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 Shouldn’t March Blindly To Jeb Bush’s School Agenda
The Olympian, WA, February 7, 2013
It’s understandable that state Senate Republicans are feeling their oats these days. After watching their bills get quashed in committee for the last eight years, the new Republican-controlled majority is pushing a flurry of bills on its pet issues with unleashed enthusiasm
FROM THE STATES
ALABAMA
House Committee Approves School Flexibility Bill
Anniston Star, AL, February 7, 2013
Despite the objections of the state’s largest teachers’ organization, the Alabama House of Representatives is moving ahead with a bill to provide local school systems more administrative flexibility.
ARIZONA
Bill Would Help Students Remain In Same Charter School System
Cronkite News, AZ, February 6, 2013
After six years as a parent at Archway Classical Academy in Chandler, Lori Venberg is searching for a new school for her daughter.
Parents Hear About Crane’s Science-Based Charter School
Yuma Sun. AZ, February 6, 2013
A large number of families from the community gathered Wednesday evening to find out more about the Gowan Science Academy, which will open this fall.
CALIFORNIA
Peabody Charter School Holds First of Four Attendance Lotteries
Noozhawk, CA, February 6, 2013
Capped at 750 students and with demand so high, the K-6 Santa Barbara school conducts a lottery every year
3 Santa Rosa Schools In Running For Spanish Immersion Charter
Press Democrat, CA, February 6, 2013
Comstock and Cook middle schools, as well as Lewis School on Lomitas Avenue, emerged Wednesday night as strong contenders to house the Spanish-language dual-immersion program planned by Santa Rosa City Schools.
CONNECTICUT
More Money For Schools, But How?
Greenwich Time, CT, February 6, 2013
It was not Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s pledge to continue the momentum of his education reform agenda by upping the state’s contribution to both traditional schools and public schools of choice that had some lawmakers worried Wednesday.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
D.C. Charter School Enrollment Outpaces That of DCPS
Washington Post, DC, February 6, 2013
The District’s public charter schools are growing far faster than the traditional school system, according to audited enrollment figures released Wednesday by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
FLORIDA
Proposed Bill Would Benefit Charter Schools
Tallahassee Democrat, FL, February 6, 2013
A Florida House panel is working on a bill that would ease the expansion of public charter schools.
GEORGIA
Atlanta Lawmakers Look Closely At Dublin Charter Schools
Macon Telegraph, GA, February 7, 2013
A bill that would let parents shut down failing schools or remove all employees is the only major piece of education legislation to appear in the Georgia General Assembly so far this year.
Dekalb School Board Can’t Find A Majority For New Chairman
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, February 6, 2013
They tried and tried again Wednesday, but the nine members of the DeKalb County school board still couldn’t find five votes to elect a new leader.
HAWAII
What’s Going On With Hawaii Ed Task Force On Teacher Evaluations?
Honolulu Civil Beat, HI, February 7, 2013
A state education task force formed to help come up with a teacher evaluation system is causing some consternation among members who worry little is being accomplished as a deadline for recommendations quickly approaches.
IDAHO
Charter Schools Operate Without Safety Net
KTVB, ID, February 6, 2013
Charter schools are an option that is only growing in demand. Along with that growth is the demand for equality, specifically when it comes to funding.
Charter School Students And Parents Rally For More Funding
KIVI-TV, ID, February 6, 2013
Hundreds of charter school students and their families gathered on the statehouse steps Wednesday afternoon.
INDIANA
State Board Of Education Gives Mayor Greg Ballard Control Of 4 State Controlled Schools
Indianapolis Star, IN, February 6, 2013
With a unanimous vote by the State Board of Education on Wednesday, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard expanded the growing group of local schools that his office oversees.
Keep Building, But Attract A Sponsor
Northwest Times, IN, February 7, 2013
The Charter School of the Dunes in Gary’s Miller area is going forward with construction of its new building even though Ball State University decided to stop sponsoring the school. It’s a gutsy move, but not the only one the school needs to make.
Charter Schools Have Unfair Advantage
Indianapolis Star, IN, February 7, 2013
The Indianapolis Star’s Feb. 3 “Hits and Misses” commentary criticizes my recent proposal for the Indianapolis mayor to collect the state law authorized nominal 3 percent administrative fee from charter schools he authorizes. Unfortunately, The Star omitted important information regarding this issue.
More Education Choice For More Parents In Indiana
News Sentinel, IN, February 7, 2013
School choice advocates got some very good news this week. Gov. Mike Pence announced his support for an expansion of Indiana’s voucher system that goes beyond what he advocated in his gubernatorial campaign.
IOWA
Senators Skeptical Of Seal For High School Diplomas
Des Moines Register, IA, February 6, 2013
A key provision of Gov. Terry Branstad’s education reform plan appears to be in trouble in the Iowa Senate.
LOUISIANA
Orleans Parish Charter Einstein Awarded $1 Million, Will Take Over Recovery School District Elementary
Times Picayune, LA, February 6, 2013
Einstein Charter School in eastern New Orleans has won $1 million and will take over the struggling Intercultural Charter this summer, marking the first time that a school under the control of the Orleans Parish School Board will assume leadership of a Recovery School District campus.
MAINE
One Student Finds Room To Grow At Sciences Academy
Kennebec Journal, ME, February 6, 2013
Alexander West grabs governor’s attention as typical charter school student
MASSACHUSETTS
Charter School Rebuts Claim That Special Ed Students Get Short Shrift
Boston Globe, MA, February 7, 2013
WE WERE pleased to see the article “Charter schools’ building costs cited” (Metro, Jan. 28), which points to a serious funding problem that many charter schools face.
MICHIGAN
Snyder Wants 2% Bump In Education Funding
Detroit News, MI, February 7, 2013
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder will propose giving public schools, universities and community colleges 2 percent more overall funding in the next school year.
MISSISSIPPI
Legislation Aimed At Punishing Desoto
DeSoto Times Tribune, MS, February 7, 2013
Legislation coming out of the State Capitol in Jackson is squarely aimed at undermining the state’s fastest growing and academically high achieving school system as punishment for helping to defeat charter school legislation last year.
Charter Schools Are Innovative
Hattiesburg American, MS, February 6, 2013
The advocacy coordinator for a Mississippi charter school lobbying group says the institutions would not take away tremendous financial resources from public schools, as some opponents of charter schools have argued.
MONTANA
‘School Choice’ Bills Advance On Mostly Party-Line Votes
Helena Independent Record, MT, February 7, 2013
A trio of “school-choice” bills that use state funds or tax credits to help finance private or charter schools passed out of legislative committees Wednesday on mostly party-line votes, with Democrats solidly opposed.
Charter Schools Are Not The Solution To AYP Concerns
Laurel Outlook, MT, February 6, 2013
In regard to recent legislative testimony on proposed Montana charter schools, the statement, “Only students that earn free and reduced lunch are eligible to apply for those [Supplemental Educational Services (SES)] services,” is accurate with the clarification that students qualify for, not earn, free and reduced lunch. That is a requirement of No Child Left Behind and Title I funding, both requirements of federal legislation.
NEW YORK
Syracuse Charter School Aims To Expand By 40 Percent
Post-Standard, NY, February 6, 2013
The Syracuse Academy of Science, one of two charter schools in Syracuse, is seeking permission to increase its enrollment by 40 percent over the next four years.
NORTH CAROLINA
Concord Parents Learn About Charter School
Charlotte Observer, NC, February 7, 2013
The parking lots and side streets of Fire Station No. 9 were full Feb. 5 as parents went to learn about a charter school opening in Concord in August.
Janet Joyner Says Education Reform Should Proceed Cautiously
Winston-Salem Journal, NC, February 7, 2013
It will be interesting to see how in-state interests are served by the particulars of state Rep. Donny Lambeth’s future bill to “charterize” the entire Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school district. An underlying theory of school “reform” schemes like parental choice and charter schools is that they improve education, especially for poor students.
PENNSYLVANIA
Charter School: Dollars And Common Sense
Burlington County Times, PA, February 6, 2013
As the Burlington County Times has reported, the Riverbank Charter School of Excellence in Florence has an application pending with the state for charter renewal and expansion to grades 4-5.
RHODE ISLAND
Achievement First to Spend $10M Renovating Closed Prov. School
WPRI, RI, February 7, 2013
Achievement First, which is set to open its first Rhode Island charter school in September, will spend approximately $10 million to renovate the vacant Oliver Hazard Perry Middle School on Hartford Avenue, according to Reshma Singh, the organization’s vice president of external relations.
TEXAS
Bright Ideas Chief Defends Low Scores
Times Record News, TX, February 7, 2013
Bright Ideas Charter School Principal Lynda Plummer defended the city’s only charter school despite glaringly low performances on the first administration of the new STAAR test compared with state and local peers.
Local Charter School Founder Questions Trial, Ruling
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, TX, February 6, 2013
Richard Baumgartner, the founder and director of Rise Academy in Lubbock, said he was opposed to the Texas Charter Schools Association becoming one of six parties in the school finance lawsuit that wrapped up Monday.
VIRGINIA
Virginia Needs More Charter Schools, But Not This One
Washington Examiner, DC, February 6, 2013
Virginia will remain a school choice desert, thanks to state Senate Democrats. In defiance of even President Obama’s policy toward charters, they killed a bill empowering the state Board of Education to authorize new public charter schools.
WISCONSIN
‘Choice’ Sparks Debate
Beloit Daily News, WI, February 6, , 2013
Parents deserve more choices, according to panelists who spoke out at an informational meeting on school choice Tuesday in Beloit.
ONLINE LEARNING
Stahle: Cyber Schools Deserve Funding
Times Herald, PA, February 6, 2013
It must be fun to work in your pajamas. People think that’s really what I do. In actuality, I teach at a cyber charter school; one where families choose how and where to educate their children.
Ligonier Valley Wary As State Revises Marks For Cyber Schools
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA, February 6, 2013
Under either standard, none of the seven charter or cyber schools attended by students living within Ligonier Valley School District made adequate progress last year, according to state statistics.
Digital Learning Day — Students, Educators Share Enthusiasm For Continuing Initiative
Register Herald, WV, February 7, 2013
Technology providing new opportunities to personalize challenges in the classroom
Virtual Schools In Iowa Gaining Popularity
KWWL, IA, February 6, 2013
A new school in Iowa is getting some attention and helping a lot of kids who want a different option than a traditional school.
Nevada Schools Push Bill To Expand Access To Digital Learning
Reno Gazette Journal, NV, February 6, 2013
What is taught in Vegas won’t have to stay in Vegas if Clark County finds success in Carson City with its Digital Learning Act. It won’t have to stay in Reno, either.
Troubled K-12 Virtual School Receives 1-Year Charter Extension—With Conditions
KUNC, CO, February 7, 2013
The state’s largest K-12 virtual school will stay open for one more year. Struggling with poor academic performance, compliance and board governance issues, 12-year-old Colorado Virtual Academy had faced opposition from its authorizer, Adams 12 Five Star in January.