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
In Indiana, A Big Win For School Choice
Washington Post, DC, April 1, 2013
The school choice movement — which germinated 50 years ago in free-market economist Milton Friedman’s fertile mind — recently counted its largest victory.
Charter School Experiment A Success: Our View
USA Today, April 1, 2013
The arrival of charter schools in any city usually starts a fight.
Critics — whether district superintendents or teachers’ unions or school boards or a traveling band of academic doubters — snipe at the newcomers, arguing that they’re siphoning students and money from traditional public schools.
Charter Schools Possess No Magic Formula: Opposing View
USA Today, April 1, 2013
Studies of charter schools have usually shown they provide no benefits. But studies of schools run by KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) have shown strong performance. A new study suggests that KIPP middle schools may boost test-score growth by as much as eight months to eleven months over three years.
There Is A Broad Campaign Afoot To Undermine Support Of Public Schools
Union Leader, NH, April 1, 2013
The most important job of government is to insure that the next generation is educated. It isn’t just because it is the right thing to do for kids, it also is the right thing for society, to preserve and protect our national security, insure a thriving economy and continue the tradition of American leadership. To do the job, we need a strong public school system.
Should Public Money Be Used for Private Schools?
PBS New Hour, April 1, 2013
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld a law allowing taxpayer money to be used for private schools through vouchers. Hari Sreenivasan examines the implications with Kevin Chavous, executive counsel for American Federation for Children, which promotes vouchers, and Dennis van Roekel, president of the National Education Association.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
Pacific Collegiate Charter School Could Tap District For Space
Santa Cruz Sentinel, CA, April 1, 2013
When Pacific Collegiate School vacates its Santa Cruz campus in two years, the nationally pace-setting charter school will have a few options for relocation — all of which come with challenges.
FLORIDA
Parent-Trigger Bill, ‘Innovation Schools’ Proposal Advance
Tallahassee Democrat, FL, April 2, 2013
Contentious legislation that would allow parents to petition a school board with a plan to turn around an F-rated school has begun to advance in the state Senate.
ILLINOIS
How Much Demand Is There For Chicago Charter Schools? No One Knows.
WBEZ, IL, April 2, 2013
With admissions to the city’s charter schools handled independently, unmonitored by the school district, neither CPS nor the state knows how many children actually apply to charters.
LOUISIANA
LFT President Hopes Legislature Will Reconsider Voucher, Tenure Reforms
The Advertiser, LA, April 1, 2013
The Louisiana Federation of Teachers hopes that state legislators will revisit several of the education reform initiatives they passed last year when the 2013 session starts next Monday.
MAINE
Charter Schools Funding Comes Under Attack At State House
WABI, ME, April 1, 2013
Lawmakers are considering changes to Maine’s charter school law that would drastically impact their funding. If approved, charter school supporters say it could mean the end of these schools in Maine.
Bowen Argues Against ‘Death By 1,000 Cuts’ For Charter Schools, But Public School Officials Call Current Funding System Unfair
Bangor Daily News, ME, April 1, 2013
Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen said Monday that he is open to exploring new ways to fund charter schools as long as legislators aren’t intent on a future consisting of “death by 1,000 cuts” for the less than one-year-old system.
MASSACHUSETTS
Lowell Charter School Has New Plans
Lowell Sun, MA, April 1, 2013
The developer of the Lowell Collegiate Charter School is seeking to change its construction plan to include the complete demolition of the main Bradford Industries’ warehouse building at the Middlesex Street site
MICHIGAN
Senate Should Embrace EAA Bill To Expand Recovery School District In State
Detroit News, MI, April 2, 2013
A bill that would expand Michigan’s statewide district for the state’s worst-performing schools gained traction last month, passing the House by a narrow margin. The legislation seeks to place the Education Achievement Authority into law and offers fair guidelines. The Senate ought to take up the bill soon.
MISSISSIPPI
Senate Leadership Makes Concessions To Keep Charter Schools Bill Alive
Clarion Ledger, MS, April 1, 2013
Senate leaders signed off on the House version of charter schools legislation just 20 minutes before an 8 p.m. deadline Monday.
NEW JERSEY
Deep Concern Over Camden Schools Evident at Public Forum
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, April 2, 2013
Despite disagreements about specifics and particulars, underlying thrust is putting Camden’s public schools right
NEW MEXICO
Amendment Would Allow Recall Of School Boards
Las Cruces Sun-News, NM, April 2, 2013
In the face of spreading El Paso County school scandals, state Rep. Marisa Márquez on Monday introduced legislation that would allow Texas voters to decide whether they want the ability to recall school trustees.
OHIO
Charter Schools Would Receive ‘F’
Coshocton Tribune, OH, April 1, 2013
Seven in 10 Ohio charter schools wouldn’t make the grade under Ohio’s new school rating system, which will replace ambiguous terms with an A-F scale.
PENNSYLVANIA
City Claiming That Two Brown-Linked Charters Owe Back Taxes
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, April 2, 2013
Two of the three Philadelphia charter schools founded by Dorothy June Brown, who is under federal indictment, have some new legal headaches.
TENNESSEE
Fast Food, The Free Market And Quality School Choices
Commercial Appeal, TN, April 2, 2013
When it comes to education, Tennessee has set itself apart from the rest of the country. Tennesseans achieved this by coming together in a bipartisan manner to establish common-sense policies that are in the best interests of our children.
State-Approved Charters’ Funds Concern Metro
The Tennessean, TN, April 2, 2013
Metro Nashville school officials want a guarantee from the state legislature that, if an outside body is going to approve charter schools in Nashville, it will also protect the local districts from losing too much money in the process.
Dispute Of Details May Have Gov. Haslam’s Voucher Bill In Peril
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, April 1, 2013
Gov. Bill Haslam’s refusal to accept an expansion of his plan for launching a limited voucher system in Tennessee has raised the possibility that the measure will die in a dispute over details despite broad Republican support for the general idea.
TEXAS
Could AISD Lease the Allan Elementary Campus to IDEA?
KUT News, TX, April 2, 2013
The Austin School Board tonight will discuss possibly leasing the Allan Elementary School building to IDEA Public Schools, according to an item on the board’s agenda.
WASHINGTON
Give Principals More of A Voice In Teacher Placements
Seattle Times, WA, April 2, 2013
Principals need more of a say over teacher placements to ensure every student has an effective teacher.
12 State School Districts Agree To Authorize Charter Schools
NWCN, WA, April 2, 2013
A dozen Washington school districts have sent letters to the state Board of Education indicating intent to authorize charter schools starting in 2014, beating a Monday deadline.
WISCONSIN
Lawmaker Wants Tax Break For Private School Parents
WRN, WI, April 2, 2013
A state lawmaker is renewing a push to give families with kids in private schools a tax break.
State Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) says the parents of children in private school don’t get to take advantage of the money that goes to public education. So, the Neenah Republican is co-sponsoring legislation that offers a $1,500 tax credit for students in elementary school and $2,500 for those in high school.
ONLINE LEARNING
Dist. 203 Board Disenchanted With Virtual Charter School Proposal
Chicago Daily Herald, IL, April 2, 2013
With a list of almost 150 unanswered questions and no corporate representatives present to answer them Monday night, Naperville Unit District 203 officials had little to discuss regarding a proposal to operate a virtual online charter school in the district.
Utah Surpasses All Others In Digital Education, New Study Finds
Salt Lake Tribune, UT, April 1, 2013
Utah ranks No. 1 when it comes to state policies dealing with online education, according to a new national study.