NEWSWIRE IS BACK! Click here for 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.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Vacaville Unified School District Leader Not Worried About California’s Waiver Loss
The Reporter, CA, January 4, 2013
A prominent Vacaville Unified School District leader does not fear the likely rejection by federal officials of a California waiver request to the No Child Left Behind law, which some believe may prompt radical reforms, including state takeovers and charter school conversions.
CONNECTICUT
Sibs Get An Edge In Public School Admissions
New Haven Independent, CT, January 3, 2013
A kid with an older sister at Edgewood, Hooker or Nathan Hale schools will get a leg up in this year’s admission lottery, according to a new policy unveiled Thursday.
DELAWARE
Del. Officials Discuss Troubled Charter School
News Times, DE, January 4, 2013
State education officials are meeting with representatives from a troubled charter school in New Castle County to discuss a path forward.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Advice For Parents Facing School Closures In The District
Washington Post, DC, January 3, 2013
Parents are not happy about the proposal, either. They have been especially vocal about plans to close five schools in Ward 7, saying it will push more students into public charter schools and further erode the traditional public schools.
Charter School Ruled Private Entity For Labor Relations
Washington Post Blog, DC, January 4, 2013
The question of just how public charter schools really are has been further muddied by a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board in a case involving a Chicago charter school.
Michelle Rhee Proud Of Controversial School Reform Efforts In D.C
Washington Examiner, DC, January 3, 2013,
Former DC Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee says in a new documentary that she is proud of the reform efforts she initiated in 2007, measures that have been heavily criticized since before she left the District in fall 2010.
FLORIDA
Symbiotic Relationship: Campuses Combining Schools Strive for Peaceful Coexistence
The Ledger, FL, January 4, 2013
Benjamin Stewart may be a Summerlin Academy student, but when it comes to all of the classes and extracurricular activities he participates in, he’d rather be known as a Yellow Jacket.
ILLINOIS
Chicago Charter Schools Rake In Thousands In ‘Disciplinary Fees’
MSNBC, January 3, 2013
As public funding for Chicago charter schools increases, so do questions about accountability and governance within these publicly-funded–but privately-run–institutions.
LOUISIANA
Orleans Board Rejects Schools
The Advocate, LA, January 4, 2013
Dwight D. Eisenhower Academy, Martin Behrman Charter School and O. Perry Walker College and Preparatory High Schools will not be returning to Orleans Parish School Board governance, as decided in a 5-2 cast by the board at an Algiers Charter School Association meeting Thursday.
MASSACHUSETTS
Gloucester School Will Close Early
Boston Globe, MA, January 4, 2013
The Gloucester Community Arts Charter School’s brief and turbulent existence will come to a halt next Friday afternoon when the school will officially close.
MISSISSIPPI
Charter School Fight Looms as 2013 Session Nears
Mississippi Public Broadcasting, MS, January 3, 2013
Mississippi lawmakers will gavel in the 2013 legislative session this Tuesday, and the debate over charter schools is likely to be one of the hottest issues of the session. MPB’s Daniel Cherry has more…
NEW YORK
Better Teaching, Beyond Evaluations
New York Daily News, NY, January 4, 2013
Faced with a Jan. 17 deadline, New York City may soon have a new teacher evaluation system to help identify those educators who are excelling and those who need extra support. This focus on teacher performance and accountability is essential.
Left Out Of The Gov’s Schools Rx
New York Post, NY, January 4, 2013
Hang on to your hats, folks: Those of us who favor serious, overhaul-minded education reforms actually agree with the bullhorn of the “just spend more” crowd, the Campaign for Educational Equity’s Michael Rebell, when he says that the big problem with Gov. Cuomo’s education-reform commission’s report is “what’s not in there.”
NORTH CAROLINA
McCrory Completes Cabinet, Names Tata In Another Surprising Pick
News & Observer, NC, January 4, 2013
Gov.-elect Pat McCrory finalized his Cabinet Thursday, naming Wake County’s ousted schools leader Tony Tata to head the Department of Transportation – another surprising pick for his administration
OHIO
Colleges Set Bar For Remedial Classes
Columbus Dispatch, OH, January 4, 2013
Ohio’s public colleges and universities have agreed to minimum ACT and SAT scores that will guarantee students don’t have to take remedial courses that cost them money but don’t count for credit.
OKLAHOMA
Improve Schools By Training Principals And Superintendents
The Oklahoman, OK, January 4, 2013
Ed Allen (Point of View, Dec. 14) made some good points about deficiencies of Oklahoma City Public School administrators which can be applied statewide.
OREGON
Legislature Should Tweak Charter Rules
Albany Democrat Herald, OR, January 3, 2013
It looks as if there are some chapters left to write in the controversy surrounding a proposal to launch a new charter school in Albany.
PENNSYVLVANIA
Hite Will Present His Blueprint For Schools Monday
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 4, 2013
Coming Monday: a blueprint for the William R. Hite Jr.-era Philadelphia School District. Expect a focus on early literacy, a call for more art and music classes, more students in advanced math by middle school, and more and higher-quality spots in vocational programs.
TEXAS
School Choice Legislation Introduced This Week
Hays Free Press, TX, January 3, 2013
As of press time, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and state Sen. Dan Patrick were expected to announce education legislation this week that would allow more school choice. The Texas Tribune reported that the bill would likely spark a major battle in the upcoming legislative session.
Public Schools Can Achieve Success, Even With Voucher System Looming
The Courier, TX, January 4, 2013
With the tide turning toward more ultraconservative Republicans in Austin, the state Legislature is preparing for yet another battle over school choice, better known as a voucher system.
Reforming Our Education
Anniston Star, TX, January 3, 2013
Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne spoke this week to The Star about his plans for the nonprofit group Reform Alabama, which has dropped out of sight.
VIRGINIA
Governor Bob McDonnell Adds To School Plans
Roanoke Times, VA, January 4, 2013
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced plans Thursday to pursue legislation that would bring Teach for America staffers to Virginia, establish an A-F grading system for schools, bolster third-grade reading proficiency and allow school divisions to request waivers from the State Board of Education from certain state requirements.
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin Republicans Expected To Push Private-School Vouchers, Charter-School Expansion In 2013 Session
Isthmus Paper, WI, January 3, 2013
Gov. Scott Walker’s second most controversial move, after ending collective bargaining rights for public employees, was a package of school-choice proposals and budget cuts that aim to remake public education in the state.
Wisconsinites Lose Ability To See Performance Records Of Principals Under New System
WTAQ, WI, January 3, 2013
Wisconsinites are about to lose the right to see how their public school principals are performing. Governor Scott Walker and state lawmakers approved a new system last year for evaluating teachers and principals.
ONLINE LEARNING
NJ Teachers Union Moves to Block ‘Blended’ Learning at Newark Charter
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, January 4, 2013
NJEA argues that blending online technology with traditional teaching has to be cleared by Legislature before it can be used in school
Blended Learning: Teachers Plus Computers Equal Success
Desert News, UT, January 3, 2013
Carpe Diem Collegiate High School in Yuma, Ariz., looks more like a call center than a high school. It features a huge room full of rows and rows of cubicles where students, who attend classes four days a week, work for half a day at computers that track their daily progress.
Understanding Online Charter Schools
Contra Costa Times, CA, January 3, 2013
The number of students enrolled in virtual charter schools continues to grow around the country, including in California and the Bay Area.
More Bay Area Students Opting For Cyberclassrooms
Contra Costa Times, CA, January 3, 2013
While many parents struggle to get their kids out from under the covers, dressed and off to school, Erinn Watson’s daughters are always on time for class.