed in the House of Representatives earlier this week, would provide an increase of state funds for charter schools to spend to fund their facilities.
ILLINOIS
Fewer schools will mean larger classes and more controversy for CPS
Chicago Tribune Blog, IL, March 8, 2013
But that’s an inconvenient truth for Chicago Public Schools officials as they push ahead with plans to close up to 80 elementary schools said to be underutilized, and to transfer the affected students to nearby, better-performing schools.
INDIANA
Only Indy’s Charter Schools Receive Tax Subsidy
Indianapolis Star, IN, March 8, 2013
In his March 6 My View, John Mutz discussed the idea of mayoral charter schools paying a nominal administration fee authorized by state law. Unfortunately, he mischaracterizes the concept and omits important information about the proposal pending before the City-County Council.
IOWA
Senate Version Of School Reform Bill Advances
Des Moines Register, IA, March 8, 2013
The Iowa Senate advanced its version of Gov. Terry Branstad’s education overhaul package Thursday, offering an expansive take on reform that runs counter to the Republican House’s minimalism.
KANSAS
Hensley: Charter School Bill Unnecessary
Topeka Capital Journal, KS, March 7, 2013
Sen. Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, a teacher, said Thursday that a bill to overhaul Kansas’ charter school system wasn’t necessary.
KENTUCKY
Poll: 72 Percent of Likely Kentucky Voters Support Charter Schools Bill
WFPL, KY, March 7, 2013
Seventy-two percent of likely Kentucky voters favor legislation to allow persistently low-performing schools the ability to become charter schools, according to a poll released Thursday by charter advocates.
LOUISIANA
Jefferson Parish Schools Seeking Private Operator To Run Alternative High Schools
Times Picayune, LA, March 7, 2013
Siting declining enrollment and lackluster results in both academic performance and behavior, the Jefferson Parish School Board approved a plan by Superintendent James Meza to seek private operators to run its two alternative schools as early as next fall.
Proposal: All Of Lycée’s Board Members Must Reapply If They Want To Stay Past June
The Lens, LA, March 8, 2013
Parents and teachers who want new governance at the embattled Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans charter school may soon have their wishes granted.
MAINE
LePage Bringing National Teaching And Learning Experts To Maine For Education Summit
Bangor Daily Herald, ME, March 7, 2013
School choice and education reforms championed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will get top billing later this month at an education summit set up by Gov. Paul LePage.
MASSACHUSETTS
Charter School Results Too Good To Ignore
Boston Globe, MA, March 8, 2013
ENTICED BY federal Race to the Top dollars, Massachusetts passed an important education reform law in 2010. But now, with that legislation in place, policymakers seem to lack the appetite for another round of significant change.
MINNESOTA
Close Poor Performing Charters To Create Better Choices For Low-Income Kids
Twin City Daily Planet, MN, March 7, 2013
A bi-partisan bill is making its way through the Minnesota legislature to close the state’s persistently lowest performing charter schools. The effort is not led by charter school opponents but by charter supporters, who believe that the charter sector holds tremendous promise to help close the nation’s and Minnesota’s appalling achievement gap.
MISSOURI
School Voucher System Would Help Kids More
St. Louis Post Dispatch, MO, March 8, 2013
Your editorial March 6 (“Schools v. Children”) implored the Missouri Supreme Court to enforce its ruling from 2010 that allows children from bad school districts to attend neighboring districts that have accredited schools.
NEW JERSEY
Hebrew Charter School: East Brunswick Officials Using Taxpayer Dollars To Derail Expansion
Star-Ledger, NJ, March 7, 2013
Town officials are waging a taxpayer-funded campaign to derail a Hebrew charter school’s expansion, the school said in a complaint to the state attorney general and Education Department.
Winslow Charter School To Fight N.J. Nonrenewal
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, March 8, 2013
The Institute for Excellence Charter School of Winslow Township has known for a week that the New Jersey Department of Education will not renew its charter for the fall.
NEW MEXICO
Commission’s Appeal Of Charter Schools The Right Move
Taos News, NM, March 7, 2013
In what is said to be an unprecedented move, the state Public Education Commission is going to court to challenge a decision allowing two new charter schools, including one in Taos.
Let’s Not Fund Any More Charter Schools’
Taos News, NM, March 7, 2013
Matthew Van Buren’s recent article on the Public Education Commission’s appeal of Secretary-designee Hanna Skandera’s decision regarding a Taos charter school’s application is a welcome report on current issues and personalities.
NEW YORK
N.Y. Schools’ Teacher-Eval Costs Outpace Federal Grants
Journal News, NY, March 7, 2013
New York’s small-city, suburban and rural school districts expect to spend an average of $155,355 this year to implement the state’s new teacher and principal evaluation plans, a report Thursday from the state School Boards Association found.
NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte Charter School Can’t Open Because Of Plagiarism Allegation
Charlotte Observer, NC, March 7, 2013
Cameron Creek Charter won’t be allowed to open in east Charlotte this year, based on accusations that it cut and pasted large parts of its application from another Charlotte proposal.
Bill Would Give School Ownership To County Governments
News Observer, NC, March 7, 2013
A bill introduced in the state Senate Thursday would allow county governments to take ownership, construction and maintenance of schools away from school systems.
Charter School Application Raises Questions
Lexington Dispatch, NC, March 7, 2013
Students in Davidson County already have several educational options: traditional public schools, Yadkin Valley Regional Academy (geared to science, technology, engineering and math), Davidson Early College (where students graduate with college credits), religious schools, private schools and home schools.
NORTH DAKOTA
When A Waiver Isn’t A Waiver
Bismarck Tribune, ND, March 8, 2013
No Child Left Behind took Americans to school and taught us our schools, teachers and students are failing. The proof, we are told, can be found in the results of standardized tests. This is despite that North Dakotans take pride in their schools, believing they do a good job.
OHIO
Charter Schools Decry Kasich’s Proposed Funding Reduction
Columbus Dispatch, OH, March 8, 2013
Charter-school supporters like to tout that the privately operated, tax-funded schools do more to improve student achievement with less money than traditional public schools.
OKLAHOMA
Another Assault On Public Schools
Tulsa World, OK, March 8, 2013
Don’t be fooled that the so-called “parent trigger” bill that passed the Oklahoma Senate 30-2 this week and is headed for the House is all about reform.
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia Officials Vote to Close 23 Schools
New York Times, NY, March 8, 2013
Officials on Thursday night approved closing 23 public schools, about 10 percent of the city’s total, largely backing a plan by the school district to erase a huge budget deficit and reduce the number of underused schools.
Armstrong School District To Decide On Charter School’s Fate
Pittsburgh Tribune Review, PA, March 7, 2013
It’ll be a tale of two schools on Monday evening when the Armstrong School Board is faced with decisions about its soon-to-be built high school in Manor Township and the proposed Everlasting Elderton Charter School.
SOUTH CAROLINA
School Choice Works
Greenville News, SC, March 8, 2013
It should come as a surprise to no one that informed lawmakers would look to school choice as an effective tool to improve education. After all, school choice is the most rapidly expanding education policy in the nation.
TENNESSEE
Teacher’s Union Concerned Over Vouchers
Murfreesboro Post, TN, March 8, 2013
As lawmakers in Tennessee consider a couple of proposals on school vouchers, the state’s teachers are urging rejection over a variety of concerns.
WEST VIRGINIA
Tomblin’s Revised Education Reform Bill Gives Concessions To Teachers
Charleston Gazette, WV, March 8, 2013
A revised version of Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s education reform bill is expected to include major concessions to teachers who have railed against the legislation in recent days.
WISCONSIN
Scott Walker’s Voucher Proposal Divides Parents Of Special-Needs Students
Journal Sentinel, WI, March 7, 2013
The story of Miriam and children like her is at the heart of a $21 million proposal in Gov. Scott Walker’s state budget that would allow 5% of kids with disabilities in Wisconsin to attend private or public schools outside their home districts on a taxpayer-funded voucher.
ONLINE LEARNING
Parents Trying To Save Massachusetts Virtual Academy
WGGB, MA, March 7, 2013
Parents disappointed that their children’s school is closing addressed a Greenfield School Sub Committee Thursday night.The Massachusetts Virtual School is shutting down at the end of June because of a new state law.
Schools May Get Windfall: Cyber Reform Measure Would Redirect Funding To Local Districts
Tribune Democrat, PA, March 7, 2013
Public school districts may finally get help in their struggle to recapture some of the money that has followed students who choose to enroll in charter schools rather than attend the local bricks-and-mortar school system.
Charter Schools Hope To Expand
Janesville Gazette, WI, March 7, 2013
Two Janesville charter schools would expand next fall if the Janesville School Board agrees.
Flipped Online Classrooms: Homework In Class, Lectures At Home
St., Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, March 8, 2013
Just five minutes into his morning organic chemistry class, associate professor Mike Lewis is in full swing, scribbling what looks like a series of hieroglyphs across a large screen projected at the front of the room.
Online Charter Schools Must Take Students
OPB, OR, March 8, 2013
Oregon’s board of education told the state’s own online charter schools Thursday that they have to accept students, even if they’re coming from districts having labor problems.
Flipped Classrooms Turning Tradition On Its Head
San Diego Union Tribune, CA, March 7, 2013
A growing number of teachers nationwide are challenging a long-held educational tradition by asking their students to watch recorded lectures at home and do their homework in class.