Daily Headlines for May 30, 2013
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NATIONAL COVERAGE
In Raising Scores, 1 2 3 Is Easier Than A B C
New York Times, NY, May 30, 2013
Educators, policy makers and business leaders often fret about the state of math education, particularly in comparison with other countries. But reading comprehension may be a larger stumbling block.
GOP Talks Up School Choice As Good Policy And Good Politics
Washington Times, DC, May 29, 2013
A Republican Party still reeling from the November elections is hoping that advocating for school choice can help the GOP recapture moderate voters, arguing that the issue provides a natural link between their limited-government philosophy and the average voter’s desire for good local schools.
Jeb Bush: ‘We Embrace School Choice Across The Board’
Detroit Free Press, MI, May 29, 2013
It was a speech that hit many of the right notes for a potential Republican presidential candidate. Kicking off the Mackinac Policy Conference today, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush talked about the need for education reform free of the constraints imposed by teachers unions.
Public, Charter Schools Team Up In Cleveland
CBS Evening News, May 29, 2013
For years, public schools in Cleveland had some of the worst test scores in America; only 7 percent of their students went on to college. But a unique partnership between traditional schools and high-performing charter schools is turning that around.
Education Is For Parents Too
Washington Post, DC, May 29, 2013
There was none on this exact point. A record 69 percent of Hispanic high school graduates in the class of 2012 enrolled in college that fall. But this was the only bright spot in the Pew survey.
STATE COVERAGE
CALIFORNIA
Did New Charter Fake Community Outreach?
Riverdale Press, CA, May 30, 2013
Arturo Toscanini Charter School doesn’t plan to open its doors before September 2014, but community leaders have already given it poor marks for community outreach.
LAUSD Submits Amended Application For No Child Left Behind Waiver
Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA, May 29, 2013
In response to concerns raised by federal regulators, Los Angeles Unified and eight other school districts have filed an amended application for a waiver from a federal law requiring that all students be proficient in English and math by 2014.
COLORADO
District, Union Clash Over Market-Based Salary Plan In Douglas County
Denver Post, CO, May 30, 2013
Douglas County School District administrators and teacher union representatives are at odds over a recently approved plan that injects $15.7 million into pay raises, bonuses and other compensation next school year.
CONNECTICUT
Education Reform Aims To Give Districts Some Room
The Day, CT, May 30, 2013
An education reform bill that passed the Senate 33-0 Wednesday builds on a 2012 law that strengthened statewide teacher evaluation requirements but provides some flexibility for local school boards.
Charter School Celebrates All Seniors Going To College
WTNH, CT, May 29, 2013
It’s a pretty impressive number, 100 percent of graduates at a New Haven high school will be going to college. This is the fourth year in a row the charter school is celebrating their students’ successes.
DELAWARE
Del. Budget Panel Discusses Charter School Funds
Star Democrat, DE, May 29, 2013
Members of the legislature’s budget-writing committee have rejected a Democratic lawmaker’s request to stop allowing charter schools to keep unspent student transportation funds.
FLORIDA
Pasco’s Dayspring Academy Charter School Seeks To Expand
Tampa Bay Times, FL, May 29, 2013
Pasco County’s oldest and most academically successful charter school is seeking an expansion. Dayspring Academy, co-founded by state Sen. John Legg and others in 2000, has informed Pasco school district officials of its intent to apply to open new campuses in Holiday and Hudson in 2014.
GEORGIA
About 1 In 3 Georgia Charter Schools Outperform Districts
Athens Banner-Herald, GA, May 29, 2013
Roughly one out of every three schools chartered by the state scored better in Georgia’s new ranking than the districts those schools are located in, the State Charter Schools Commission learned Wednesday.
ILLINOIS
Teachers Union Files Suit To Halt Closings
Chicago Tribune, IL, May 30, 2013
The Chicago Teachers Union filed a lawsuit Wednesday that seeks to keep 10 schools from being shuttered, the third such action aimed at reversing the Board of Education’s approval last week of closing 49 elementary schools and a high school program.
SD 227 Officials: No Further Legal Action Against Charter School
Southtown Star, IL, May 29, 2013
Legal action and heated arguments over funding have marked the relationship between Rich Township High School District 227 and Southland College Prep Charter High School since before the charter school in Matteson opened nearly three years ago.
Chicago Simmers Over School Closings. Is That Bad For Mayor Emanuel?
Christian Science Monitor, MA, May 29, 2013
The Chicago Teachers Union said it was filing a lawsuit protesting the school closings, adding to two filed by parents last week. Critics say they suspect Mayor Emanuel is paving the way for charter schools.
INDIANA
Nearly $5 Million To Be Returned To Indiana Public Schools From Voucher Program
Evansville Courier & Press, IL, May 30, 2013
Indiana’s voucher program could return just under $5 million to the state’s schools this year — nearly $800,000 more than last year, the state’s top school finance officer said Wednesday.
LOUISIANA
State School Board May Stop Landry/Walker Merger 2 Months Before New School Year
Times-Picayune, LA, May 29, 2013
Inching past the 11th hour, a committee of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted Wednesday to consider delaying or stopping an unpopular merger between the West Bank high schools L.B. Landry and O. Perry Walker, two months before students are supposed to start.
Teacher Evaluation Change Clears Committee
The Advocate, LA, May 29, 2013
A bill that would prevent public school teachers from facing sanctions before their job evaluations are complete won approval Wednesday in the Louisiana House Education Committee.
MARYLAND
Staffing Frederick Classical Charter School
Frederick News-Post, MD, May 30, 2013
The Frederick Classical Charter School, by definition and intent, differs from the standard-model Frederick County Public Schools elementary school. FCCS’ curriculum, teaching methods and educational environment are designed to promote learning via a classical three-stage “trivium” consisting of grammar, logic and rhetoric.
Give Consumers Control Of School Spending
Baltimore Sun, MD, May 29, 2013
It’s easy to bash Baltimore schools for wasting federal money on extravagant chicken dinners when that money was supposed to serve some of the neediest children in the state, but this type of behavior, in a slightly more tame fashion, is routine (“Audit faults schools over federal funds,” May 23).
Baker Addresses Community About Prince George’s Schools Plan
Washington Post, DC, May 29, 2013
Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III apologized Tuesday for surprising residents and state lawmakers with his plan to take over the county’s struggling schools but said he does not regret offering the proposal.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Derry Charter School Hits Its Target Of 30 Students For First Year
Union Leader, NH, May 30, 2013
There will be a full house at the Next Charter High School when it opens its doors for the first time this fall.
NEW YORK
Why Charter School Myths Are Spreading
New York Daily News, NY, May 30, 2013
With Bloomberg on his way out, opponents hope this is a moment to slow a transformational education reform movement
Teach-Eval Final Debate
New York Post, NY, May 30, 2013
The state’s education boss is set to impose a new evaluation system for city teachers and principals by Saturday — now that a last-ditch deadline for a deal has come and gone.
NORTH CAROLINA
N.C. House Dems Blast Voucher Plan
New & Observer, NC, May 29, 2013
House Democrats panned the plan to offer parents vouchers send their children to private schools, saying it was an irresponsible use of tax money and a step in dismantling public schools.
OHIO
Charter School To Open In Former Goodyear Headquarters In East Akron
Akron Beacon Journal, OH, May 29, 2013
A charter school operator who touts its extended school days, longer school year and relatively high-performing classrooms is expanding into Akron and plans to open in the former Goodyear headquarters.
PENNSYLVANIA
Know Facts About Local Charter School
Pocono Record, PA, May 29, 2013
As a former administrator at Pocono Mountain Charter School, 2007-2011, I apologize for some facts you have not heard or may have forgotten. First, the teachers at the school work for 40 percent less while traveling from five counties. That’s about $20,000 per teacher savings.
School Officials Blast Education Funding Formulas
Delaware County Times, PA, May 29, 2013
Local school officials and education policy officials voiced concerns about problems with current public education funding formulas during a Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee hearing Wednesday.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Principals Believe Evaluations Are Helping Teachers To Improve
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, May 29, 2013
An A+ Schools report dated today shows that 49 city principals surveyed believe the district’s evaluation system is helping teachers to improve rather than just being punitive.
TENNESSEE
Ex-Lobbyist: Public Education Endangered
Oak Ridger, TN, May 29, 2013
From school vouchers to charter schools, a former Tennessee Education Association lobbyist painted a verbal portrait of an endangered public education system at a recent “Lunch with the League” meeting.
WASHINGTON
Spady Continues His Pursuit Of Charter-School Success
Everett Herald, WA, May 30, 2013
No name is more synonymous with charter school fights in Washington the past two decades than Spady.
WISCONSIN
Charter Schools, Voucher Plan Hit Snags
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, May 29, 2013
Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to create a statewide charter school board has hit a roadblock as lawmakers are considering removing it from the next two-year budget.
Wait For Test Data Before Expanding Vouchers
Journal Times, WI, May 29, 2013
The state’s Joint Finance Committee was scheduled Wednesday to take up the controversial budget provision that would expand school vouchers to communities beyond Racine and Milwaukee. However, lawmakers have not been able to reach a consensus on what to do and, for the time being, this proposal is at a standstill.
ONLINE LEARNING
Head Of Virtual Charter Group Resigns With School’s Fate In Limbo
Beacon News, IL, May 29, 2013
The woman who headed a nonprofit trying to bring a virtual charter school to 18 school districts in the Fox Valley area has resigned.
Fate Of Charter Appeal Uncertain
Daily Herald, IL, May 29, 2013
When Gov. Pat Quinn signed a one-year moratorium on the establishment of new virtual charter schools into law, suburban administrators expected an end to the appeal process currently under way for one such school.