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
No Child Left Behind reforms hit the sweet spot
Editorial, Denver Post, June 11, 2013
The latest attempt to retool the outdated federal education accountability law known as No Child Left Behind is a balanced effort that retains some of the better ideas embodied in its landmark predecessor and improves on others.
STATE COVERAGE
ARKANSAS
State board gives charter 3 more years
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 11, 2013
The Imboden Area Charter School, the state’s third-oldest open-enrollment charter school and its smallest in terms of enrollment, received a green light from the state Monday to operate for another three years.
ARIZONA
Vail School District weighs charter status for 3 schools
KVOA, June 10, 2013
The governing board for the Vail School District will issue its first of two votes Tuesday regarding whether or not to give three existing schools charter status.
CALIFORNIA
Oblige charter schools to install basic safeguards
Editorial, Press-Enterprise, June 10, 2013
Freeing charter schools from bureaucracy should not also excuse them from good government practices. The state Senate should approve a bill that would require charter schools to follow the same basic public interest safeguards that other public agencies follow. Charter schools’ experimentation does not need to include misusing taxpayers’ money.
Parent-trigger handover approaches for Desert Trails Elementary School
San Bernardino Sun, June 10, 2013
The marquee outside Desert Trails Elementary School lists the events for the last two weeks of school: a talent show, kindergarten and sixth-grade promotion ceremonies and, on June 14, “school ends.”
Brown’s school funding reform merits support
Editorial, Fresno Bee, June 11, 2013
State legislators have five days to meet the constitutional deadline for passing a budget. It could be legacy time.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
With ‘reconstitution,’ D.C. officials hope for school turnaround
Washington Post, June 10, 2013
D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson called it a “fresh start” and a “momentum-shifter” for Cardozo Senior High last month when administrators removed nearly half the staff at the school.
FLORIDA
Rowlett votes to become Manatee’s first charter conversion
Bradenton Herald, June 11, 2013
In a historic vote Monday at Rowlett Magnet Elementary School, 94 percent of Rowlett teachers and 95 percent of Rowlett parents voted to convert to a public charter school for the 2014-2015 school year,
Broward schools working to boost success of black male students
Miami Herald, June 11, 2013
In the Broward school district’s quest to improve minority student achievement, Dillard High School’s graduation ceremony last week was more than just another annual event — it was a taste of what success feels like.
GEORGIA
State Charter School Commission in good hands
Opinion, Macon Telegraph, June 11, 2013
I have said it before, but let me repeat: I have no problem with charter schools. I did have a big problem with the ham-handed way last November’s charter school referendum was rammed through by proponents.
School board skeptical of charter school proposal
WALB, June 10, 2013
A private group in Albany is asking the school system to start a new charter school. The folks behind the Albany Charter Academy of Scholars say the K-5 school could be located in the recently closed Sylvester Road Elementary. Board members say, they really don’t have the money to do that.
ILLONOIS
Chicago Public Schools issues 5-year plan
Chicago Tribune, June 11, 2013
An annual scorecard on the district’s performance and greater accountability throughout the system are some of the promises outlined in the first long-term plan for Chicago Public Schools issued since Mayor Rahm Emanuel took office.
MAINE
Don’t let a temporary ban on charter schools in Bangor become permanent
Editorial, Bangor Daily News, June 10, 2013
The Bangor City Council went into protective mode recently when it moved closer to approving a six-month moratorium on charter schools in the city.
Maine Senate approves charter school bill
Kennebec Journal, June 10, 2013
Senate Democrats on Monday passed a bill designed to give communities more input and control over whether charter schools should be approved, but the measure still faces hurdles.
MASSACHUSETTS
Accelerate progress on education
Opinion, Boston Globe, June 10, 2013
In 2010, leaders on Beacon Hill crafted the Achievement Gap Act of 2010, the most ambitious school reform legislation since the historic Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993. In addition to this bill’s, path-breaking provisions on school turnarounds, the Act launched a bold new strategy for addressing the twin challenges of fostering greater school choice and stimulating more innovation.
State’s financial backing of charter schools continues to erode
Editorial, Daily Hampshire Gazette, June 10, 2013
Massachusetts lawmakers are poised to go back on a pledge made more than 20 years ago to properly fund reimbursements for charter school tuition to sending communities.
MICHIGAN
Legislature makes a mistake on Common Core
Opinion, Detroit News, June 11, 2013
As a teacher, I believe in the power of education. I believe that when policymakers, parents, and teachers understand the Common Core State Standards and how they will benefit Michigan students, they will embrace it.
MISSOURI
School choice works
Letter, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 11, 2013
It is not too often that I find myself in agreement with the Post-Dispatch editorial board, but that is where I am after reading “Troubled Normandy School District has run out of excuses.”
Charter school should rehire principal
Letter, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 10, 2013
I was reading with interest the column by Bill McClellan (June 9) about the ousted principal from Grand Center Arts Academy charter school when he wrote that Susan Uchitelle was on the board, and it all came together. She and Carolyn Losos, the mother of the newly hired principal Louise Losos, are longtime friends.
NEVADA
Nevada’s high school graduation rate third lowest in nation
Las Vegas Sun, June 11, 2013
Despite making some gains, Nevada has the third worst graduation rate in the nation, according to an Education Week report released last week.
NEW JERSEY
Legislation Would Create Board to Review Charter-School Bids
New Jersey Spotlight, June 11, 2013
A proposed change in the way New Jersey handles applications for new charter schools would set up a quasi-independent review board within the state Department of Education.
NEW YORK
NY1’s Pat Kiernan: when kids talk excitedly about school, their teachers succeeded
New York Daily News, June 11, 2013
In evaluating nominations for teachers, principals, deans and other educators for the Daily News Hometown Heroes in Education awards, I’ll be looking for personal stories about commitment to education and connection to students.
Harlem Children’s Zone new Promise Academy charter school
Amsterdam News, June 10, 2013
In a celebration ceremony last week, students and investors gathered to welcome Harlem Children’s Zone new Promise Academy charter school. Located in the middle of St. Nicholas houses, the community center will officially open to students on July 8 2013.
PENNSYLVANIA
York City School Board OKs recovery plan
York Dispatch, June 10, 2013
A 20-person committee helped chief recovery officer David Meckley craft the plan, which had come down to two options: converting to all charters, or letting the district transform itself with themed magnet schools, salary cuts, and expanded programs.
Nutter facing tough task in Harrisburg
Philadelphia Daily News, June 11, 2013
AT A PIVOTAL moment in the push to prevent drastic cuts for Philly schools, Mayor Nutter is traveling to Harrisburg today to build support for his plan to plug the district’s budget gap, state lawmakers said. It won’t be an easy task.
TEXAS
Perry Signs High School Curriculum, Testing Bill
Texas Tribune, June 10, 2013
When Gov. Rick Perry signed House Bill 5 on Monday, he ended weeks of speculation that he might veto the high-profile education legislation because of concerns that it would weaken high school graduation standards.
VIRGINIA
Richmond school board defers action on special needs charter school
Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 11, 2013
Richmond Public Schools is close to finalizing plans for a state-backed charter school for high school students with developmental needs, but the School Board declined to approve it Monday because there has been no formal public input.
WASHINGTON
Seattle School Board gives itself low marks
Seattle Times, June 10, 2013
Members of the Seattle School Board graded their own performance Monday night and found themselves in need of improvement.
ONLINE LEARNING
More questions about Illinois Policy Institute’s financial interest in Illinois Virtual Charter School
Chicago Now Blog, June 10, 2013
Capitol Fax reported late last week in its subscriber email blast that Illinois Policy Institute has flatly denied that its staff have any financial interest in the Illinois Virtual Charter School plan and the millions in local school district tax dollars at stake.
State commission poised to deny Fox Valley virtual charter appeals
Aurora Beacon News, June 10, 2013
The state commission that oversees charter school appeals is poised to deny a request to open an 18-district virtual charter school in the Fox Valley area later this year.
Virtual Academy out to hit higher student cap
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 9, 2013
Arkansas’ 10-year-old, publicly funded, online homeschool program for children in kindergarten through eighth grades is poised to grow to six times its current 500-pupil enrollment, making it the state’s largest independently run charter school.