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FROM THE STATES
ALABAMA
Common Core Controversy
Times Daily, AL, February 28, 2013
More than 100 people crowded into the Alabama House chamber for a public hearing Wednesday on legislation that would repeal education standards known as Common Core, previously adopted by the state school board for the public schools.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
DC Public Schools Start Campaign To Hang Onto Students
Washington Examiner, DC, February 27, 2013
DC Public Schools has started an “aggressive” campaign to persuade parents whose children attend one of 15 schools being closed not to abandon the school system for charter or private schools.
Plan Approved For D.C.’s Largest Charter School
Washington Examiner, DC, February 27, 2013
The DC Public Charter School Board has approved what could become the District’s largest charter school.
FLORIDA
Seminole: New Evaluations Imperil Good Teachers’ Jobs
Orlando Sentinel, FL, February 27, 2013
Seminole County schools are among the highest performing in the state. Yet hundreds of Seminole teachers could end up with poor job reviews next year under Florida’s proposed system for calculating teacher evaluations.
Florida Democrats Seek To Cushion Expected Changes To Charter School Law
Tampa Bay Times Blog, FL, February 27, 2013
Majority Republicans in the Florida House and Senate have made no secret of their desire to expand the reach of charter schools in the state, with legislation filed to give charters more access to construction funds and to allow even more growth of the publicly funded, privately run schools.
GEORGIA
Jerguson Recommended For Charter Council
Cherokee Tribune, GA, February 28, 2013
Former state Rep. Sean Jerguson was recommended to fill a recently vacated seat on Cherokee Charter Academy’s Local Governing Council during its meeting Wednesday.
IDAHO
Idaho Legislature Considers Overhaul Of State’s Charter School Law
Boise State Public Radio, ID, February 28, 2013
Idaho lawmakers are considering a re-write of the state’s charter school law. Thursday they’ll hear from the public.
Committee Advances Charter School Funding Bill
Coeur d’Alene Press, ID, February 27, 2013
A House committee has taken a step toward putting Idaho’s collection of charter schools in a better financial position to pay their monthly building and maintenance bills.
ILLINOIS
CPS Cracks Down On Underperforming Charters
Chicago Tribune, IL, February 27, 2013
The Chicago Public Schools board indicated it plans to place more scrutiny on the academic and financial performance of charter schools, approving plans Wednesday to gradually close two charters and warning six others that they’ll have to shape up or face the same fate.
INDIANA
New Charter Approved If Requirements Met
The Journal Gazette, IN, February 28, 2013
The Indiana Charter School Board voted 5-1 Wednesday to approve a Carpe Diem Indiana charter school for Fort Wayne – with some conditions.
Imagine Says Ball State Is Not Communicating
The Journal Gazette, IN, February 28, 2013
Imagine MASTer Academy board President Pat Sheean expressed frustration during a meeting Wednesday about the lack of communication with Ball State University, which is the charter school’s authorizer until June.
Charter Schools Could Be The New Educational Battle Ground
WIBC, IN, February 27, 2013
While the state awaits a decision from the Indiana Supreme Court on the legality of its school voucher program, the new education battle ground may be charter schools.
LOUISIANA
Education Superintendent John White Will Present Alternative Funding Method For School Vouchers
Times-Picayune, LA, February 28, 2013
State Education Superintendent John White said on Wednesday that he will float a voucher-funding proposal Thursday that could sidestep the law’s pending appeal to the state Supreme Court.
Jindal’s Charter Authority Expansion Initiative Falls Flat In First Year
Times-Picayune, LA, February 27, 2013
It was one of the more controversial provisions of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s 2012 education reform package: allowing local nonprofits, public agencies and colleges to grant charters to schools. But when the deadline passed last week for interested entities to submit a letter of intent, not a single group wanted in.
MASSACHUSETTS
State OKs School Charter A Second Time
Haverhill Gazette, MA, February 28, 2013
When students at teachers at Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter School returned from February vacation, a surprise was waiting for them.
NEVADA
The Doral Academy Is An Example Of How To Create An ‘Arts-Integration’ Charter School In A Lot Of Not Particularly Easy Steps
Las Vegas City Life, NV, February 27, 2013
Whoever heard of something rising from the ashes of a phoenix? That’s what’s taking place just off the 215 Beltway on the far west side of town. Doral Academy of Nevada charter school is moving into a former University of Phoenix campus and plans to hold its first classes in August.
NEW JERSEY
Charter-School Reform, On Back Burner, Starts to Heat Up Again
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, February 28, 2013
Talk of revising the state’s charter-school law is picking up again, with one major player now saying that he plans to have a bill ready by spring or early summer.
PENNSYLVANIA
Reading Board Denies Application For Charter Middle School
Reading Eagle, PA, February 28, 2013
An application to create a new charter middle school in Reading was denied Wednesday night by the Reading School Board.
Pittsburgh School Board Rejects 2 Charter Schools; 3rd Tabled
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, February 28, 2013
The Pittsburgh Public Schools board Wednesday night rejected two applications to open charter schools this fall and tabled a third, effectively denying it because of requirements to act within a certain time window.
Lehigh Valley Superintendents Implore Lawmakers For Charter, Special Education Funding Reforms
Lehigh Valley Express-Times, PA, February 27, 2013
A group of Lehigh Valley superintendents today detailed the impact of state budget cuts on their districts and implored Democratic legislators to reform Pennsylvania’s charter school laws.
RHODE ISLAND
Teacher Evaluations Too Lengthy; Won’t Help
Valley Breeze, RI, February 27, 2013
The new teacher evaluation system in Rhode Island requires too much of a teacher’s time to implement and requires teachers to change many of their long-held teaching techniques. Many teachers feel that this new system will burn them out and decrease their effectiveness.
TENNESSEE
TN Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman Says Charters Can Serve Better
The Tennessean, TN, February 28, 2013
Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman thinks most school systems are big bureaucracies that waste money that should be spent on students. At least that is what he told an audience of about 60 people Wednesday at Vanderbilt University.
Charter Schools Hurt MNPS
The Tennessean, TN, February 28, 2013
Charter schools are not the answer to the problems of the Metro Nashville Public Schools.
TEXAS
Big School Reforms Should Be The Goal, Jeb Bush Says
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, TX, February 27, 2013
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush urged Texas to swing for the fences when overhauling public education, telling state senators Wednesday that he was able to transform foundering schools in his home state with big — if often unpopular — ideas.
WASHINGTON
Coalition Files Legal Challenge To State Charter-Schools Law
Seattle Times, WA, February 27, 2013
A coalition of educators and community groups on Wednesday filed a legal challenge with the state attorney general, questioning the constitutionality of Washington’s new charter schools law.
Washington Attorney General Plans to Follow Voters’ Will on Charter School Law
KNDO, WA, February 28, 2013
Washington State’s Attorney General says his job is to follow the will of the voters when it comes to the charter school law.
And that’s what he plans to do in response to a legal challenge to that voter-approved charter schools law.
Any Charter School Is One Too Many For State Teachers’ Union
MyNorthwest, WA, February 27, 2013
The Washington Education Association is challenging the law voters approved last fall to create up to 40 charter schools in the state within the next five years.
WEST VIRGINIA
Education Bill May Be On Fast Track In Senate
The Herald-Dispatch, WV, February 28, 2013
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s public education reform bill — introduced only three days ago — is considered to be on the fast track in the West Virginia Senate. But Sen. Erik Wells, D-Kanawha, predicted Wednesday that the Senate Education Committee will be preparing a committee substitute before sending it to the Senate Finance Committee.
WISCONSIN
More than 120 Schools Plan to Participate in Voucher Program in the Next School Year
WUMN, WI, February 27, 2013
The state Department of Public Instruction says 123 private nonsectarian and religious schools have registered to accept students in the coming school year, as part of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Another 13 schools have registered to participate in the school choice program in Racine.
Scott Walker’s Plan Would Give Charter Schools More Autonomy
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, February 27, 2013
Wisconsin school boards would have less control over their own charter schools under Gov. Scott Walker’s state budget proposal.
ONLINE LEARNING
Bill To Incentivize Year-Round School, Blended Learning Clears Committee
Deseret News, UT, February 27, 2013
More schools may consider implementing a year-round schedule or blended learning in classrooms if a bill advanced Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee becomes law.
Senate Approves Online Charter School Moratorium
Associated Press, February 28, 2013
New Mexico would impose a temporary moratorium on new fully online charter schools under a proposal approved by the Senate.