Newswire – December 11, 2018

MAYBE WE NEED ANOTHER 1989.  The tributes to President George H.W. Bush continue, and many of us have reminded and been reminded that perhaps his biggest contribution to education was getting all the governors together so they could all be winners in the fight against bad education.  It wasn’t all selfless of course – Dems were trying to show they weren’t just defenders of the status quo and Republicans were trying to become the party of education change.  While progress was made, on a party level, Democrats have always had a much harder time in accepting that massive transformation has to happen in public education and in embracing the right of parents to direct that transformation and make fundamental choices.  The lines had become blurred with notables Ds at state and local levels being leaders in advancing education opportunity. But now, the battles lines are drawn once again, and as Education Week makes clear, the political fissure is severe.

WE’RE NOT SURPRISED.  Just take a look at how week the Governor’s ratings are on Opportunity and Innovation on CER’s EdFifty. It was obvious in the elections but the rhetoric won the day in education sadly.  For us @edreform and across numerous education sectors however, the floodgates will not close. New state legislators all over the country hear the cry of parents and see the data. Some can try return to business as usual, but it’s not a winning issue.

DON’T BELIEVE US?  The broad array of participants at the CER Silver Summitjust 6 weeks ago are a living testament to what is possible in education and technology sectors when you are committed to outcomes and student success. Not one of the more than 3 dozen speakers, VIPs and keynoters at the Road to Innovation was ready to return to the status quo, put a moratorium on opportunity or draw a line in the sand between left and right. While Washington and State Capitols fiddle, advances are happening throughout the Globe.  As we near the end of 2018, we’re buoyed by the excitement and opportunity to make a difference. Stay tuned.

MORE SUN IN THE SUNSHINE STATE.  This week’s announcement that Governor-elect DeSantis wants former House Speaker Richard Corcoran to lead his Department of Education is a big-plus for ed reform advocates, especially in a state where parents with choice, regardless of political affiliation, made the difference in the DeSantis win. Corcoran’s eight-year tenure in the House was marked by his fight to expand opportunity and equity for all kids in Florida. Time to put Florida orange juice on the breakfast menu every day!

UNION DOESN’T LIKE APPLES, KUMQUATS OR SUCCESSFUL CHARTER SCHOOLS.  A new from the SUNY Charter Schools Institute – the leading authorizer in the Empire State and a model for others –  shows that SUNY charters perform substantially above regular public schools –  15 percent better in English and nearly 20 percent better in math! But Buffalo union boss Phil Rumore says it doesn’t matter, that comparing these 2 different types of public schools is  “like mixing apples with kumquats.”  No Phil, it’s comparing test scores of students in the same neighborhoods, in the same grades, studying the same subjects, but getting very different results.  Give us a call, we’ll be happy to share the facts with you! And apples with kumquats? Please, everyone knows red wine is better with kumquats.

PHIL MAY WANT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD A BIT…  and watch as the Academy of Health Sciences Charter School is developed to open in fall 2019 as Rochester’s newest charter school. The school received a charter late last monthfrom the state Board of Regents. The school will feature STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) curriculum combined with a focus on social-emotional needs. “It blends so nicely for students in terms of seeing science as a holistic field and also really developing themselves as a whole person and community member,” A school with a health sciences emphasis, featuring STEAM subjects—exactly what CER means when we talk about serving the unique needs of students to be successful from K through Career.

SPEAKING OF STEAM, STEM, AND JUST PLAIN SCIENCE…  The Trump Admin is joining the chorus in demanding the nation make it all a top national priority. A new report says the focus is a must if we are to develop real talent among our people and expand our global competitiveness. We will note that not only is diversity and inclusion a cornerstone of charter schools across America, but that charter students routinely outperform their public school peers in the STEM subjects so important to successful futures in the 21st century.  (Ahem… maybe those new Governors mentioned in our first story need to take a look at that data….)

SENATOR SASSE GETS SASSY.  If you have not heard or seen Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse’s speech at Excel in Ed last week, you’ll want to add it to your playlist.  He’s always thoughtful and challenging but this argument for transformation in education is a powerful antecedent to apathy.

SO IS THIS.   Education Reimagined’s Director Kelly Young joins Jeanne Allen on Reality Check this week to discuss the need to reimagine and refocus on the way young people are educated and stay lifelong learners throughout their time as a bona fide student, as well as beyond classrooms in the workplace, and continuing as an individual among the many people of the world. Young takes listeners through Education Reimagined’s mission and the relationship between competency and a learner-centric model, why it’s so important for the future of school and work together, and what it means for the future of America.

Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education.