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
House GOP Passes Education Bill to Reverse No Child Left Behind
Washington Post, July 19, 2013
Title I Funding Would Follow Students to Charters Under US House Bill
Education Week, July 19, 2013
The US House of Representatives today passed its version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, including an amendment that will allow Title I funds to flow to charter schools, after two days of debate.
US Schools Chief Arne Duncan Labors to Straddle Political Divide
Wall Street Journal, July 21, 2013
Education Secretary Arne Duncan was riding to the airport in a black government SUV last week, working his cellphone to try to save a plan to reduce interest rates on new student loans that is expected to face a vote in the Senate as early as Tuesday.
Why do schools hide exams from parents?
Washington Post, July 21, 2013
Some education issues never appear in political debates, op-ed pages or blue-ribbon commission reports. That doesn’t make them any less irritating. Take, for instance, the widespread reluctance to let students take exams home after they are marked and graded.
STATE COVERAGE
COLORADO
Adams 12 changing budget practice, finding millions in underspending
Denver Post, July 22, 2013
After a year of deflecting accusations of questionable and unethical budget practices, Adams 12 Five Star Schools officials say they are changing the way they develop district budgets.
CONNECTICUT
Change Agent in Education Collects Critics in Connecticut Town
New York Times, July 22, 2013
Paul G. Vallas, a leader in the effort to shake up American education, has wrestled with unions in Chicago, taken on hurricane-ravaged schools in New Orleans and confronted a crumbling educational system in Haiti.
ILLINOIS
City Schools Poised to feel impact
Chicago Tribune, July 20, 2013
The fallout from the Chicago Public Schools’ decision to lay off almost 3,000 teachers and school-based staff will be felt citywide when classes resume next month.
LOUISIANA
Robert R. Moton Charter School in New Orleans holds ground-breaking for new school
Times-Picayune, July 21, 2013
A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Robert Russa Moton Charter School was held July 17.
Testing 3- and 4- year olds is newest front in Louisiana school accountability
Times-Picayune, July 21, 2013
Louisiana is pushing school accountability a step further.
MARYLAND
MSDE finds violations in Carroll autism program
Baltimore Sun, July 19, 2013
The Maryland State Department of Education has found Carroll County Public Schools in violation of missing deadline for students’ Individualized Education Programs.
MASSACHUSETTS
State takes action against Salem Community Charter School
The Salem News, July 22, 2013
Commissioner of Education Mitchell Chester has taken administrative action against the Salem Community Charter School due to serious concerns about its management.
Despite facing financial and attendance hurdles, Catholic schools remain upbeat
Herald News
Holy Name Parish Center School Principal Patricia Wardell said she is “absolutely” certain that Catholic education will continue to be viable in the city.
MINNESOTA
Duluth teachers seek more pay for increased workload
Duluth News Tribune, July 22, 2013
The Duluth teachers union is attempting to lower class sizes through contract negotiations.
MISSOURI
Legislator, Francis Howell board member spar amid transfer controversy
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 18, 2013
An escalating dispute between a state legislator and a Francis Howell School Board member has added to the ongoing controversy over the transfer of students from the unaccredited Normandy district.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NH OKs opening of three new charter schools
Union-Leader, July 21, 2013
The state’s Board of Education has given the green light to open three new charter schools, and will hear a presentation next month from a group looking to establish a fourth.
NEW JERSEY
Newark’s School Chief Is Up For Her Next Performance Bonus
NJ Spotlight, July 22, 2013
Cami Anderson’s contract enters third year of potentially earning extra pay of as much as $50,000.
NEW MEXICO
NM Public Education Dept. defends grading system
The Deming Headlight, July 21, 2013
State legislators question reliance on standardized tests to rate schools.
NORTH CAROLINA
Proposed NC budget would end teacher tenure, pay tuition vouchers
News & Observer, July 22, 2013
Legislators are set to vote on a historic $20.6 billion budget this week that would have the state take a giant step toward further privatization of education.
OHIO
Editorial: Schools to see challenge, educators face stiffer measures of effectiveness in coming year
Columbus Post Dispatch, July 21, 2013
Summer is racing past and a new school year looms. Students, families, teachers, principals and other school officials will have beg changes intended to improve learning and accountability.
PENNSYLVANIA
Grading Our Schools: Line Mtn. focuses on individual improvement
News Item
Line Mountain Junior-Senior did not make adequate yearly progress in the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing in 2011-12.
PA Has New Teacher, Principal Evaluation System
WRTA-Online, July 22, 2013
School may be out for summer, but across Pennsylvania districts are gearing up for a new teacher evaluation system that takes student performance into account.
TENNESSEE
Opinion: Teacher pay should not be performance based
The Tennessean, July 21, 2013
Teacher performance pay will not bring desired results.
TEXAS
Blog: When we pay our coaches the most, students get the wrong idea
Huffington Post, July 20, 2013
Given the number of people involved in important public sector jobs, I was simply stunned when I came across this graphic in Tod Robberson’s blog in the Dallas Morning News.
WISCONSIN
Parents eager to apply for school vouchers
Green Bay Press Gazette, July 20, 2013
Mary Rehberg recognizes there’s not much chance her family will receive one of the 500 private school vouchers the state will hand out next month, but she is still planning to apply for one.
WYOMING
Hill accusees Wyo state senator of $4 million conflict of interest
Star Tribune, July 22, 2013
State Sen, Phil Nicholas says his efforts to secure a $4 million appropriation for the Snow Range Academy to buy a new building aren’t a conflict of interest, even though the charter school is a client of his law firm.
ONLINE LEARNING
Milford schools anticipate online learning with new policy
New Haven Register, July 21, 2013
Anticipating a growth in online course offerings, the Board of Education passed its first policy governing such classes.
Schools in Keaau, Pahoa Chosen for Digital-Based Learning Program
Big Island Now, July 19, 2013
Two Big Island schools have been chosen to take part in a program designed around a new digital-based curriculum.
Saginaw School District starts online program to attract home-schooled students
MLive, July 18, 2013
Saginaw School District officials are hoping to attract more students by going digital.