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NATIONAL COVERAGE
Scott urges more local control over education spending
Detroit Free Press, July 9, 2013
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of Charleston used his maiden speech on the Senate floor Monday to promote more local control over public education, the focus of the first piece of education-related legislation he is co-sponsoring.
STATE COVERAGE
CALIFORNIA
Judge lets controversial Oakland schools stay open
San Francisco Chronicle, July 8, 2013
Three controversial Oakland charter schools will be allowed to stay open during a months-long appeal to the state Board of Education, an Alameda County Superior Court judge ruled Monday.
FLORIDA
Charter school going to year-round schedule
Gainesville Sun, July 9, 2013
So long for summer; see you in September? Not at the One Room School House, Gainesville’s oldest charter school.
Charter school seeks out Jefferson
Tallahassee Democrat, July 9, 2013
The operator of a South Florida charter school made a pitch to the Jefferson County School Board Monday.
Voucher Program Growing Rapidly, Report Shows
Sunshine State News, July 9, 2013
The state’s voucher-like system that allows students to attend private schools experienced record enrollment growth in the 2012-13 school year, according to a state report, and a spokesman said the program expects to add even more students for the upcoming year.
WPB pushes to be district’s first city-run charter school
Sun Sentinel, July 8, 2013
Alarmed by their students’ poor reading scores, West Palm Beach commissioners have taken the first steps to open the first city-run charter in Palm Beach County.
GEORGIA
Students can exercise school choice with transfers
Newton Citizen, July 8, 2013
Some students may be able to transfer to a different school than their zoned one next school year under a state law.
ILLINOIS
More than 1 million respond to first statewide education survey
Chicago Tribune, July 9, 2013
More than 1.1 million students, teachers and parents filled out Illinois’ first statewide education survey, offering an unprecedented peek into thousands of classrooms.
District 300 charter school operator accused of discrimination
Chicago Daily Herald, July 8, 2013
A former principal at Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove accused school operators of discrimination when they fired her in October 2011.
LOUISIANA
Zoning board blocks school
Monroe News Star, July 8, 2013
Excellence Academy Charter School spokesman the Rev. Roosevelt Wright said Monday the charter school will exhaust all legal measures to ensure its Sept. 30 opening despite a denial by the Monroe’s Board of Adjustments.
Lafayette charter school application being reviewed
The Advocate, July 8, 2013
A local nonprofit group’s application to open a charter school in Lafayette Parish may depend upon how well its students in St. Landry Parish did on state standardized tests.
Charter assoc. plans training seminars for boards
WXVT, July 8, 2013
With charter schools increasing their presence in public education in recent years, an organization that supports charters is holding training sessions for members of the boards that govern the schools.
MASSACHUSETTS
Room to spare in city schools — so make better use of it
Editorial
Boston Globe, July 9, 2013
Boston’s public schools are strapped for space at the elementary school level and swimming in seats at the upper grades where several high schools, including the Jeremiah Burke and English High, are operating at less than 50 percent capacity.
Michigan schools chief proposes consolidating services to save districts money
Detroit News, July 9, 2013
Michigan’s schools chief on Monday proposed countywide consolidation of business and educational support services for local school districts in an effort to save millions of dollars that could be redirected to classrooms.
NEVADA
Supes need to support new campus for Yuba River Charter School
Letter
The Union of Grass Valley, July 8, 2013
The Nevada County Board of Supervisors needs to support the new campus for Yuba River Charter School at its July 16 meeting. A few neighbors to the project on Adams Avenue and Rough and Ready Highway have appealed the planning commission’s recommendation.
NEW JERSEY
Appeals Court Upholds State Control of Newark Schools
New Jersey Spotlight, July 9, 2013
A state appellate court yesterday gave a big boost to the Christie administration – and future administrations – when it comes to control of the state’s most troubled school districts.
Christie wins endorsement of black ministers, who call for school vouchers
Star-Ledger, July 8, 2013
Gov. Chris Christie’s strong support of school vouchers today earned him the endorsement of Bishop Reginald Jackson, one of New Jersey’s most influential black ministers.
NORTH CAROLINA
Charter school bill changes pass NC House
Daily Reflector, July 9, 2013
A bill creating more rules to govern a growing number of public charter schools in North Carolina but omitting the creation of a powerful panel to oversee them has passed the House.
PENNSYLVANIA
Recruiting visits aim to attract charter students back to York City schools
York Dispatch, July 8, 2013
Seven people focused their eyes on the door of a Hartley Street home, waiting to see if someone would respond to an enthusiastic knock.
TENNESSEE
Haslam stands by beleaguered education chief
The Tennessean, July 9, 2013
Gov. Bill Haslam defended his top education adviser amid a petition drive calling for his ouster.
VIRGINIA
Richmond School Board approves 5-year charter school renewal
Richmond Post-Dispatch, July 9, 2013
Patrick Henry is in better shape than ever. On an 8-0 vote Monday, the Richmond School Board approved a five-year renewal of the agreement allowing the city’s only charter school to operate.
WISCONSIN
School districts banter merit pay
Coeur d’Alene Press, July 9, 2013
School districts must submit plans to the state by Oct. 1 on how they plan to divvy up “differential pay” funds to employees based on student achievement results.
A huge tax break for rich kids at private schools
Opinion
Capital Times, July 9, 2013
The new state income tax deduction for parents of private school children is the most generous in the nation, according to Governing Magazine, a respected national publication covering state and local government.
WYOMING
Wyoming delays request for No Child waiver
Casper Star-Tribune, July 9, 2013
Wyoming is holding off a year in its request for a waiver that allows the state relief from the federal No Child Left Behind Act in exchange for state educational reform efforts, because the state isn’t ready to meet the waiver’s required timeline.
ONLINE LEARNING
Virtual board’s 1st meeting tonight
The Recorder, July 9, 2013
The five-member board that will run Greenfield’s cyber school from now on will meet officially for the first time tonight at 6 at the Greenfield School Department’s administrative offices on Davis Street.
Online academy graduates six Tucson students
Arizona Daily Star Blog, July 8, 2013
A group of Tucson area high school students received their diplomas from an online learning program based in Gilbert last week.