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
‘Day of Action’ rally demands more funding, new reform agenda priorities
PBS News, December 9, 2013
Thousands of teachers and students are rallying in cities across the nation Monday for the National Day of Action, a movement organized by the American Federation of Teachers union that seeks to reclaim their vision of the nation’s public education system.
STATE COVERAGE
ARIZONA
Arizona school districts gaming charter system to get more funds
Goldwater Institute, December 9, 2013
The number of public district-run charter schools in Arizona is increasing at an unprecedented rate as many districts try to boost their budgets without offering students new educational options, a forthcoming report by the Goldwater Institute reveals.
CALIFORNIA
Report: In Silicon Valley, ‘successful’ schools fail poor and English-learning students
San Jose Mercury News, CA, December 9, 2013
Silicon Valley public schools are largely failing poor students and English learners, a report issued Monday asserts, indicating that even schools in wealthy neighborhoods perceived to be highly successful are inadequately preparing these students, considered the hardest to educate.
Teachers protest L.A. Unified’s process for misconduct investigations
Los Angeles Times, CA, December 10, 2013
Critics say district’s approach to misconduct allegations presumes guilt and results in dismissal for even small infractions.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray faces hostile crowd in debate on education
Washington Post, DC, December 9, 2013
D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) chose a debate on education Monday night to make his campaign debut alongside council members, a restaurant owner, a former State Department official and others trying to keep him from a second term.
GEORGIA
School districts face flexibility decision
Rockdale News, GA, December 10, 2013
In just under two years from now, Rockdale County Public Schools can choose to become a charter school system as the deadline approaches for mandates under a 2008 state law.
ILLINOIS
Broken bonds: The school edition
Editorial, Chicago Tribune, IL, December 10, 2013
You couldn’t ask for a better — or more infuriating — explanation for the financial implosion of Chicago Public Schools than Sunday’s installment of the Tribune’s “Broken Bonds” series.
KENTUCKY
School-choice critics intimidate but won’t debate
Opinion, News Democrat Leader, KY, December 9, 2013
Then there is the closed-minded leadership of the Kentucky Education Association, Jefferson County Teachers Association, Kentucky School Boards Association and Kentucky Association of School Superintendents who, when it comes to school choice, won’t even question that much.
LOUISIANA
Groups petition for return of New Orleans school from Recovery School District
Times-Picayune, LA, December 9, 2013
New Orleans education groups are starting a petition to get the Recovery School District to return Sarah T. Reed High School in eastern New Orleans to local control.
MAINE
Bangor council extends charter school ban another 180 days, OKs downtown apartment development
Bangor Daily News, ME, December 9, 2013
The Bangor City Council banned charter schools from setting up in the city for another 180 days during a meeting Monday night.
MISSOURI
Missouri’s chief educator is a lightning rod in reform efforts
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, December 10, 2013
Missouri’s top education official is increasingly becoming a flash point as the state wrestles with how to address its most troubled schools.
Mo.’s biggest school district wants to make high school tougher
St. Louis Post-Gazette, MO, December 9, 2013
The Springfield school district is discussing how to make high school more challenging, with a goal of improving the students’ chances of succeeding after graduation.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Tax Credit Scholarships Set to Change in N.H.
Valley News, NH, December 10, 2013
A statement released today by the Department of Revenue Administration will change the way scholarships are handed out under the education tax credit law next year.
NEW JERSEY
New era of cooperation in Newark schools gives way to animosity
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, December 10, 2013
One year after celebrated signing of teacher contract, national union president charges officials have reneged on promises
NEW YORK
One-year renewal linked to charter school transfers
Letter, Buffalo News, NY, December 10, 2013
The Dec. 5 story on charter school transfers (465 students have transferred to Buffalo public schools from charters in the past four months) missed some important context.
Teacher’s union says property tax cap caused achievement gap
Legislative Gazette, NY, December 9, 2013
A new analysis by the New York State United Teachers shows the wealthiest 10 percent of New York state school districts spend 80 percent more on student education costs than the state’s poorest 10 percent of districts.
Teacher’s union says property tax cap caused achievement gap
Legislative Gazette, NY, December 9, 2013
A new analysis by the New York State United Teachers shows the wealthiest 10 percent of New York state school districts spend 80 percent more on student education costs than the state’s poorest 10 percent of districts.
United Federation of Teachers boss praises Bill de Blasio’s school chancellor candidates
New York Daily News, NY, December 10, 2013
The head of the city’s teachers union offered his stamp of approval for most of the names mentioned as candidates being considered for schools chancellor under Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio.
NORTH CAROLINA
Eight N.C. Schools Up for Charter Renewals
WUNC, NC, December 9, 2013
Representatives of the schools will present in front of the newly formed Charter School Advisory Board today and Tuesday to address concerns that the board might have regarding the schools’ fulfillment of academic and fiscal standards.
Policy Changes Considered to Help Special Needs Children in the Classroom
WFDD, NC, December 9, 2013
School choice including charter schools, magnet schools and private schools are options for many families in North Carolina. But as the state’s education landscape continues to change, many parents with special needs children are facing major challenges.
PENNSYLVANIA
Bethlehem schools hear pitch for military style science charter school
Allentown Morning Call, PA, December 9, 2013
Smith went before the Bethlehem Area School Board on Monday with his proposal for the Advanced Military Aerospace Science Academy. The charter high school would emphasize a science and math curriculum and require every student to take part in a JROTC program.
Bill would create teacher tax credit for out-of-pocket spending on school supplies
Patriot News, PA, December 9, 2013
Walk into any Pennsylvania classroom and you’re bound to find students using items that were purchased by their teacher who paid for them out of pocket, said veteran Harrisburg School District teacher Rich Askey.
Public-school rally targets Corbett
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, December 10, 2013
“Hey hey, ho, Tom Corbett has got to go,” about 100 people outside Gov. Corbett’s Philadelphia office chanted on a wind-whipped afternoon Monday.
Rough road: Pittsburgh’s schools have tough choices to make
Editorial, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA
December 10, 2013
Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent Linda Lane doesn’t sugarcoat the problems confronting her district.
Bethlehem schools hear pitch for military style science charter school
Allentown Morning Call, PA, December 9, 2013
Next year, East Penn School District might have to rethink its policy of largely allowing parents to send their children to the schools of their choice within the district so long as the parent provides transportation, officials said.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Patrick unveils teacher-quality legislation, hints at possible superintendent run
Island Packet, SC, December 9, 2013
State Rep. Andy Patrick of Hilton Head Island said Monday he is “exploring the idea” of a run for state superintendent of education.
WEST VIRGINIA
Teachers union leader, House speaker question school testing
Charleston Gazette, WV, December 10, 2013
West Virginia teachers union leader and the House of Delegates speaker said Monday that students’ aren’t being educated as well as they should be because they’re forced to take more and more tests.
ONLINE LEARNING
Cyber Charter opening resource center
Delaware County Daily Times, PA, December 9, 2013
Achievement House Cyber Charter School is opening a second resource center within the Chester Upland School District to accommodate local students enrolled in the cyber program.