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
Pitbull, rapper and charter-school advocate, gets the party started at education conference
Washington Post Blog, July 1, 2013
But he has signed on as a major backer of a new charter school in his old inner-city neighborhood — and if his unlikely keynote at the Washington Convention Center Monday was light on policy, it had a get-this-party-started appeal for his audience of a thousand-plus educators and wonks from across the country.
Parents revolt against failing schools
USA Today, July 1, 2013
In reality, trigger laws, which allow parents to intervene in a struggling school, are a lot more complicated and controversial.
Nation’s charter school waiting lists growing, report says
Baltimore Sun Blog, July 1, 2013
The number of families waiting acceptance into charter schools is nearing 1 million, according to a survey of charter schools across the nation, which showed a near 50 percent increase in the number of names on waitlists this year compared to the 2011-2011 school year.
Charter Schools: What Really Makes Them So Appealing?
Take Part, July 1, 2013
Parents across the U.S. are clamoring to get their kids into charter schools, but is this the way American education should be going?
Arne Duncan urged to intervene in Philadelphia school funding crisis
Washington Post Blog, July 2, 2013
Here is a letter that American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and historian/education activist Diane Ravitch just sent to Education Secretary Arne Duncan asking him to intervene in the crisis.
STATE COVERAGE
ALABAMA
New education standards factor in student race, economic status
Tuscaloosa News, June 30, 2013
Beginning this fall, Alabama public schools will be under a new state-created academic accountability system that sets different goals for students in math and reading based on their race, economic status, ability to speak English and disabilities.
CONNECTICUT
Supporters turn out for Vallas
Connecticut Post, July 2, 2013
Having lived in the Park City for a few years already, Florisca Carter did not enroll her children for public education when the time came because she wanted “better for them.”
FLORIDA
School turnaround under way for Daughtrey and Rogers Garden
Bradenton Herald, July 2, 2013
Turnaround plans for Blanche H. Daughtrey and G.D. Rogers Garden elementary schools have been approved by the state, and the schools are making improvements to avoid possible closure in the future.
Panel considers options for school grading changes
Tallahassee Democrat, July 2, 2013
School officials around the state have warned that raising the passing threshold for writing, coupled with a raft of other recent changes to the grading formula, could fuel a widespread drop in school grades — even in places where test scores improved.
The War of Common Core
Sunshine State News, July 2, 2013
While the state government keeps pushing the Common Core State Standards for Florida’s students, it’s causing both sides to weigh in on the positives and negatives of the education initiative, which is set to be fully implemented in all grades in the 2014-2015 academic year.
Charter reforms prompted by NorthStar High School failure signed into law
Orlando Sentinel Blog, July 1, 2013
Charter school reforms proposed in the wake of a more than $500,000 payout to the principal of the failed NorthStar High School are now law.
ILLINOIS
Chicago Public Schools Sound More Like Private Schools Commentary
Chicago Magazine, July 1, 2013
But something about the windup to the 2013-14 school year feels different: hints of a two-tier system, that will mean that public school students whose parents who can’t pay will get less.
INDIANA
Don’t put much credence in CREDO study results
Letter by Jeanne Allen
NW Times, July 2, 2013
While it’s gratifying to read the June 25 headline, “Nationwide charter school study finds overall performance improvement,” it’s also disconcerting. The study, from a group called CREDO, is anything but charter school performance gospel.
Pence names choice proponent to be education aide
Journal Gazette, July 2, 2013
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says an education veteran “dedicated to bringing choice and opportunity to Indiana families” will be responsible for implementing his policies for K-12 and higher education.
KC STEMM Academy closes
Palladium-Item, July 1, 2013
The Kenneth A. Christmon STEMM Academy of Richmond closed its doors Monday after a last-ditch attempt to keep the charter school open appears to have failed.
Operators of takeover schools worry about funding
Chesterton Tribune, July 1, 2013
Private companies that were hired to run five Indiana schools taken over by the state for poor performance say they might not be able to continue because of funding concerns.
LOUISIANA
Teachers union sues state for $200 million; second $65 million suit possible
Times-Picayune, July 1, 2013
The Louisiana Association of Educators and several local teachers associations have filed a class-action suit charging that the state owes local school boards $199 million as a result of the Louisiana Supreme Court decision striking down part of the state’s voucher law.
MAINE
Maine bill would free school aid without approval by voters
Portland Press Herald, July 2, 2013
Democratic lawmakers are trying to rally support for a bill that would let Maine school districts spend $29 million that was included unexpectedly in the state budget without opening the polls to get voters’ approval.
MICHIGAN
School district crises outpace remedies under Mich. emergency manager law
Detroit News, July 2, 2013
The state’s controversial emergency manager law is proving too slow to deal with some school financial crises, a situation that has forced the Legislature to take increasingly drastic measures that it may expand in the future.
MISSISSIPPI
Naming charter school board leader, members a thorny issue
Opinion
Clarion Ledger, July 2, 2013
And now the wait begins. With the July 1 effective date for Mississippi’s expanded charter school law, the next step is to nominate seven members of the Charter School Authorizing Board.
NEW YORK
Candidates Called to Task on Schools
Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2013
Former New York City schools chancellor Joel Klein plans to insert himself into the mayoral race Tuesday in a speech that fiercely defends the Bloomberg administration’s school policies while accusing most candidates of a “complete lack of courage” on education.
NORTH CAROLINA
Class action suit filed against New Hanover school board
Star News, July 1, 2013
A new lawsuit alleges that the New Hanover County Board of Education and school boards across the state have violated charter school students’ constitutional rights.
OHIO
On the road to reform
Editorial
Columbus Dispatch, July 2, 2013
With the passage last week of House Bill 167, Ohio lawmakers have given voters in the Columbus City Schools the opportunity to bring historic reform to a district in dire need of it.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma to drop testing consortium, develop own tests, Barresi says
Tulsa World, July 2, 2013
State Superintendent Janet Barresi announced Monday that she is withdrawing Oklahoma from testing through a consortium of 20 or so other states to coincide with the new Common Core curriculum standards.
PENNSYLVANIA
This study of charter school scores is flawed
Letter by Jeanne Allen
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 2, 2013
It’s disheartening to read the June 26 headline “Study: Pa. in Bottom Three for Charter School Scores,” especially when the study is so flawed. The study, from a group called Center for Research on Education Outcomes, or CREDO, is anything but charter school performance gospel.
CUSD looking to enroll new students
Delaware County Times, July 2, 2013
The Chester Upland School District is slated to close Main Street Elementary School and the Chester Upland School of the Arts unless the district increases its student enrollment by about 300 students.
Propel’s success
Letter
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 2, 2013
The Post-Gazette’s recent coverage of a report on charter school performance (“Study: Pa. in Bottom Three for Charter School Scores,” June 26) left out a significant local angle.
TENNESSEE
School board struggles to find footing in post-Great Hearts reality
Nashville City Paper, June 30, 2013
Baptized in political controversy that spanned the better part of a year, members of the Metro Nashville school board are trying to reset the conversation.
UTAH
George Washington Academy named top school
St. George Daily Spectrum, July 1, 2013
Based on its students’ high academic achievement, quality education and strong mission statement, George Washington Academy in St. George has been named the school of the year by the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools.
VIRGINIA
Suffolk math teacher bonuses could add up
The Virginian-Pilot, July 2, 2013
Math teachers in the city’s three public high schools could earn as much as $5,000 in extra pay under a proposal the division plans to submit to the state.
McDonnell sketches next steps on school takeover law
Daily Progress, July 1, 2013
As legislation creating a statewide school division to take over failing schools hit the books in Virginia Monday, Gov. Bob McDonnell said the state would begin recruiting a director.
WISCONSIN
Finally, merit pay gets going
Editorial
Beloit Daily News, July 1, 2013
For years we have supported the notion of merit pay for educators as a way to improve the public school system. The concept generally ran into opposition across the country from teachers unions, which instead negotiated one-size-fits-all pay plans based on longevity and training. Those were leveling plans, in which the best teachers were paid the same as the worst teachers.
Walker says he’ll demand results from private school vouchers
Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 1, 2013
Gov. Scott Walker said Monday he will use test scores, graduation rates and other measuring sticks to gauge the success of an expanded private school voucher program in Green Bay and elsewhere.
ONLINE LEARNING
Schools focus on extended learning
Portsmouth Herald, July 2, 2013
The Exeter High School Summer Institute is an example of a growing trend in education; an Extended Learning Opportunity, or ELO.
Business interests influencing education laws in Virginia, report says
Washington Post, July 1, 2013
Education policies approved in Virginia over the past four years to establish virtual schools and give businesses tax credits for needy students to attend private schools are among many laws that have been promoted by a conservative advocacy group that represents business interests, according to a study released last week.
Planning for new education technology will be a challenge
Editorial
Jackson Sun, July 2, 2013
Jackson-Madison County school Superintendent Dr. Verna Ruffin moves into her new role as the head of our school system this week. We join with others in the community in welcoming her and offering support as she guides our school system and our students into the future. One of the biggest challenges she faces is to plan for our school system’s technological future.
Plans finalized for iCademy in Zeeland
Holland Sentinel, July 2, 2013
More plans have been finalized for iCademy Global, a nonprofit, cyber charter school set to open this fall.
Cambridge Lakes group withdraws virtual charter school plan
Northwest Herald, July 1, 2013
Northern Kane Educational Corp. has scrapped its plans to create a virtual charter school and avoided a debate with District 300 over the merits of a state prohibition on virtual charters.
3D virtual charter school trying to come to South Carolina
WPDE, July 1, 2013
A group called Noble Virtual School wants to bring a new, online, three dimensional charter school to South Carolina.
School technology program scheduled to get under way
Idaho State Journal, July 2, 2013
Officials representing 11 Gem State schools will begin the process of placing more technology into the classroom as part of the Idaho Technology Pilot Program of which the Idaho Legislature established earlier this year.