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
Will Charter Schools Survive The Confusing Charter Movement?
Washington Post Blog, DC, April 3, 2013
There has been a flood of news about charter schools recently, and in the following post, Jeff Bryant, a marketing and communications consultant for nonprofits, tries to make sense of it.
Another Voucher Victory
Chicago Tribune, IL, April 4, 2013
We imagine the justices of the Indiana Supreme Court were surprised to find themselves ruling on an issue the U.S. Supreme Court essentially had resolved in an Ohio case 11 years ago: No, plaintiffs, you’re wrong — publicly funded education vouchers do not unconstitutionally divert public money to religious schools.
Bill Gates: A Fairer Way To Evaluate Teachers
Washington Post, DC, April 3, 2013
In much the same way that sports teams identify and nurture talent, there is a window of opportunity in public education to create systems that encourage and develop fantastic teachers, leading to better results for students.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
YES Appeal Should Focus On Merits
Appeal Democrat, CA, April 3, 2013
We hope the Yuba County Office of Education gives full consideration to an appeal by YES Charter Academy.
Proposal For Parent-Trigger Overhaul At L.A. School Well-Received
Los Angeles Times, CA, April 3, 2013
Leaders of a parent group have endorsed a plan to improve 24th Street Elementary, which would be jointly run by L.A. Unified and Crown Prep charter school.
CONNECTICUT
Funding For Charter Schools
Hartford Courant, CT, April 3, 2013
I am the parent of a student at Explorations Charter School in Winsted. I urge continued support for increasing the per-pupil funding for charter school students proposed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
Charter Schools Give Children A Chance
CT Post, CT, April 3, 2013
Hugh Bailey, in his recent column, “Spend the money where it’s needed most” (published March 29) forgot an important fact when he advocated against charter schools: Public charter schools are actually making a difference in the lives of children in our community.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Nine D.C. Charter School Applicants To Present Ideas At Public Hearing
Washington Post, DC, April 4, 2013
Nine groups seeking to open new charter schools in the District will present their ideas at a D.C. Public Charter School Board hearing Monday.
D.C. Schools Brace For Population Boom
Washington Examiner, DC, April 3, 2013
The District is seeing a boom in its population of children younger than 5, prompting local education experts to question whether the city’s schools can handle the growth.
FLORIDA
Grading Teachers
Gainesville Sun, FL, April 4, 2013
Once again, Florida has made the national news for all the wrong reasons. The New York Times reported Sunday that a growing number of states are implementing teacher-evaluation systems to weed out weak instructors.
School Choice Advocates Rally at Florida Capitol
Sunshine State News, FL, April 4, 2013
With Florida’s legislative session at its midway point, calls for action get a little louder — including advocates for school choice.
GEORGIA
Why Are We Still Waiting For More School Choice?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, April 3, 2013
The sad thing about the cheating scandal at Atlanta Public Schools during much of the past decade is that APS wasn’t alone. There was also Dougherty County.
ILLINOIS
The Thirst For Charter Schools
Chicago Tribune, IL, April 4, 2013
It’s no secret that this page strongly supports charter schools. That support is based on the outstanding performance of the best charter schools, on the growing demand from parents and students for more education options and on the vast potential for innovation at these schools.
Rahm’s Latest Union Beating
Wall Street Journal, April 4, 20
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Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel may have thought he bought labor peace when he agreed to a fat increase in teacher pay to settle a strike last year. Instead the Chicago Teachers Union is throwing massive resistance against his plan to close 54 under-used public schools.
LOUISIANA
White Grilled On Voucher Funding
The Advertiser, LA, April 4, 2013
Superintendent of Education John White maintained in testimony Wednesday before the House Appropriations Committee that local school systems’ funds are not given to private schools to pay for vouchers. But White did acknowledge that systems lose both their state and local share of funds for every student who transfers to a voucher school.
MAINE
Harpswell Charter School Faces Funding, Legislative Hurdles
Bangor Daily News, ME, April 3, 2013
Before Harpswell Coastal Academy opens to 60 students this fall, the charter school has many hurdles to clear.
MARYLAND
Pr. George’s Delegation Backs Schools Shift, But Full Takeover Bid Falls Short
Washington Post, DC, April 4, 2013
A compromise bill to alter the leadership of the Prince George’s County school system won a key approval Wednesday in Annapolis, but the measure falls far short of the sweeping changes County Executive Rushern L. Baker III proposed in his bid to take over the schools.
MISSOURI
St. Elizabeth Academy Could See New Life As Charter School
St, Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, April 4, 2013
That night, she began talking with other alumnae of the school about a way to save St. Elizabeth Academy. What has developed is a plan to transform it into what would eventually be a charter school, leaving behind its roots in Catholic education.
MONTANA
Senate Advances Watered-Down Charter School Bill; House Endorses Other School Choice Bill
Billings Gazette, MT, April 3, 2013
The state Senate Wednesday endorsed a bill allowing public charter schools in Montana, but not before a razor-close vote watered down the proposal by limiting any new charter school’s independence from state education rules.
NEW JERSEY
Three Dozen Applicants Submit Bids for Charter Schools
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, April 4, 2013
With interest hardly abating, nearly 40 applications were filed this week to open new charter schools in New Jersey – a vast majority in cities and one with a notable political name in its title.
NEW YORK
Activist’s ‘Private’ Issue
Wall Street Journal, April 4, 2013
The New York City Department of Education’s most prominent parent activist found herself in an uncomfortable position Wednesday—defending her surprising decision to send her children to private school.
NORTH CAROLINA
Republicans Are Unshackling Charters
Greensboro Rhino Times, NC, April 4, 2013
A bill that would fix a lot of the problems the Democrats built into the charter school system was introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Jerry Tillman, a retired school administrator from Archdale who represents Randolph and Moore counties. State Rep. Jon Hardister from Greensboro sponsored a companion bill in the state House.
OHIO
Charter School’s Rapid Rise Raises Questions
Springfield News-Sun, OH, April 3, 2013
Springfield Prep’s scores soared as it tripled number of students with disabilities. Charter’s leader says smaller classes, more instruction time are keys to improvement.
OKLAHOMA
Students’ Self-esteem Should Be Based On Actual Achievement
The Oklahoman, OK, April 4, 2013
SOCIAL promotion is common in Oklahoma, particularly in schools serving low-income children. This strengthens the case for a new law requiring third-grade students to master reading before advancing. It could even help break the cycle of poverty.
PENNSYLVANIA
Opinion Story On PSSA Exams Hits Nerve With Parents
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, April 4, 2013
If you want to get a conversation started with parents, just mention two words: “standardized tests.”
TENNESSEE
Charter School Applicant Says Board Is Biased
The Tennessean, TN, April 4, 2013
Williamson County Schools officials received the district’s first charter school application earlier this week.
Charter School Bill Moves Forward
The Tennessean, TN, April 4, 2013
Legislation creating a new state panel that could approve charter schools in Tennessee’s largest cities cleared a House Subcommittee Wednesday after Republicans defeated a Democrat-backed amendment to add “financial guardrails” — protections the Metro school board has sought.
Against Push for Expansion, Haslam Pulls Voucher Bill
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, April 3, 2013
By pushing for a more expansive school voucher program than Gov. Bill Haslam wanted, key state Senate Republicans probably have assured that no voucher bill of any sort will be enacted this year.
SMU Teams Up With KIPP Charter Schools To Recruit Students From Diverse Backgrounds, Poor Families
Dallas Morning News, TX, April 3, 2013
Southern Methodist University is partnering with KIPP, a charter school company, to attract greater diversity to the university and help KIPP students succeed in college.
Lawmakers Reject McDonnell Bid To Alter School Takeover Division
Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA, April 4, 2013
Gov. Bob McDonnell’s statewide school division effort took a bipartisan thumping Wednesday as the General Assembly rejected his attempts to tweak the concept and secure more funding.
County Districts Will Wait And See On Charter Schools
Everett Herald, WA, April 4, 2013
We’re getting a clearer idea this week of where Washington’s first charter schools may open, and it’s not likely to be Snohomish County.
Wisconsin Floats Private School Tuition Tax Break
Oshkosh Northwestern, WI, April 3, 2013
A Republican-backed proposal giving tax credits to parents of students in private schools is being floated in the Legislature as negotiations continue behind closed doors to find an alternative to Gov. Scott Walker’s school voucher expansion plan.
ONLINE LEARNING
League Of Women Voters Against K12 Online Charter Schools
Kane County Chronicle, IL, April 4, 2013
As 18 school districts in the Fox River Valley are poised either to accept or reject a proposal for an online virtual charter school, the League of Women Voters of Illinois will urge them to reject the application.
S.C. And Digital Learning: Good, Bad, Ugly
The Times and Democrat, SC, April 4, 2013
So the question is: How is South Carolina doing in integrating digital learning into our public schools? The report card is in and the answer truly is – good, bad and ugly.