Daily Headlines for October 12, 2012
Obama, Romney Have Similar Basic Views On Education
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 12, 2012
Both candidates want test scores to be part of teacher evaluations, support extra pay for effective instructors and back the growth of charter schools. One difference is Romney’s support for vouchers.
Report: High School Initiatives Yield Collegiate Gains
Chicago Tribune, IL, October 11, 2012
Getting admitted to a top university isn’t enough. For many students, finishing the mission and getting a degree requires a variety of initiatives, from a rigorous high school curriculum to more advisers, according to a new report released Thursday by the National School Boards Association.
How Tougher Classes In High School Can Help Kids Make It Through College
Christian Science Monitor, MA, October 11, 2012
Some 40 percent of students are failing to graduate from college in six years. A study calls for higher-quality college prep, with more advanced math, advanced placement classes, and better advising.
Experts’ Views About Obama And Romney On Education
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 12, 2012
The following are edited excerpts from telephone interviews and email exchanges with leading education analysts, writers and researchers regarding the policies and positions of the presidential candidates.
The New US Visa Rush: Build A Charter School, Get A Green Card
Reuters, October 12, 2012
It’s been a turbulent period for charter schools in the United States , with financial analysts raising concerns about their stability and regulators in several states shutting down schools for poor performance.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Chico Unified School District Finding Ways To Work With Charters
Chino Enterprise Record, CA, October 12, 2012
Since they were first created 20 years ago, charter schools and traditional districts have found themselves in a sometimes uncomfortable relationship.
L.A. Schools Improve By State Standards, Not Enough By U.S. Yardstick
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 12, 2012
Just like across California, campuses are at their highest-achieving level yet, but they aren’t keeping pace with rapidly rising federal targets.
Innovative Charter School Mixes Languages, Gets Results
San Diego Union Tribune, CA, October 11, 2012
This linguistically rich scene is common at Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, a K-9 school that attributes its well above-average test scores to two distinct practices: throwing English learners and native speakers into the same class (called two-way immersion), and dividing instruction equally between English and Spanish (the 50-50 model).
District Data Show Some Growth In Closing Achievement Gap In Berkeley Schools
Daily Californian, CA, October 11, 2012
Newly released Berkeley Unified School District statistics reveal slight to moderate improvement in closing the districtwide achievement gap, though not all of the yearly target goals have been met.
In California Schools’ Test Scores, State Sees Success While Feds’ No Child Left Behind Act Sees Growing Failure
Mercury News, CA, October 12, 2012
California schools continued their steady gains in achievement, and for the first time more than half of them met the state’s target score, according to California ‘s annual index of school achievement released Thursday.
COLORADO
Charter School Community Meetings Planned
Post Independent, CO, October 12, 2012
A series of information meetings in each of the three Roaring Fork School District Re-1 communities will give the public an opportunity to learn about and comment on a new charter school proposed to be located in Glenwood Springs.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
How To Waste $500,000+ In Education Funds
Washington Post Blog, DC, October 11, 2012
The following press release from the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) landed in my e-mail box with this headline: “Charter School Consortium Selected to Measure Student Growth, Inform Teacher Instruction.”
FLORIDA
Classical Preparatory School To Try Again For Charter Status
The Tampa Tribune, FL, October 12, 2012
A proposed charter school that plans to provide students with a classical education goes before the Pasco County School Board on Tuesday.
Winner May Make Difference In New Laws
News Chief, FL, October 12, 2012
The race isn’t likely to end Republican control of the state Senate, but the winner in the newly created District 14 could be the deciding vote on bills that narrowly lost in the Senate in the last legislative season.
GEORGIA
New Charter Schools For Tybee, Savannah Approved
Savannah Morning News, GA, October 12, 2012
Young minds wishing to explore the seas or relive history through a lost language are in luck.
Vote ‘No’ On Charter School Amendment
Cherokee Tribune, GA, October 12, 2012
Make no mistake — Amendment No. 1 (also known as HR 1162 and the Charter School Amendment) is definitely not about supporting charter schools in Georgia .
Status Quo Isn’t Working, So Let’s Try Charter Schools
Rockdale Citizen, GA, October 12, 2012
I just had to write to the Citizen regarding Brad Smith’s recent viewpoint on the upcoming charter school vote in November. I am sure that Mr. Smith is a hardworking, well-meaning board member, but when do we stop going with the flow and try something different?
Don’t Deny School Choice
Augusta Chronicle, GA, October 11, 2012
It is appalling, and quite possibly illegal, how the public education establishment has fought to prevent Georgians from having more educational choices for their children.
Foes Of Charter School Issue Say New Poll Shows 52% Against
Atlanta Journal Constitution Blog, GA, October 11, 2012
Polls by interested parties must always be taken with a grain of salt – but they are not always something to dismiss out of hand.
Charter Amendment Opponents Speak At Forum
Times-Georgian, GA, October 12, 2012
Local opponents of the charter school amendment spoke at a forum held by the League of Women Voters last night, informing voters of the reasoning behind their opposition.
IDAHO
Idaho Seeks Parent, Teacher Feedback On Ed Reform
Idaho Statesman, ID, October 12, 2012
While campaigns on both sides gear up for a vote on the Students Come First laws, the State Department of Education is asking stakeholders across Idaho to help gauge the new laws’ effectiveness.
Foes Of Luna Laws Outspend Backers
Idaho Statesman, ID, October 12, 2012
Opponents of Superintendent Tom Luna’s 2011 education reforms reported raising through Sept. 30 more than twice as much as the reported effort of supporters of Propositions 1, 2 and 3.
ILLINOIS
Jean Claude Brizard out as CPS Chief
Chicago Tribune, IL, October 11, 2012
Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean Claude Brizard is out, to be replaced permanently by the school system’s chief education officer, a spokeswoman for Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Thursday.
Charter Expansion Could Include Turnarounds, New Operators
WBEZ, IL, October 12, 2012
Big changes are coming to Chicago public schools, and it’s more than just recess and a longer school day.
INDIANA
FWCS Talks Of Outfoxing Competitors
The Journal Gazette, IN, October 12, 2012
The school in the Fort Wayne Community Schools district that lost the most students to vouchers received an A under the state’s accountability rating.
IOWA
Iowa Educators Propose Higher Pay For New Teachers, Career Tier System
Altoona Herald, IA, October 12, 2012
Higher starting teacher salaries, a yearlong residency program for new educators, and expanded roles for veteran staff are key components of a $150 million school improvement proposal released Thursday by the state’s Task Force on Teacher Leadership and Compensation.
KANSAS
Candidates Talk Vouchers At USD 501 Forum
Topeka Capital Journal, KS, October 11, 2012
Shawnee County candidates for the Kansas House, Senate and Kansas State Board of Education gave their thoughts on school vouchers at a forum Thursday night, three days after a Republican committee chairman said they were sweeping the nation.
LOUISIANA
Educators Tout Another Option For Parish Students
The Daily Advertiser, LA, October 12, 2012
A group of local citizens are making a push to open a tuition-free, public charter school in north Lafayette by the beginning of the 2014-15 school year.
MASSACHUSETTS
Blackman Deal Shows Best Motives
Gloucester Daily Times, MA, October 12, 2012
The many critics of Gloucester’s Community Arts Charter School who might have questions the motives behind Tony Blackman’s exit from the executive director’s post sure didn’t find any smoking guns within the separation agreement reached between Blackman and the school’s Board of Trustees.
School, And Mayoral, Choices
Jamaica Plain Gazette, MA, October 12, 2012
The new school choice proposals for Boston Public Schools have become a battleground of mayoral ambitions. That’s not just good theater. It’s a good thing for the city and its students.
Not as Simple as A-B-C
Coulter Press, MA, October 12, 2012
It seems like alphabet soup, but, the vocabulary of education has changed recently, especially when it comes to measuring progress.
MICHIGAN
Most Parents Don’t Think DPS Is The Best Option For Their Children, Seek Alternatives
Detroit News, MI, October 12, 2012
Families in Detroit are fed up with poorly performing schools. And that dissatisfaction is driving an explosion of new charters and other options in the city as parents have chosen alternatives to Detroit Public Schools. Most residents believe DPS isn’t the best option for learning in the city.
MINNESOTA
Mpls. North High Is Reborn
Star Tribune, MN, October 11, 2012
New principal and staff must remake the school while competing with a nearby charter school that has a similar mission.
MISSISSIPPI
Parish School Board Says No To Charter School
Natchez Democrat, MS, October 12, 2012
The Concordia Parish School Board adopted Thursday a resolution opposing the granting of a charter for the Delta Charter School in Ferriday.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Charter School Supporters Urge State To Lift Moratorium
Hampton Union, NH, October 12, 2012
Charter school supporters intend to be vocal about the state Board of Education’s recent moratorium.
NEW JERSEY
Principal Evaluation Mandate Will Put Administrators Under Microscope
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, October 12, 2012
Some districts question the wisdom of rolling out new systems while teacher evaluation just getting underway
NEW YORK
What The UFT Owes New York’s Kids
New York Daily News, NY, October 12, 2012
There is a serious lesson to be learned from the United Federation of Teachers Charter School’s dismal ranking on its report card. That being:
South Buffalo Charter School Featured in TIME Magazine
WGRZ, NY, October 11, 2012
The students and two of their teachers were featured in Time Magazine, for a series of creative and informative videos they write, produce and upload, that help make classroom learning more fun.
NORTH CAROLINA
Multiplying Math-Science Success For Urban Kids
Charlotte Observer, NC, October 11, 2012
Take a charter school where low-income African American students shine at math and science. Add a university that specializes in urban education.
OHIO
Superintendent Evaluation Process Varies
Oxford Press, OH, October 12, 2012
While Race to the Top and other education reform movements are putting an emphasis on teacher and principal evaluations, there is no uniform method for evaluating superintendents.
OKLAHOMA
School Grades
Tulsa World, OK, October 12, 2012
Gov. Mary Fallin and a growing number of legislators say they support action by the state Board of Education that delayed approval of a controversial A through F grading system for local schools and school districts.
TENNESSEE
Everyone, Including Metro, Seems To Want School Choice. The Problem: Busing
Nashville Ledger, TN, October 11, 2012
If nothing else, the push to bring Great Hearts Academy to Nashville was a conversation starter for competition and choice in the Metro school marketplace.
VIRGINIA
Parents Voice Concerns On Charter School Plans
Fairfax Times, VA, October 12, 2012
Opponents and supporters of a proposed charter school for at-risk students spoke before the Fairfax County School Board on Tuesday night during a public hearing on the alternative school’s application.
ONLINE SCHOOLS
Online School Provides Path To Success
ABC News4, SC, October 11, 2012
Challenges are mounting in our school systems. Bullying, peer pressure, distractions, learning disabilities. Those are just some of the reasons students can fall behind their peers.
Enrollment Increases At St. James Virtual School
Daily Comet, LA, October 11, 2012
Enrollment in St. James Parish’s online Virtual Academy not only has increased rapidly since its July opening, but school officials are fielding phone calls from parents outside the parish who are interested in the program.