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
Some states see costs spike with Common Core tests
The Politico, July 22, 2013
About half the states in one testing group using controversial Common Core standards will spend more than they already do on their current exams, new figures released Monday show.
Teachers chief: Bad teachers should find new jobs
Associated Press, July 22, 2013
Teachers who aren’t up to snuff shouldn’t be in classrooms and should find new professions, the head of the 1.5 million member American Federation of Teachers head said Monday.
FROM THE STATES
ARIZONA
Tucson-area districts increasingly move to convert schools to charters
Arizona Daily Star, July 22, 2013
Arizona has seen an unprecedented surge in school districts wanting to convert some of their schools to charters.
CALIFORNIA
Closure of seven Sacramento schools upheld
Sacramento Bee, July 23, 2013
A federal judge on Monday denied a bid by parents seeking to prevent Sacramento City Unified from closing seven elementary campuses.
FLORIDA
School grade ‘safety net’ opens new rifts
Miami Herald, July 22, 2013
The state Board of Education’s decision last week to inflate school grades for a second year was widely praised by parents and educators, but it also exposed a hard-to-miss rift between the closest allies of former Gov. Jeb Bush and those who back Gov. Rick Scott.
No ‘new zero’ grading system at Orange high schools raises questions
Orlando Sentinel, July 21, 2013
Starting this fall, high-school teachers in Orange County will be more forgiving when they grade struggling students.
Republican-backed bill to change No Child Left Behind panned by education leaders
Orlando Sentinel, July 22, 2013
ESEA renewal panned by Sec. Arne Duncan.
GEORGIA
Georgia decides against Common Core test
Atlanta Journal Constitution, July 22, 2013
Georgia leaders announced today that the state will not offer a new and expensive standardized test tied to the controversial set of national standards known as Common Core.
Blog: Federal funds no panacea for struggling schools
Atlanta Journal Constitution, July 22, 2013
Many people believe that more money is not an assurance that schools will improve.
KENTUCKY
Proposed academy won’t open in 2014
Lexington Dispatch, July 23, 2013
Charter school proponents say they’ll try again.
LOUISIANA
5th Circuit Dismisses part of state’s appeal in voucher suit
The Advocate, July 23, 2013
The US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday partially dismissed the state Department of Education’s appeal of a November injunction that halted the state’s voucher program in Tangipahoa Parish.
Lafayette Considers Charter Schools
The Advocate, July 23, 2013
A charter school has never been approved in Lafayette Parish, but that may be about to change.
MARYLAND
Grade changes investigated in city schools
Baltimore Sun, July 22, 2013
Baltimore school officials are investigating allegations at a middle school that dozens of students were given passing grades so they could move on to the next grade, even though their teachers had given them failing marks.
MICHIGAN
State of Michigan clears way to dissolve Inkster, Buena Vista schools
The Detroit News, July 22, 2013
Two Michigan school districts will disappear and their students will be scattered.
Back-to-school supplies cost is up, parents tightening purse strings
MLive.com, July 23, 2013
While the cost of school supplies is up from 2012, families are expected to spend less than they did last year.
MISSOURI
Educators, community leaders call for unity for St. Louis County school districts
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 23, 2013
More than 1,000 people, nearly all African-American, packed a north St. Louis County gym Monday night to show support for one another in dealing with the problems of the unaccredited Normandy and Riverview Gardens school districts and issues of student transfers.
NEW JERSEY
Only six charter schools get go-ahead to begin classes next fall
NJ Spotlight, July 22, 2013
Two others, in Camden and Atlantic, are found lacking and fail to win final approval.
NEW YORK
City Loses Millions in Teacher Training Funds
WNYC, July 22, 2013
Yet another impasse over the teacher evaluation system coming to all New York City schools this fall has caused the city to lose $15 million meant to help school staff implement the complex plan.
NORTH CAROLINA
Teachers say NC lawmakers are forsaking education
News & Observer, July 23, 2013
Teachers on Monday said cuts in the state budget released Sunday amount to the legislators forsaking education.
Proposal of vouchers for special needs students moves forward
News & Observer, July 23, 2013
Arguments over a bill that would give tax money to private schools that enroll children with disabilities offered a preview of the debate brewing over a broader measure that would give private school vouchers to thousands of students.”
Teachers group to mount legal challenge to budget proposal
WRAL-Online, July 22, 2013
A little more than 12 hours after House and Senate negotiators announced a budget deal, the North Carolina Association of Educators announced plans Monday to try to block key provisions in the $20.6 billion spending plan.
OHIO
Columbus schools’ interim chief to ax high level positions
Columbus Dispatch, July 23, 2013
Interim Superintendent Daniel Good intends to cut up to eight high-level management positions to save $1.5 million a year for Columbus city schools.
Public educators cut out of online charter school franchise
Akron Beacon Journal, July 23, 2013
The Ohio Department of Education this month flunked itself on an application to oversee an online charter school.
School voucher programs expand, giving Ohio more programs than any other state
Cleveland Plain-Dealer, July 22, 2013
Up to 2,000 Ohio kindergartners from low-income families will be able to use state vouchers for private school tuition this fall, thanks to a provision in the state budget approved last month.
PENNSYLVANIA
Unions join in push for charter change
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 23, 2013
Some of Philadelphia’s biggest unions and their political allies came together Monday in an unusual show of solidarity against a common enemy: Mayor Nutter.
Catholic mission school gets grant for online, in-class teaching
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 23, 2013
One of Philadelphia’s new independent Catholic mission schools has won a grant to incorporate individualized online instruction into its classes.
Former Allentown Racquetball Club could become charter school
Morning Call, July 22, 2013
Thomas Lubben, founder of two other charter schools, announces plans for charter elementary school.
TENNESSEE
Nashville schools rethink calendar after sessions during breaks were a bust
Tennessean, July 20, 2013
Sparse attendance and a lack of funds are forcing some Middle Tennessee school systems to rethink the breaks they have set aside in the fall and spring for academic camps.
WISCONSIN
Seattle district forms new department focused on building, maintaining schools
Seattle Times, July 22, 2013
Seattle Public Schools is creating a new department of capital, facilities, and enrollment planning.
Cedar River Academy Prepares Charter School Application
Enumclaw Patch, July 22, 2013
Cedar River Academy in Enumclaw is asking community members to voice their support for the formation of a Public Charter School.
ONLINE LEARNING
Broward School Board to vote on renewing deal with K-12
Miami Herald, July 23, 2013
The Broward School Board is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a one year contract renewal with K-12, a for profit virtual learning company that has been dogged by complaints from other districts.