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
A way to get more kids into better schools
Editorial, Orange County Register, CA, January 31, 2014
Against that backdrop, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., introduced legislation that would allow states to use federal education dollars to create $2,100 tuition vouchers to follow some 11 million low-income children to any accredited school, public or private, that their parents choose.
Louisiana moves up to third in national charter ranking
Times-Picayune, LA, January 30, 2014
It’s National School Choice Week, and several organizations have released reports examining the state of the country’s charter schools. Louisiana remains a leader in the charter school movement, placing third in the National Association of Public Charter Schools’ annual charter law ranking.
Obama touts Tenn. education
Columbia Daily Herald, TN, January 30, 2014
President Barack Obama visited Nashville Thursday and touted Tennessee’s educational advancements while praising McGavock High School’s teaching methods.
School Choice Defies Fed Ed
National Review Online, January 31, 2014
Every family in America deserves maximized, customized choices in education. It is the ultimate key to closing that “income inequality” gap the politicos are always gabbling about. Yet, the White House and Democrats beholden to public-school unions and their money are the ones blocking the school-choice door.
Some state rebrand controversial Common Core education standards
Washington Post, DC, January 30, 2014
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) used an executive order to strip the name “Common Core” from the state’s new math and reading standards for public schools. In the Hawkeye State, the same standards are now called “The Iowa Core.”
STATE COVERAGE
CALIFORNIA
Franklin-McKinley agreement with charters an example for Silicon Valley and the nation
Editorial, San Jose Mercury News, CA, January 30, 2014
San Jose’s Franklin-McKinley School District already has uncommonly healthy relationships with its charter schools. Now the district and charters have agreed to share campuses, data and training programs for teachers and administrators.
CONNECTICUT
Blazing a new attitude, a new path at Dunbar
CT Post, CT, January 31, 2014
Being part of the state network means extra funding and state support in exchange for implementing changes meant to bring about a quick turnaround in school culture and test scores; Dunbar’s scores have been among the lowest in the city.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
NYC school cuts popular gifted program over lack of diversity: report
Washington Times, DC, January 30, 2014
A popular gifted-student program at a New York City elementary school is getting the ax after school officials decided it lacked diversity.
FLORIDA
Scott smart to increase school funding
Editorial, News-Press, FL, January 31, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott, who last year hoped to silence critics of his previous stand about bloated education spending by requesting an extra $1.2 billion in last year’s budget, returned Monday with an ambitious request seeking an additional $542 million in spending tied directly to students.
INDIANA
Apples to apples, tests and voucher schools
Editorial, Journal and Courier, IN, January 30, 2014
It was good to see an Indiana Senate committee see through an effort to scrap ISTEP test requirements for private schools that accept state voucher money in this era of school choice.
Voucher system creating two education classes
Editorial, Star-Press, IN, January 31, 2014
School vouchers, heralded by proponents as a way to give parents more flexibility in how and where their children are educated — using public dollars — are slowly creating two education classes.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
‘School choice’ in New Hampshire a label that barely scrapes surface
Opinion, Nashua Telegraph, NH, January 31, 2014
As the country recognizes School Choice Week, Nashua school officials are discussing what to do with students whose parents chose to send them to a different school in the district.
NEW JERSEY
Senate Committee passes bill giving schools boards a say in school closings
Star-Ledger, NJ, January 30, 2014
Parents and community activists from Newark, Montclair and Camden testified before a state senate committee this morning in favor of a bill that requires local school boards to approve the closing of schools.
Two renaissance projects advance in Camden
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ, January 31, 2014
A renaissance is coming to Camden, literally. School Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard announced his support Thursday for two new renaissance schools, charter-type facilities that would be run by nonprofits in communities with high numbers of at-risk youth.
NEW MEXICO
Bill that gives school districts more spending power advances
Santa Fe New Mexican, NM, January 30, 2014
School superintendents and educational leaders want lawmakers to give them more freedom in how they spend millions of dollars in public school funding.
NEW YORK
Parents vs. Progressives
Editorial, New York Post, NY, January 31, 2014
As New York parents increasingly demand better — or at least, different — schools for their kids, the city’s “progressive” mayor is digging in his heels in favor of the same old failing model of the past.
Thousands of students may lose charter school seats if Mayor de Blasio kills plans
New York Daily News, NY, January 30, 2014
Families for Excellent Schools says the students would be at a loss if the plans to open or expand 30 charter schools do not go ahead.
OREGON
Portland Public Schools vs. charters, the sequel:
Editorial, The Oregonian, OR, January 30, 2014
Portland Mayor Charlie Hales has used the brevity of this year’s soon-to-begin legislative session as an excuse not to pursue a sidewalk-civility bill, but the folks at Portland Public Schools are made of sterner stuff.
PENNSYLVANIA
Democrats unveil proposals for more money for schools
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 30, 2014
Democrats from Philadelphia’s state Senate delegation unveiled a plan Thursday to provide $300 million more for education across the state.
WASHINGTON
Charter schools in Yakima Valley officially denied
Yakima Herald-Republic, WA, January 31, 2014
Following recommendations from education experts, charter school proposals in Yakima and Sunnyside were denied by the state Charter School Commission at a meeting Thursday in Seattle.
State’s first charter school to open next fall in Seattle
Seattle Times, WA, January 31, 2014
The State Charter School Commission has approved seven new charter schools to open in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Most will open in 2015, but one in Seattle will open in the fall.
Tacoma will have three charter schools by fall 2015
Tacoma News Tribune, WA, January 30, 2014
It appears that Tacoma is poised to become the charter school capital of Washington state, following action Thursday by the state Charter School Commission.
WISCONSIN
MPS board stalls decision on converting struggling schools to charters
Journal Sentinel, WI, January 30, 2014
A proposal to convert some persistently low-performing schools in Milwaukee to charter schools while targeting others for different reforms was sent back to committee for further discussion Thursday by the Milwaukee School Board amid opposition from teachers and parallel efforts by Republican state legislators.
ONLINE LEARNING
Charters Make Case To Group Devising Rules To Evaluate Them
WFAE, NC, January 30, 2014
Two virtual charter schools run by for-profit companies are trying to open schools in North Carolina. In the past, the state board of education has refused to consider these schools. But this year the board appointed a group to figure out how to evaluate virtual charters.
Cultivate learning through school choice
Letter, Augusta Chronicle, GA, January 30, 2014
Several years ago, an eager fourth-grade student named James and his parents walked into my office and inquired about enrolling in South Carolina Connections Academy. I listened intently as James and his sister described the life-threatening food allergies that forced them to seek a school other than the one they were zoned for.
Despite snow days, GAC students learn in cyber school
Gwinnett Daily Post, GA, January 30, 2014
For some Greater Atlanta Christian students, this week’s snow days didn’t mean an unscheduled vacation. Thanks to the school’s web-based communication portal, they continued with assignments.
First two Maine virtual schools get initial approval
Portland Press Herald, ME, January 30, 2014
The schools, whose previous proposals were rejected, will take the next step forward, as will a school operated by followers of a Turkish imam. A Montessori school is rejected.
How Florida Lawmakers Want To Help Schools Get Ready For Digital Lessons
StateImpact NPR, FL, January 31, 2014
Florida schools could get more money to upgrade classrooms, purchase new computers, tablets and other technology and train teachers and staff how to use them.
Online program enables Baldwin students to learn at their own pace
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA, January 30, 2014
An online game of “Escapade through British Literature” has allowed high school seniors in Daniel Harrold’s college-preparatory English class at Baldwin High School to take charge.
Maine’s charter school process needs chance to work — not be shut down for virtual schools
Editorial, Bangor Daily News, ME, January 30, 2014
Virtual charter schools have proven an especially contentious flashpoint in Maine’s charter school debate over the past three years. The controversy has erupted even though none of the five charter schools currently open in Maine is a virtual school providing most of its instruction online.
Online charter school denied in Banning
Record Gazette, CA, January 31, 2014
The initial online charter school petition for Web-Based Academy for California was turned down by the Banning school board last week, based on several technicalities that were deemed unmet by a committee.
Pittsburgh principals share $114,979 in bonuses
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, January 31, 2014
All eligible Pittsburgh Public Schools principals except one who retired have been awarded performance-based bonuses for 2012-13, totaling $114,979.
Study: Missouri Has ‘Fallen Behind’ In Providing Digital Learning To K-12 Students
KRCU, MO, January 30, 2014
A study released Thursday by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry states that Missouri is “falling behind” when it comes to providing digital learning for K-12 students.
Suburban Cyber-Charter Students Attend ‘Virtual’ Rally For School Choice
CBS Philly, PA, January 30, 2014
Students at a Pennsylvania cyber-charter school logged onto a “virtual rally” yesterday to celebrate School Choice Week.Students at a Pennsylvania cyber-charter school logged onto a “virtual rally” yesterday to celebrate School Choice Week.