Daily Headlines for May 8, 2013

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NATIONAL COVERAGE

La. Schools Chief White Testifies Before U.S. Congress
The Advocate, LA, May 7, 2013

While the Louisiana Supreme Court rejected the funding mechanism for the state’s expanded school voucher system, state Superintendent of Education John White was discussing school choice and accountability with members of Congress.

STATE COVERAGE

CALIFORNIA

Pomona Unified Administrator Propose Turning Yorba Elementary Into Charter School
Inland Valley Daily Herald, CA, May 8, 2013

Pomona Unified School District administrators presented a proposal to the district’s Board of Education Tuesday night calling for converting Yorba Elementary School into a charter school with an emphasis on science and technology.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Gray Nominates Two New Candidates for D.C. Public Charter School Board
Washington Post, DC, May 7, 2013

Mayor Vincent C. Gray has nominated two candidates to fill vacancies on the D.C. Public Charter School Board, which is responsible for authorizing new charter schools and closing poor performers.

FLORIDA

Manatee’s Rowlett Elementary Considers Charter School Option During Budget Crisis
Bradenton Herald, FL, May 8, 2013

Rowlett Magnet Elementary School, concerned about the financial uncertainty facing the Manatee County School District, is exploring a novel approach to ensure the quality of its academic programs, which focus on communications and the arts.

‘Trigger’ Bill Or No, Parents Already Have Good Options To Empower Them
Miami Herald, FL, May 7, 2013

As media websites throughout Florida told of the end of the notorious “parent trigger” bill for this year, one state senator nailed the problem — the law already allows parents to get involved in fixing failing public schools, but few of them bother to do so.

GEORGIA

Common Core Standards Debated
Cherokee Ledger News, GA, May 8, 2013

Federal education standards being piloted in Cherokee County schools as a part of the state’s participation in Race To The Top (RTTT) became the topic of conversation at the May 2 school board meeting.

Georgia DOE Releases New Grades For Public Schools
Athens Banner-Herald, GA, May 7, 2013

Georgia’s new report card for public schools is out. The Georgia Department of Education said the average score for Georgia’s elementary schools is 83.4; middle schools is 81.4 and high schools is 72.6.

Governor Signs Bill Linking Teacher Evaluations To Student Performance
Atlanta Journal Constitution Blog, GA, May 7, 2013

StudentsFirst, the influential advocacy organization created by former Washington, D.C., schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, sent out a media release today celebrating Gov. Nathan Deal’s signing of House Bill 244.

ILLINOIS

Tick … Tick … Tick …
Chicago Tribune, IL, May 8, 2013

The latest headache for Chicago Public Schools officials: Independent hearing officers oppose efforts to close about a quarter of the 53 elementary schools that are on the block.

LOUISIANA

Jindal Promises To Find Voucher Funding After High Court Strikes It Down
Times-Picayune, LA, May 8, 2013

The Louisiana Supreme Court on Tuesday declared that the way the Jindal administration has been financing a statewide school voucher program is unconstitutional, a decision that has significant ramifications for the ongoing state budget debate and the approximately 8,000 students who have been promised voucher seats for the fall.

Funding For La. Gov. Jindal’s Voucher Program Struck Down By Court
Washington Times, DC, May 7, 2013

In a setback for Gov. Bobby Jindal’s drive to overhaul the state’s education system, the Louisiana Supreme Court on Tuesday said the state can’t fund its landmark voucher initiative with money meant for public schools.

Locals Applaud State Supreme Court Ruling On Vouchers
Monroe News Star, LA, May 8, 2013

Local educators and community members were excited Tuesday to learn about the Louisiana Supreme Court’s ruling that the funding mechanism for the Louisiana Scholarship Program is unconstitutional.

MAINE

After Turmoil, Portland Charter School Approved
Portland Press Herald, ME, May 8, 2013

The Maine Charter School Commission approved a scaled-down plan for Portland’s first charter school Tuesday, clearing the way for the Baxter Academy for Technology and Science to open in the fall

Lawmakers At Odds With LePage Administration Over Charter Schools
Portland Press Herald, ME, May 8, 2013

A standoff is developing between the Maine Department of Education and Democratic lawmakers over a new, more equitable way to fund public charter schools.

MARYLAND

Md. Teachers: We’re Not Ready For New Evaluation Systems, Common Core
Washington Post, DC, May 7, 2013

Maryland teachers are asking for more time and training to meet the demands of new evaluation systems and education standards expected to be in place by the start of the next school year, according to a survey from the Maryland State Education Association.

Referendum Petition Drive Targets Prince George’s Schools Takeover Bill
Baltimore Sun, MD, May 8, 2013

A signature-collecting petition drive has started in Prince George’s County to try to force County Executive Rushern Baker III’s impending school takeover to a 2014 referendum.

MASSACHUSETTS

Charter School Advocates Want Cap Removed in Mass.
Boston Globe, MA, May 8, 2013

Three years after state lawmakers lifted the cap on the number of charter schools that can legally operate in Massachusetts, advocates urged lawmakers Tuesday to abolish it, citing a study that found that the schools outperform traditional public schools in the state, particularly in Boston.

More School Reform
Boston Herald, MA, May 8, 2013

It’s cute that the Joint Committee on Education scheduled a hearing on a slew of bills related to charter schools during National Charter School Awareness Month.

MICHIGAN

Michigan District Can’t Pay Teachers, Lays Off Staff
Detroit News, MI, May 8, 2013

A Michigan school district that said it can’t afford to pay its teachers will remain closed for a second day Wednesday after laying off staff because of a loss of state funds.

NEBRASKA

Lawmakers Revive Arguments On Charter-Schools Proposal
Omaha World Herald, NE, May 8, 2013

Nebraska lawmakers who support an Omaha charter-schools bill launched a debate on a measure that was killed in committee this year.

NEW JERSEY

Appeal Filed To Block Camden School’s Approval
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ, May 8, 2013

The Education Law Center has filed an appeal to block the state’s approval of the KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy.

NEW MEXICO

District Plans New Charter School Compacts
Santa Fe New Mexican, NM, May 8, 2013

Santa Fe Public Schools is moving forward with a plan to set up performance compacts with the district’s four charter schools in an effort to provide greater transparency and set clear goals for the schools.

NEW YORK

A 30-Month Legal Fight to Conceal E-Mails About a 95-Day Schools Chancellor
New York Times, NY, May 8, 2013

If you have lost three consecutive times in court on the same legal fight, with not a single judge giving you the time of day, and one of them saying that your main argument is “particularly specious,” what would you do?

NORTH CAROLINA

NC Senate Passes Bill Creating Separate State Board For Charter Schools
News & Observer, NC, May 7, 2013

The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday creating a separate regulatory board for charter schools by a vote of 32-17.

OHIO

Curriculum Critics Wrong
Columbus Dispatch, OH, May 8, 2013

A campaign against Common Core educational standards — developed by governors, adopted by 45 states and designed to help American children catch up to their peers around the world — is misguided and misinformed.

PENNSYLVANIA

Pocono Mountain Charter School’s Court-Appointed Custodian Quickly Takes Charge
Pocono Record, PA, May 8, 2013

The court-appointed custodian for the troubled Pocono Mountain Charter School swiftly stepped in Tuesday night, hiring a new principal and firing a public relations firm.

TEXAS

Charter School Rally Planned At Texas Capitol
Houston Chronicle, TX, May 8, 2013

Parents and activists are set to rally at the state Capitol for high-profile proposed legislation to expand charter schools in Texas.

WASHINGTON

New Law Targets How Schools Perform
Everett Herald, WA, May 8, 2013

One of the first Republican-sponsored education reform bills became law Tuesday and will give the state more power to intercede in schools where student performance on basic skills tests is persistently poor.

WISCONSIN

School Choice Will Help Students Succeed
Green Bay Press Gazette, WI, May 7, 2013

Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make. Wealthy parents have always had access to a variety of educational options.

ONLINE LEARNING

Gov. Rick Snyder To Visit Zeeland’s Innoacademy Charter School, Site Of New Icademy
Grand Rapids Press, MI, May 8, 2013

Governor Rick Snyder today will visit Innocademy, a Zeeland-based year-round public school academy, and tour its Homestead Campus.

‘Blended Learning’ Leads To Rare Teacher Satisfaction
The Californian, CA, May 7, 2013

By all rights, Wendy Chaves’ Algebra II class should be a zoo. She’s charged with teaching nearly 50 teenagers at a time at the Alliance Tennenbaum Family Technology High School in Los Angeles. Yet Chaves has never felt more effective.

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