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
Rep. George Miller, leading Democratic voice on education, set to retire
Washington Post, DC, January 13, 2014
Rep. George Miller’s decision to retire after 40 years in Congress, coming after the announced retirement of Sen. Tom Harkin (Iowa), means Democrats will lose their two strongest congressional leaders on education issues at the end of the year.
Weingarten slams teacher evaluation by student test scores
Washington Post Blog, DC, January 13, 2014
Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, the country’s second largest teachers union, has been a supporter of the Common Core State Standards for a long time but she has expressed concern in the last year over the way the standards are being implemented, saying that the rollout was “far worse” than the HealthCare.gov website.
When federalism meets Cantor’s voucher push
MSNBC, January 13, 2014
Last year, the Republican National Committee’s “autopsy” was light on policy prescriptions, but one measure was mentioned repeatedly: “school choice.”
STATE COVERAGE
ALABAMA
Selma City Schools responds amid danger of state takeover
WSFA, AL, January 13, 2014
Alabama School Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice is not happy with the Selma City Board of Education, and strongly suggested last Thursday that the state will take over if things don’t get better in a hurry. Dr. Bice made remarks after the state school board work session.
ALASKA
Alaska group criticizes schools rating system
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK, January 14, 2014
The Alaska Policy Forum released its own ratings for each school in the Fairbanks North Star Borough last week, decrying the state’s own school rating system.
CALIFORNIA
Parent-trigger opponents plead not guilty to vandalizing Adelanto school
San Bernardino Sun, CA, January 13, 2014
Two Adelanto mothers bitterly opposed to their elementary school being handed over to a charter school operator last summer under the state’s parent-trigger law pleaded not guilty to vandalizing a classroom days before the handoff was set to take place.
State education officials to vote on school funding reform
Visalia Times-Delta, CA, January 13, 2014
After months of sometimes angry debate, California education officials are set to take up rules this week aimed at making good on Gov. Jerry Brown’s promise to invest in the state’s future by overhauling how public schools are funded and directing more money to the neediest students.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Training is important, but all new teachers need on-the-job help
Washington Post Blog, DC, January 13, 2014
In the first two parts of this series, we surveyed various routes to teacher certificationand discussed the challenges of learning to manage a classroom. New teachers also need targeted coaching, opportunities to collaborate with and observe experienced teachers, and help with lesson-planning.
FLORIDA
Once a priority, ‘parent trigger’ idea no longer figures in group’s education agenda
Tampa Bay Times, FL, January 14, 2014
A national advocacy group that in recent years has pressured Florida lawmakers to adopt the controversial “parent trigger” school takeover plan will not push that initiative again in 2014.
State set to tweak learning standards
Tallahassee Democrat, FL, January 14, 2014
From requiring fourth-graders to master cursive writing to re-codifying learning requirements for calculus, Florida’s education department has proposed dozens of changes to the Common Core State Standards, which the state adopted in 2010.
GEORGIA
Atlanta school board changes legislative priorities
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, January 13, 2014
The newly elected Atlanta Board of Education on Monday voted against asking state lawmakers to make all schools proportionately share financial liabilities — language that was aimed at having charter schools contribute to pension debts.
ILLINOIS
Nonprofit seeks charter legislation support from school boards
Courier News, IL, January 13, 2014
A nonprofit coalition of unions, community organizations and faith-based groups is making the rounds asking administrators and school board members from 18 local districts to support legislation that would disband the state charter school commission.
INDIANA
Lawmakers continue to ponder Common Core Standards
Shelbyville News, IN, January 13, 2014
As state lawmakers returned to the Statehouse in Indianapolis, they did so with educators, parents and political enthusiasts watching them closely when it comes to what the next step will be for Common Core.
LOUISIANA
Group likes accountability in La. voucher program
The Advocate, LA, January 14, 2014
Louisiana’s controversial voucher program is one of at least four nationwide that includes key accountability measures, a pro-voucher group said in a report issued on Tuesday.
The Long March for school reform
Column, Times-Picayune, LA, January 11, 2014
Once again Louisiana finds a key plank of its school reform program – popular with parents and approved by a majority of state legislators – under attack in the courts. Will this ever end?
MICHIGAN
Detroit schools plan events to attract students
Detroit News, MI, January 13, 2014
Detroit’s public schools have scheduled events in their campaign to attract new students and stem enrollment losses.
MISSISSIPPI
Miss. House Speaker Gunn: Teachers have waited long enough for pay raise
Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS, January 13, 2014
House Speaker Philip Gunn said waiting to work out a merit system for teacher pay will take too long, and teachers deserve a raise now.
Nashville Prep defined by academic rigor
Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS, January 14, 2014
If your child attends the public charter school Nashville Prep, he will be in a safe and orderly atmosphere.
MISSOURI
KC Schools Need Drastic Reform, Report Says; Changes Could Apply Statewide
St. Louis Public Radio, MO, January 13, 2014
To reverse student performance in Kansas City that it calls “disastrous,” a consultant hired by Missouri education officials is proposing a makeover that would direct more money to individual schools, recruit outside nonprofit groups to run them and address non-academic needs such as health care, nutrition and even laundry services to prepare students better to learn.
Proposal would disband failing Missouri school districts
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, January 14, 2014
The Missouri Board of Education heard a proposal Monday that calls for a drastic departure in how the state addresses failing schools — by disbanding those school districts altogether.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Hassan files brief encouraging prohibition of scholarships for religious schools
Concord Monitor, NH, January 14, 2014
Gov. Maggie Hassan waded into the education tax credit fight yesterday by filing a legal brief encouraging the state Supreme Court to uphold a lower court ruling that prohibits the scholarships from going to religious schools. This puts Hassan, a Democrat, at odds with the attorney general’s office, which has been defending the law.
NEW JERSEY
Gov. Christie education proposal: Longer school day, shorter summer break
Star-Ledger, NJ, January 14, 2014
With his State of the State address today, Gov. Chris Christie will dive into the national debate over whether more class time is better for students.
NEW YORK
Clash begins between NYC’s charter, district schools — with de Blasio’s stance obvious
New York Daily News, NY, January 14, 2014
The city’s once-mighty charters have fallen sharply out of favor post-Bloomberg. Mayor de Blasio, siding with the critics who contend the charters’ success came at the expense of public schools, has vowed to charge them rent, threatening their ability to survive. But charter schools won’t go down without a fight.
Class Size Matters executive: Funds drained for NYC public schools thanks to charters
Opinion, New York Daily News, NY, January 14, 2014
Many charters raise millions from private sources, and many charter school CEOs earn as much as $500,000 a year. Many charters also feature abusive disciplinary and ‘pushout’ practices to ensure high test scores. The city must turn its attention to maximizing opportunities for all children, rather than just a chosen few.
De Blasio’s plan to kill charter schools
Column, New York Post, NY, January 14, 2014
Kiss charter schools good-bye. That’s been a top Team de Blasio goal since the new mayor was polling in the single digits and courting the teachers’ union, and Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina on Monday telegraphed hints as to how the mission is to be accomplished.
StudentsFirstNY executive on city charter schools: Choice is vital
Opinion, New York Daily News, NY, January 14, 2014
The wealthiest New Yorkers have an array of options — paying for private school, moving to a neighborhood with better schools or even moving outside New York City. Charter schools help to level the playing field by giving choice to the 99%.
NEVADA
Advocacy group says Nevada on the right track with education reforms
Las Vegas Sun, NV, January 14, 2014
A national group advocating education reforms commended Nevada lawmakers for instituting new school policies they hope will improve student achievement.
NORTH CAROLINA
Forum’s focus is charter schools
Charlotte Observer, NC, January 14, 2014
Representatives from new charter school applicants in south Charlotte will meet with parents and residents during a 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 forum at Raintree Country Club.
The forum comes on the heels of the Jan. 9 approval of 26 new charter schools in North Carolina by the state Board of Education for the 2014-15 school year.
NC board to consider 62 charter schools that applied to open in 2015
News & Observer, NC, January 13, 2014
More than 60 new charter schools are still in the running to open in 2015 – 50 percent more than were considered for this coming fall – under a new board that’s more friendly to the nontraditional public schools.
Pender moves to classify teachers under new law
Star News, NC, January 13, 2014
Fewer than 100 Pender County teachers would be eligible to receive bonuses under a state plan that rewards teachers who give up their tenure, members of the district’s school board heard Monday.
Two local charters dropped from consideration
Durham Herald Sun, NC, January 13, 2014
Two of the eight charter schools that applied to the state to open in Durham next year have been dropped from consideration by the N.C. Charter School Advisory Board.
OHIO
Cleveland “scrubbed” 2010-11 state report cards of 3,500 students’ results; some officials being investigated
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, January 13, 2014
Cleveland school district officials who improperly “scrubbed” more than 3,500 students from the district’s state report card results will be investigated for possible professional conduct violations, the Ohio Department of Education announced today.
OKLAHOMA
Plan of action is just what the Oklahoma City school district needs
Editorial, The Oklahoman, OK, January 14, 2014
IN describing a plan for Oklahoma City Public Schools that will dominate the second half of his one-year term as interim superintendent, Dave Lopez invoked the words of U.S. Army Gen. George Patton: “A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.”
OREGON
Portland students and teachers union supporters flood school board meeting
The Oregonian, OR, January 13, 2014
More than 400 community members flooded Monday night’s school board meeting to show solidarity with the Portland Association of Teachers, with students eventually interrupting the meeting with loud chants.
The Future of School Choice in Oregon: Education Savings Accounts
Opinion, Oregon Catalyst, OR, January 13, 2014
Lower and middle-income families, meanwhile, too often are trapped with one option—a school in need of improvement assigned to them based on their zip code.
PENNSYLVANIA
Bethlehem schools face $16.9 million deficit in preliminary budget
Allentown Morning Call, PA, January 13, 2014
The deficit is driven by a $6.7 million spike in charter school costs and $4.4 million rise in pension obligations, district officials said at Monday’s school board Finance Committee meeting. All other expenses combined are projected to increase by $5.7 million.
Bill requires schools to make budgets public
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, January 14, 2014
The Pennsylvania House on Monday approved legislation requiring the state to create a searchable online database of the revenue and expenses of school districts and charter schools.
North Phila. nonprofit aims for ‘D. June Brown’ charter in Harrisburg
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 14, 2014
A new North Philadelphia nonprofit has taken the unusual step of naming the charter school it wants to establish in Harrisburg for Dorothy June Brown, who last week was acquitted of six counts of fraud by a federal jury but will be retried on the 54 counts the panel could not agree upon.
Residents tell SRC of concerns about universal enrollment
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 14, 2014
For more than a year, a working group has been exploring sweeping changes to the way students apply and are assigned to city schools – a universal enrollment process that would boil Philadelphia School District, charter, and possibly private schools’ application and assignment systems into one.
TENNESSEE
Emerald Youth Foundation plans Knox Co.’s first charter school
WBIR, TN, January 14, 2014
A long-time advocate for Knoxville’s urban youth plans to open the first charter school in Knox County.
Math for Tennessee seniors doubles as remedial course in college
Memphis Commercial Appeal, TN, January 13, 2014
Based on her ACT results last year, Erial Cole knew she would have to take remedial math in college. Now, a year later as a senior, she’s finished the class online and can’t wait for statistics, her next college math class.
Tennessee’s grade from education group marred by ‘F’ for school choice
The Tennessean, TN, January 14, 2014
Lacking a school voucher system and a law that lets charter school operators turn to the state for approval, Tennessee gets an “F” for school choice, according to a national education-reform group.
WASHINGTON
Seattle teachers’ union expected to voice opposition at charter school public meeting
Seattle Times Blog, WA, January 13, 2014
Potential operators of Washington’s first charter schools can expect some tough questions from members of the Seattle teacher’s union at a public forum Monday evening at South Seattle Community College.
ONLINE LEARNING
Kaneland leaves online-learning cooperative venture
Chicago Daily Herald, IL, January 13, 2014
The Kaneland school board decided Monday to drop out of a five-district group planning joint online and blended online-and-classroom instruction.
Lawrence district cancels K12 Inc. contract
Lawrence Journal World, KS, January 13, 2014
Lawrence school district Superintendent Rick Doll announced Monday that the district has taken the management of Lawrence Virtual High School over after the school posted a graduation rate last year of just 26.3 percent.
Maine commission reviews applications for four new charter schools
Portland Press Herald, ME, January 13, 2014
Two virtual schools are among the applicants hoping to open new charter schools in Maine.
River Forest wants to save budget with ‘virtual’ education option
Post-Tribune, IL, January 13, 2014
Facing a growing budget deficit and shrinking enrollment, the River Forest Community School Corp. hopes to reverse the trend with an online program that allows students to learn at home, but enjoy extra-curricular pursuits at school.