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
Revamped GED Faces First Big Challenge
Wall Street Journal, February 21, 2013
Oldest High-School Equivalency Test Adapts to New Education Standards, With Other For-Profit Firms Quick on Its Heels
Satisfaction Tumbles For Teachers, Principals; Job Interference, Cuts Add Pressure
Washington Times, DC, February 21, 2013
The job satisfaction of teachers has plummeted to its lowest level in a quarter-century as shrinking school-district budgets take a toll on the psyche of American educators, a major study shows.
School Choice: We Can’t Help The Poor By Helping Only Them
Atlanta Journal Constitution Blog, GA, February 21, 2013
Opponents of school choice measures such as vouchers or tax-credit scholarships love to do a little two-step.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Michelle Rhee Group Donates $250,000 To Candidates In LAUSD Races
Los Angeles Times, CA, February 20, 2013
from StudentsFirst, led by the former District of Columbia schools chancellor, will benefit races of board President Monica Garcia and two other candidates.
Not Measuring Up?
Santa Maria Sun, CA, February 19, 2013
The message “S.O.S. Save Our School”—emblazoned in white on red T-shirts worn by teachers, parents, and faculty association representatives—appeared on a quarter of the crowd at a Feb. 13 school board meeting in Santa Maria.
More Students Taking And Passing Advanced Placement Exams
Los Angeles Times, CA, February 21, 2013
Nearly one-third of high school graduates nationwide took at least one of the tests and nearly one in five had passing scores in 2012, the College Board reported.
GEORGIA
DeKalb School Board To Face Charges By Accrediting Agency
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, February 20, 2013
When a private accrediting agency downgraded the DeKalb County school district last year, it said its allegations were built on “significant and irrefutable evidence.
INDIANA
Senate Panel Gives ‘F’ To School Letter Grades
Northwest Times, IN, February 20, 2013
The Senate Education Committee approved legislation Wednesday that could end Indiana’s A-F school grading system, permit some illegal immigrants to continue receiving in-state college tuition and give certain school corporations a say in whether new charter schools can open.
Bill Would Allow Some School Corps. To Approve Charters
Post Tribune, IN, February 20, 2013
School corporations that have a high number of charter schools could get more input on whether a new charter school is established within their boundaries.
Just How Scared Is Indiana GOP Of School Supt. Glenda Ritz?
Journal and Courier, IN, February 20, 2013
Say what you will about Tony Bennett, Indiana’s one-term, whirling education reform dervish. But he made a historically weak state school superintendent position strong enough that his fellow Republicans fear the woman who took him down in the 2012 election.
Bill To Ban Teacher Union Deductions Advances
South Bend Tribune, IN, February 21, 2013
Republicans sparked protests from teachers and union officials Tuesday by pushing legislation through a House committee that would bar Indiana schools from automatically deducting union dues from teacher paychecks, an issue that critics thought was off the table this year.
Republicans Seek To Take Ritz’s Power
WISHTV, IN, February 20, 2013
There’s a power struggle underway at the Statehouse and State School Superintendent Glenda Ritz is in the middle of it.
IOWA
Iowa Education Reform Bill Advances
Quad City Times, IA, February 20, 2013
The Iowa House pushed through Gov. Terry Branstad’s education reform package on a party-line vote Wednesday, moving the debate over how teachers are recruited, paid, evaluated and promoted to the Iowa Senate.
LOUISIANA
Special Education Plan May Be Illegal
Monroe News Star, LA, February 21, 2013
A plan concentrating the state’s focus on special education students and ultimately improving their graduation rates has many education stakeholders concerned that the plan may not be what’s best for the children while some say parts of it may be illegal.
MARYLAND
Test Scores A Valid Way To Gauge Teachers
Maryland Gazette, MD, February 21, 2013
As many of the state’s 24 school systems continue to struggle with crafting teacher and principal evaluations that reliably measure effectiveness, the pressures on local officials continue to mount.
‘Hybrid’ School Board Bill Defeated In State Senate Delegation
Baltimore Sun, MD, February 20, 2013
The state Senate’s latest attempt to add representation to Baltimore County’s Board of Education died again Tuesday morning when Sen. Ed Kasemeyer withdrew his support for the bill, causing a 4-4 deadlock in the Baltimore County delegation’s vote.
MASSACHUSETTS
Turkish Charter Schools Growing As Some Question Cleric Ties
Boston Globe, MA, February 21, 2013
A group of Turkish-born educators running Everett’s Pioneer Charter School of Science is poised to open another school, adding to a growing number of math- and science-focused charter schools across the country operated by Turkish-Americans.
MICHIGAN
Judge Restores Some Power To DPS Board Of Education
Detroit News, MI, February 21, 2013
For at least the next five weeks, Detroit Public Schools emergency financial manager Roy Roberts must consult with the Detroit Board of Education on a host of issues, including academics, school security and temporary school closings, under a court ruling Wednesday.
Graduation Rates Should Spark Fundamental School Reforms
Battle Creek Enquirer, MI, February 20, 2013
It’s important that we have a handle on how many high school students are graduating on time, but it’s far more important that we understand who is succeeding, who isn’t and why.
MONTANA
Several Bills Undermine Local Schools
Billings Gazette, MT , February 21, 2013
Montanans love their public schools. So it is astonishing to see several bills at the Legislature undermining taxpayer money for schools.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Hassan Hurts Poor Families By Eliminating Tuition Tax Credits
Union Leader, NH, February 20, 2013
In her budget address before the Legislature last Thursday, Gov. Maggie Hassan pledged to repeal the nascent Opportunity Scholarship Act (OSA). The law grants tax credits to businesses that help low- and middle-income students afford independent and home schooling.
NEW YORK
Plan Would Let State Take Control of City’s Teacher Evaluation System
New York Times, NY, February 21, 2013
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo proposed a measure on Wednesday that would establish a new teacher evaluation system for New York City if the Bloomberg administration and the teachers’ union remained at odds over adopting one.
Second Stanford Report Finds Gains for NYC Charters
WNYC Schoolbook, NY, February 20, 2013
Students in New York City charter schools make larger learning gains, on average, in both reading and mathematics, according to a new report from Stanford University researchers. But the gains are much more pronounced in math.
DOE Changes Plan To Co-Locate Transfer School With Charter Elementary School
NY1, NY, February 20, 2013
Dozens of public school students suing the Department of Education over a proposal to co-locate a charter school at say the city handed them a victory Wednesday night.
OHIO
Districts Try To Recover Money Lost To Charter Schools
Hamilton Journal News, OH, February 20, 2013
Area school districts are taking different approaches to recoup the millions of dollars they are losing to charter schools each year.
OREGON
Senate Education Committee To Discuss Private-School Tax Credits Bill Today
Statesman Journal, OR, February 20, 2013
An Oregon lawmaker wants to ask voters to allow tax credits to pay for tuition at private and religious schools.
PENNSYLVANIA
High Pay For School ‘Chef’ An Unappetizing Move
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, February 21, 2013
Even though LEAP’s food budget is mostly paid through funds received from the federal school breakfast and lunch programs, it is unsettling to see its chef being paid so much.
Pa. Took $8.7 Million From Philadelphia School District, Gave It To Charters
Philadelphia Inquirer Notebook Blog, PA, February 20, 2013
The Philadelphia School District’s losing fight to limit enrollments at individual charter schools has a new price tag: $8.7 million and counting.
No Need For Charter Schools Here
The Reporter, PA, February 20, 2013
No need for charter schools The North Penn School District does not need three, two, or one charter school(s). Let the folks interested in starting the charter schools find a school district that is really struggling.
City School Board Says No to Championship Academy
York Dispatch, PA, February 21, 2013
Championship Academy of Distinction has been denied in its efforts to become the sixth charter school in the York City School District.
Erie School Board Rejects Two Charter School Proposals
Erie Times-News, PA, February 21, 2013
The Erie School Board rejected applications for two proposed charter schools Wednesday night.
RHODE ISLAND
‘You Come First,’ Almond Assures School Officials During BV Prep Lease Talks
Valley Breeze, RI, February 20, 2013
With multiple people talking at once, and even the use of the superintendent’s “teacher voice,” the special Lincoln School Committee meeting last Wednesday was more animated than usual as members and officials discussed the future of Fairlawn School, and how charter schools affect the district.
TEXAS
Charter-Friendly HISD Doesn’t Like Sen. Dan Patrick’s Charter School Bill
Houston Press Blog, TX, February 21, 2013
Sen. Dan Patrick’s charter school bill has drawn the ire of the one school district that probably would have been the most favorably inclined to support it: Houston.
WISCONSIN
Expert: Walker’s School Choice Plan Could Spark Another Act 10-Style Battle
Dubuque Telegraph Herald, WI, February 20, 2013
Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal seeking to expand Wisconsin’s voucher and charter schools could serve as another political lightning rod in the charter school movement, possibly bringing a return to massive Capitol demonstrations, according to a national charter education expert.
New Open Enrollment Law Makes School Choice Easier
Lacrosse Tribune, WI, February 21, 2013
Tiffany McGathy couldn’t leave the Onalaska School District without knowing her son and two daughters could stay at the local schools.
K-12 Education Budget Would Target How Schools Perform
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, February 20, 2013
Much of the roughly $277 million in new money for K-12 education is focused on performance measures — bonuses for top-rated public schools, voucher and independent charter school expansion for districts with low-rated schools, and funding for mandatory ACT and 4K-2 reading tests and teacher evaluations.
ONLINE LEARNING
Cape Cod Educators Get Rundown On Virtual Schools
Yarmouth Register, MA, February 20, 2013
About a dozen Cape and Islands educators learned more about what the new Commonwealth Virtual Schools Act would mean for their school systems during a presentation by the VHS Collaborative at the Cape Cod Collaborative in Osterville last Friday.
Group: Districts Overpay For Cyber Schools
Chambersburg Public Opinion, PA, February 20, 2013
Local school districts pay too much under state law to fund cyber charter schools, according to a new organization dedicated to reform.
Cyber Academy Continues To Evolve With Technology
Rio Rancho Observer, NM, February 20, 2013
If you want to learn first-hand the way a bill comes about, you go to the Roundhouse in Santa Fe.
Oregon’s Largest Charter School Miseducated Student For Years, Graduated Her Unable To Read Or Write
The Oregonian, OR, February 20, 2013
Katherine Brafford is a young woman of sparkling intellect whose interests span from genetics to Gregorian chant. She also has a rare vision impairment that has worsened to the point that she needs the same services as someone who is blind.