Click here for Newswire, 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
Lawmakers Question Education Research’s Usefulness
Education Week, US, September 19, 2013
Congress debates usefulness of federal education research to streamline process in context of cutting down budget.
National leaders meet in Miami to discuss early education for Hispanics
Miami Herald, FL, September 18, 2013
National education leaders meet to discuss expansion of early learning programs for Hispanic children.
STATE COVERAGE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
KIPP DC, Two Rivers charters to lease shuttered District schools in Northeast
Washington Post, DC, September 18, 2013
Two high performing charter schools will lease shuttered DC school buildings in Northeast.
Opinion: Louisiana school voucher fight: Justice Dept vs poor kids
Washington Times, DC, September 19, 2013
Department of Justice lawsuit in Louisiana sets education reform backward.
GEORGIA
Getting it wrong: Can we trust the accuracy of tests?
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, September 18, 2013
The reliability of tests is becoming a critical question as students, schools and teachers are being held to higher and higher accountability.
ILLINOIS
$17 million at Peyton Prep planned
Chicago Tribune, IL, September 19, 2013
$17 million addition could create up to 400 new seats at one of Chicago’s top high schools.
Non-tenured CPS teachers rated under new system
Chicago Tribune, IL, September 18, 2013
For the first time, Chicago Public Schools released teacher evaluations based in part on student test scores, no striking changes from previous year.
LOUISIANA
East Jefferson, West Bank schools receive service-learning grants
Times-Picayune, LA, September 18, 2013
Foundation distributes grant to schools for community service projects.
MICHIGAN
Amid growth of Michigan charter schools, teachers often less experienced
Detroit News, MI
September 19, 2013
Teachers at Michigan’s 298 charter schools average three years of experience, part of a growing trend.
Pontiac district OKs consent agreement, avoids EM
Detroit News, MI, September 19, 2013
School district reaches agreement with state to deal with financial emergency, avoiding emergency manager.
MISSOURI
State school board seeks $6.8 million for Normandy
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, September 18, 2013
School district seeks funds as it experiences mass migration of students into better districts.
NEW JERSEY
State funnels $1M to Schools Ranked Lowest for performance, achievement
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ
State education department gives out grants to low-performing schools, aimed at helping students with disabilities.
NEW MEXICO
APS to City Council: Butt Out
Albuquerque News Journal, NM, September 18, 2013
Public school system criticizes City Council decision to limit funding for school infrastructure projects.
NEW YORK
Bronx partnership aims to build parent-engagement skills
Education Week, US, September 19, 2013
Local college begins program for parents to be more active in child’s education and school, more able to help children academically, behaviorally and socially.
NORTH CAROLINA
McCrory checks in on group revamping NC education
News & Observer, NC, September 18, 2013
Gov. Pat McCrory met with education leaders working to streamline state’s education system, encourage cooperation with state education budget.
Students seek to complete GEDs before test changes
News & Observer, NC, September 18, 2013
New computer based GED to launch in January based on Common Core standards, also will be more expensive.
OHIO
School levy ‘has a shot’ Coleman says
Columbus Dispatch, OH, September 18, 2013
Possibility of property tax increases to fund school districts this election cycle.
OKLAHOMA
State chamber seeks to push school choice through new nonprofit
Tulsa World, OK, September 18, 2013
Chamber seeks funds to recruit education reform advocate to push for and manage school choice program.
PENNSYLVANIA
Teacher to Corbett, Nutter: Try my job for an hour
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, September 19, 2013
Teacher challenges in a letter to elected officials to try teaching economically disadvantaged third grade students.
Washington School to be charter site in Penn Hills
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, September 19, 2013
School council approves application to convert local school facility to charter school.
TENNESSEE
Most school superintendents opt not to sign letter criticizing TN education chief
The Tennesean, TN, September 19, 2013
A majority of Tennessee school chiefs opted not to join their colleagues in publicly criticizing beleaguered Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman.
VIRGINIA
Fairfax teacher workforce grows over five years
Washington Post, DC, September 18, 2013
Fairfax County hired fewer teachers this year than in years past.
Gov. McDonnell visits Virginia Beach charter school
Virginian Pilot, VA, September 19, 2013
Governor visits charter school in effort to advocate for charter sector expansion statewide.
ONLINE LEARNING
No More Books: High School goes all digital
Detroit Free Press, MI, September 18, 2013
New York high school becomes one of first schools in the country to fully switch to a “digital library.”
Orleans Parish School Board approves city’s first blended-learning charter
Times-Picayune, LA, September 18, 2013
The joint venture education model combines in-person and online coursework.