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.
NATIONAL COVERAGE
We Choose Everything – Why Not Our Schools?
Detroit News, MI, January 31, 2013
Being able to choose these goods and services is the essential first step to being an educated consumer, and being an educated consumer is an essential right of the American experience. It is truly awful, then, that many Americans are not permitted to choose the school where their children receive their education — a product more vital than any iPhone or brand of milk, and moreover, a product guaranteed to them by their states.
E-Mails Link Bush Foundation, Corporations And Education Officials
Washington Post Blog, DC, January 30, 2013
A nonprofit group released thousands of e-mails today and said they show how a foundation begun by Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and national education reform leader, is working with public officials in states to write education laws that could benefit some of its corporate funders.
FROM THE STATES
ALABAMA
Give School Systems The Opportunity To Innovate, Be Flexible
Birmingham News, AL, January 30, 2013
Who in the world would argue against giving Alabama public schools more flexibility and an opportunity to be innovative?
ARKANSAS
Arkansas Educators React To Charter School Rally, Legislation
KUAR, AR, January 30, 2013
One day after a rally to push for more public charter schools in Arkansas, various groups of state educators gathered together at the Capitol on Wednesday to say current legislation that would create an independent commission to approve new charter schools would be an overreach into the state’s education system.
CALIFORNIA
Manzanita Backers Show Their Support
Lompoc Record, CA, January 30, 2013
With dozens of bright yellow balloons hovering above, a wide range of speakers took to the podium at Tuesday night’s Lompoc Unified School District board meeting, many of them with a clear and united message: Keep Manzanita Charter School in this community.
COLORADO
Stone Creek Tops State’s Independent Schools
Vail Daily News, CO, January 30, 2013
A local independent charter school earned some of the state’s best marks in independent rankings.
DELAWARE
Families, Children Benefit From School Choice
News Journal, DE, January 31, 2013
School choice is important. It’s important because it can literally change the trajectory of a child’s life. Where one child flourishes, another will fall behind. Each child is different, with unique strengths and needs. How well a child performs in a school depends on how well that child’s learning needs are met by the school.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Can Traditional School Systems Be Replaced By Charters?
Washington Post Blog, DC, January 30, 2013
When activists from the District and across the country gathered Tuesday at the U.S. Education Department to call for an end to school closures, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten issued a statement in solidarity: “It’s time to fix, not close, our schools,” she said.
FLORIDA
Concerns Mounting Over Teacher Evaluations
Sunshine State News, FL, January 31, 2013
Questions are continuing to mount about the future of Florida’s new teacher evaluation system, with Senate President Don Gaetz becoming the latest state official to wonder if the system needs to be overhauled.
Forsyth Academy Weighs Change From Charter To Program
Gainesville Times, FL, January 30, 2013
New opportunities could be heading to the Forsyth Academy if the local school district decides to convert it from a charter format to a program.
1,100-Student Charter School Proposed In Palm Beach Gardens
Palm Beach Post, FL, January 30, 2013
A charter school that will create about 75 jobs and bring about 1,100 students to a vacant warehouse has been proposed for Hiatt Drive.
Scott Wants $1.2B for K-12
Hernando Today, FL, January 31, 2013
When Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday that he will propose an increase of $1.2 billion in the state’s K-12 education budget, or an increase of roughly $400 per student, some in the school district reacted to the news with a similar wave of curiosity that makes a person halt next to one of those plastic “Win a free cruise!” boxes full of business cards.
GEORGIA
Charter-School Commission Holds First Meeting
Rome News-Tribune, GA, January 31, 2013
The commission at the heart of last year’s controversial charter-school constitutional amendment held its organizational meeting Wednesday.
Charter Schools Commission Holds First Meeting Since Its Rebirth
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, January 30, 2013
It’s back. The State Charter Schools Commission, brought back to life with the passage of the charter schools constitutional amendment in November, held its first meeting Wednesday.
IDAHO
Report: Idaho Lags in Charter School Growth
Magic Valley Times-News, ID, January 31, 2013
Idaho lags behind other states in charter school growth, according to a new report from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation.
IOWA
Iowa Senate OKs Basic Aid To Schools, Setting Up Showdown With House
Des Moines Register, IA, January 31, 2013
A showdown is brewing after the Iowa Senate approved a $187 million school aid spending package Wednesday that will be sent to the House, which is being urged by Gov. Terry Branstad to delay action until it develops a plan to reform the state’s education system.
KANSAS
Battle Begins In House Over Public Unions
The Lawrence Journal-World, KS, January 30, 2013
A bill that opponents and supporters agreed would weaken the ability of public employee unions to participate in politics won preliminary approval on Wednesday.
LOUISIANA
Education Laws Topic Of Forum
The Advocate, LA, January 31, 2013
Louisiana legislators need to rework the education accountability and choice laws that siphon resources from public schools, punish teachers based on faulty measuring tools and disproportionately affect at-risk students, a panel of Tangipahoa Parish educators and elected officials said.
MAINE
Democratic Majority On Education Panel Wants Charter School To Share In Cuts
Bangor Daily News, ME, January 30, 2013
The Legislature’s Education Committee voted 8-5 along party lines Wednesday to include charter schools in $12.6 million in cuts to education aid, sparking the latest partisan battle on education reforms.
If Current Charter School Problems Not Solved, Movement Will Fail
Morning Sentinel, ME, January 31, 2013
An advertisement airing on local television, sponsored by the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools, gives the impression the charter school movement has no downside.
Charter Schools Are Not Free
Bangor Daily News, ME, January 30, 2013
There is an advertisement airing on local television sponsored by the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools. As with a lot of the political-type advertisements, it gives the impression that there is no downside to the charter school movement. They say it’s free, open to all and implies that parents will be able to work better with teachers in a charter school setting.
MARYLAND
Independently Operated Schools Sound Off On Contract Recommendations
Baltimore Sun, MD, January 31, 2013
In a public forum packed with emotion as well as people, the Baltimore school board heard Wednesday from independently operated schools fighting for contract extensions as some presented narratives describing their strengths and weaknesses.
Heavy Load Puts Teacher Retention At Risk In Prince George’s
Maryland Gazette, MD, January 31, 2013
Considering all the positive outcomes arising from our public schools in recent years, it is somewhat disheartening to see the issue of turnover rearing its ugly head in Prince George’s County once more. All our advances will be for naught if this community fails to entice educators to spend their careers right here.
MASSACHUSETTS
Charter School Site Offers Opportunities For City, Schools
Gloucester Daily Times, MA, January 31, 2013
The issue confronting Mick Lafata — who owns what, until a few weeks ago, had been a bustling Gloucester Community Arts Charter School – is purely a business matter.
MICHIGAN
School Choice Has Helped Michigan’s Children
Detroit News, MI, January 31, 2013
A new study by researchers at Stanford University shows superb positive effects for students attending charter schools in Michigan. It is the most rigorous study of charter schools ever done in this state and positions Michigan as one of the nation’s leaders in charter school policy and performance.
MISSISSIPPI
High-Risk Students Key For Charter School
Jackson Magazine, MS, January 30, 2013
The crisis in American and Mississippi education is with our high-risk children, those living in profound poverty or those who have learning disabilities. Though we must do better by all children, in Mississippi, as in the rest of America, we fail most our high-risk students.
MONTANA
Bill Calls For Charter Schools In Montana
Beartooth NBC, MT, January 30, 2013
Today a bill was heard in the house that could bring charter schools to the state of Montana.
NEVADA
Charter Schools, Vouchers On Education Leaders’ Wish List
Las Vegas Sun, NV, January 31, 2013
Nevada’s education leaders called for the expansion of charter schools and vouchers during a panel discussion highlighting School Choice Week.
NEW JERSEY
Most N.J. Charter School Facilities Outdated, Analysis Finds
Star-Ledger, NJ, January 30, 2013
Almost three-quarters of New Jersey’s charter schools that participated in a recent survey were built before 1970, and a third are housed in buildings not originally built as schools, according to an analysis released today.
N.J. Limitations On School Choice Blocks Opportunities For Students
Times of Trenton, NJ, January 31, 2013
If, as a nation, we choose our presidents, then why not our schools? Why, as parents, are we subjected to the dictates and mandates of an American education system gone awry, one that’s been hijacked by interests and decisions not of our choosing?
NEW YORK
Cuomo: State Might Impose Evaluations
Wall Street Journal, January 31, 2013
State officials will impose their own job evaluation system on New York City’s teachers if a deal isn’t reached soon between the union and the city, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.
Gov’s Teacher-Eval Ultimatum To Mike
New York Post, NY, January 31, 2013
If Mayor Bloomberg and the city teachers union can’t come up with their own teacher-evaluation plan, Albany will step in and do it for them, Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders warned yesterday.
OHIO
Kasich Rolling Out His Plan For Schools
Columbus Dispatch, OH, January 31, 2013
Gov. John Kasich will unveil his long-promised school-funding plan today, in which he’ll propose creating a $300 million “innovation fund” to support school initiatives to improve teaching and learning, sources said. Kasich also is expected to seek expansion of tax-funded tuition vouchers and an increase in state aid for tutoring and intervention services for struggling readers.
PENNSYLVANIA
Former Official Of Charter School Network Reportedly Will Plead Guilty
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 31, 2013
The former business manager of Dorothy June Brown’s charter school network has signaled that he intends to change his plea and admit that he played a role in Brown’s alleged scheme to defraud the schools of $6.7 million.
Look At The Effective Work By Charter Schools
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, January 31, 2013
Using a headline to imply that charter schools as “a class” are “sub-par” does a great disservice to the educators, parents and students who support charters as a viable educational option, particularly for traditionally underserved students (“Sub-Par Options: Charter Schools as a Class Don’t Measure Up,” Jan. 27 editorial).
Money, Charter Schools Main Focus Of First York City Schools’ Recovery Plan Meeting
York Daily Record, PA, January 30, 2013
The advisory committee charged with creating a recovery plan for the York City School District heard an overview of the district at its first meeting Wednesday night. The 20 members also shared some of their hopes and concerns for the committee, with concerns about money and charter schools being a main focus.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Choice Leads To Child-Centered Education
Aiken Standard, SC, January 30, 2013
In the S.C. House of Representatives we deal with a lot of issues. None are more important to families than education.
How Should We Measure Teacher Success?
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC, January 30, 2013
Browsing the S.C. Department of Education’s proposed “Educator Evaluation and Support Guidelines,” the model proposed to overhaul the state’s system for measuring teacher success, two conclusions present themselves.
TEXAS
Higher Learning: Ignite Offers Flexible Schedules For Students
Valley Morning Star, TX, January 30, 2013
Located in Raymondville, it is one of six charter schools in the Ignite Public School District. The schools have flexible schedules to accommodate students in different circumstances.
Charter School Network Gets $5 Million Pledge
Dallas Morning News, TX, January 30, 2013
The Harold Simmons Foundation will give $5 million over four years to Uplift Education, North Texas’ largest charter school network.
VIRGINIA
Va. Panel Backs A’s -To-F’s For Schools
Washington Times, DC, January 30, 2013
Virginia public schools will get the same kind of report cards their students take home if legislation endorsed Wednesday by a House of Delegates committee becomes law.
WISCONSIN
Tough Decisions Lie Ahead For Wisconsin’s School Voucher Program
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, January 30, 2013
A gathering sponsored by a national school choice group Wednesday in Milwaukee played to the theme of support for quality educational options for all children. Gov. Scott Walker, Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Thornton and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett – all in attendance – endorsed that sentiment.
Vouchers Hurt Public Schools
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, January 31, 2013
With voucher advocates trumpeting “National School Choice Week,” it is a fitting time to examine the proposed expansion of private school vouchers in Wisconsin. Some politicians are intent on slowly doing away with our public education system in favor of privatized education paid for with taxpayer money.
ONLINE LEARNING
Jeb Bush: Students Should Have The Choice Of Digital Schools
CNN, January 31, 2013
The Fair sisters graduated from Nevada Virtual Academy last spring and enrolled at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. After all the time she spent at the doctor’s office, Kaleigh is pursuing a degree in nursing – through online courses, of course.
Erie-Area Home-School Families Shifting To Online Programs
Erie Times News, PA, January 31, 2013
Harborcreek Township resident Dianne Jackson knew she had to make a change when she saw her daughter struggling in both public and private schools.
Our View: Too Soon To Call Virtual Schools A Failed Idea
Jackson Sun, TN, January 31, 2013
The Tennessee General Assembly approved what have come to be known as “virtual schools” in Tennessee. The state’s first, and only, online virtual school opened in 2011 in Union County.
Franklin School Board Plans For More Virtual Learning
Anderson Mail Independent, SC, January 30, 2013
Franklin County school superintendent Ruth O’Dell this week outlined the school system’s main objectives.
Idaho’s Largest Charter School Escapes Much Of The Criticism Aimed At Corporate Partner
Boise State Public Radio, ID, January 30, 2013
Wyatt’s mom, Jenifer Bell laughs at that. She says she turned to online education when her oldest child, Alexa reached school age. Her daughter was too sick to go to traditional school.