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
How Will Michelle Rhee’s Policy and Politics Work Fare in States?
Ed Week Blog, April 15, 2013
The biggest national education story of the past week was John Merrow’s discussion of a memo about possible, even likely cheating in D.C. Public Schools under former Chancellor Michelle Rhee, and how she may have swept the issue under the rug, or just passively let it get buried and lost under other paperwork, depending on how you look at it. (As my colleague Lesli Maxwell documents, Rhee claims not to remember the memo.)
Choice Rests With Schools, Not Parents
Roll Call, April 15, 2013
Kevin P. Chavous’ recent Guest Observer (“Congress Is Getting It Wrong on Parental School Choice,” April 5) is little more than a propaganda piece for the forces that seek to privatize elementary and secondary education in America.
Unions’ Charter-School Push
Wall Street Journal, April 16, 2013
Charter schools have spread across the country while generally keeping organized labor out, with operators saying they can manage schools better when their staffs aren’t unionized. But labor groups are now making a big push to get a stronger foothold in this educational realm.
STATE COVERAGE
ARIZONA
The Top 10 States For Educational Options; Arizona 6th
Arizona Business Journal, AZ, April 15, 2013
Arizona ranked sixth on The Center for Education Reform’s Parent Power Index, which means parents have access to quality education options and are provided with good information to make smart decisions about their children’s education.
TUSD Will Allow Charter School To Lease Closed Site
Arizona Daily Star, AZ, April 16, 2013
Acknowledging TUSD has to be more open-minded if it’s going to dispose of its vacant school sites, the Governing Board agreed to lease the shut-down Rogers Elementary to a charter school.
CALIFORNIA
Charter School Sees Success In Beaumont Even Before It Opens
Record Gazette, CA, April 16, 2013
It didn’t take long for parents to take advantage of an alternative option for their children: Highland Academy, Beaumont’s first charter school affiliated with the school district.
COLORADO
School Choice Economical, Gives Every Student Opportunity
The Coloradoan, CO, April 15, 2013
The system of “choice” makes it possible for any school or any kid to have advantages that may not otherwise exist and for children to have an education that meets their needs, whatever those may be. And it does so without draining money from the public school system, as vouchers would do.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
D.C.’s Public Education Landscape Changing Rapidly
CBS Local, DC, April 15, 2013
Public education in Washington, D.C. looks much different than it did a decade ago. It continues to evolve, as traditional public schools close and new charter schools open every year.
FLORIDA
Florida Teachers Plan New Legal Challenge To Evaluations
Orlando Sentinel, FL, April 15, 2013
Florida’s teachers union plans to file a new legal challenge to the state’s teacher evaluation system Tuesday morning, a union spokesman said Monday.
Much Ado About ‘Parent Trigger’
Orlando Sentinel, FL, April 15, 2013
No matter what side you are on, the “parent trigger” bill is a lesson in the worst kind of politicking.
Grading Teachers: Put Legislators To Test
The Ledger, FL, April 16, 2013
A growing number of states are implementing teacher-evaluation systems to weed out weak instructors, reports The New York Times. But it found that the systems often produce glowing results.
ILLINOIS
CTU President Launches Effort To Oust Rahm
Chicago Sun Times, IL, April 16, 2013
Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis isn’t waiting for 2015 to try to oust Mayor Rahm Emanuel, whom she blames for closing a historic number of public schools, she said Monday, announcing an aggressive campaign to train his possible replacement.
LOUISIANA
Plan Would Allow Some Charter Schools To Reserve Seats While Taking Part In OneApp
The Lens, LA, April 15, 2013
Under a much-anticipated plan that officials will present to the state education board on Tuesday, some charter schools participating in the city’s OneApp enrollment process would be allowed to hold seats for specific students.
MARYLAND
Seeking A Comeback For Catholic Education
Baltimore Sun, MD, April 15, 2013
Here’s hoping that under Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori’s innovative leadership, Catholic education will once again assume the priority status it deserves in the church’s new game plan. A lot of kids in our most challenging neighborhoods would benefit. The state (and country) would benefit, too.
Balto. Co. Budget Would Add New Seats For Crowded Schools
Baltimore Sun, MD, April 16, 2013
Baltimore County would add classrooms for thousands of students under a budget proposal unveiled Monday by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz — a plan advocates hope signals a commitment to solve the overcrowding that has plagued the school system.
MINNESOTA
Student Group Hopes To Bridge Achievement Gap
Minnesota Daily, MN, April 16, 2013
He and other members of Students for Education Reform will give local ninth graders a taste of life at the University of Minnesota on Thursday as part of their efforts to combat the educational achievement gap.
MISSOURI
Education Reform: Public Schools Don’t Need Grade Ratings
Springfield News-Leader, MO, April 16, 2013
StudentsFirst formed in 2010 as a grass-roots group and works to lobby elected officials, craft legislative bills and back political candidates. This is an “out of state” group trying to change Missouri public education policies.
NEVADA
Four CCSD High Schools Ranked Among Nation’s Most Challenging
Las Vegas Sun, NV, April 16, 2013
Sixteen Nevada high schools — including four from Clark County — have made the Washington Post’s list of the most challenging high schools in the nation.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NH Charter School Funding Saga Continues: ‘Dollars And Cents’ Or Bargaining Chip?
Nashua Telegraph, NH, April 15, 2013
If the state passes its budget for the next biennium without money for new charter schools, the effects would be devastating, and long-lasting.
NEW JERSEY
Fine Print: Newark Charter School Revocation
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, April 16, 2013
What it is: The state Department of Education yesterday released its letter to the 100 Legacy Academy Charter School in Newark, informing the school that its state charter had been revoked after just seven months of operation. The April 11 letter cited a number of violations and findings concerning the school’s instructional programs, financial viability, and general operations.
Fixing Schools
The Record, NJ, April 15, 2013
GOVERNOR CHRISTIE continues his efforts to use vouchers to improve New Jersey’s educational system, arguing he wants to help some students in bad situations have access to better schools. However, keeping vouchers in the conversation does nothing but damage the futures of the majority of the state’s students. Christie needs to look at how he can help the whole state — not just a select few.
NEW YORK
King Charter Students Test New App For Getting Into College
Buffalo News, NY, April 15, 2013
A group of middle schoolers at King Center Charter School are testing a new app designed to help them get into college and succeed.
Ad Campaign Warns Families About Tougher Standardized Tests Awaiting New York Elementary Students On Tuesday
New York Daily News, NY, April 16, 2013
Officials predict a 30% drop in student scores because of the more challenging exams. Critics contend children are ill-prepared for the Common Core curriculum-based tests, which will help determine promotion to the next grade.
Pressure From Excessive Testing
Press Republican, NY, April 15, 2013
While it is, comparatively, a small number of parents who will opt their children out from the statewide exams today, the rebellion will continue to grow unless New York makes adjustments in what many deem as excessive testing.
NORTH CAROLINA
Why Tenure Is Important
Times News, NC, April 15, 2013
You want your child’s teachers to have tenure because .… only with tenure can they stand up for your child against inane and harmful directives issued by administrators and central office.
NC Charter School Bill Raises Questions
WFAE, NC, April 15, 2013
A charter school bill that would change the oversight of charter schools in North Carolina has raised a lot of questions and speculation.
School Voucher Bill Filed In House
News & Observer, NC, April 16, 2013
A bill that would give students who transfer from public to private schools up to $4,200 a year to pay tuition was filed Monday in the House.
OHIO
Strongsville School District Makes Offer To Striking Teachers, But No Settlement Yet
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, April 15, 2013
A bumped-up offer from the Strongsville school board early Monday morning to striking teachers was not enough bring the two sides to an agreement.
Metro School Extends Its Reach
Columbus Dispatch, OH, April 16, 2013
A plan to expand Metro Early College High School to include middle-school grades comports with a key idea in how to make better schools available to more kids: Take what works and do more of it.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City School Could Lose Charter
The Oklahoman, OK, April 16, 2013
Oklahoma City Public Schools has put a northeast charter school on notice that it could lose its charter. Marcus Garvey Leadership Charter School, 1537 NE 24, received poor marks from the state Education Department this year, including Fs in reading and math.
OREGON
Board OKs Kids Unlimited VIBES plan
Mail Tribune, OR, April 16, 2013
Kids Unlimited Monday night was given the go-ahead by the Medford School Board to begin preparing to operate what will likely become the school district’s third charter school.
PENNSYLVANIA
Crowd Urges SRC To Approve Charter Renewals, Expansions
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, April 15, 2013
Waving placards and chanting, more than 250 charter school students, supporters, and parents urged the Philadelphia School Reform Commission on Monday to approve pending charter renewals and expansion requests.
Chester Township Against Tax Exemption For Charter
Delaware County Times, PA, April 15, 2013
Township officials say they will oppose a move by a local charter school to secure tax-exempt status.
TENNESSEE
Smithson-Craighead, Parents Sue MNPS To Prevent Charter School From Closing
Nashville City Paper, TN, April 16, 2013
A lawsuit filed by Smithson-Craighead Middle School and two parents on Monday aims to prevent the charter school from closing at the end of the year.
Tennessee Municipal School District Bill Passes Legislature, En Route To Governor
Memphis Commercial Appeal, TN, April 16, 2013
With suburban mayors from Shelby County watching in support, both houses of the state legislature approved the bill allowing the six Memphis suburban cities to create new municipal school districts Monday.
WISCONSIN
Neighboring School Districts Planning Health Care Charter School
Journal Sentinel, WI, April 15, 2013
Two Waukesha County school districts are pursuing a new joint charter school that would prepare students for careers in the health professions.
Voucher Backers’ Cash Detailed
Appleton Post Crescent, WI, April 15, 2013
Supporters of private school vouchers have spent about $10 million on political campaigns in Wisconsin since 2003, including $2.4 million in support of Republican Gov. Scott Walker, a new report released Monday showed.
ONLINE LEARNING
SRC To Vote This Week On $15 Million For New Cyber School
Philadelphia Notebook Blog, PA, April 15, 2013
On the agenda for Thursday’s School Reform Commission meeting is a resolution to approve $15 million to establish a District-run virtual school.
Dist. 203 Joins Others In Rejecting Virtual Charter School
Daily Herald, IL, April 15, 2013
Naperville Unit District 203 board members, hoping to avoid a “veritable disaster” Monday night, unanimously denied a petition for a virtual charter school hoping open in the coming school year.