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
Michelle Rhee And The Unproven Teacher Evaluation
Los Angeles Times, CA, April 17, 2013
The debate — and that’s putting it nicely — over the use of standardized test scores in teacher evaluations has always confused me, because the answer seemed so simple. One of the things we ask of teachers — but just one thing — is to raise those scores. So they have some place in the evaluation. But how much?
Education Reform: The ‘Choice’ Is Clear
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA, April 17, 2013
Imagine a federally funded education program that not only delivers what’s intended but provides a 162 percent return on investment. Incidentally, this would be the same initiative that President Obama unsuccessfully tried to quash in 2009.
Rice Backs Merit Pay For Teachers
The Advocate, LA, April 18, 2013
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a Baton Rouge audience Wednesday that merit pay for teachers and school choice are among steps needed to improve the nation’s education system.
Teachers Union’s Hedge Fund Enemy List
Wall Street Journal Blog, April 17, 2013
The nation’s second biggest teachers union is out to school the hedge fund world.
STATE COVERAGE
ALABAMA
Alabama Public Education Is Ranked Low – Again
Anniston Star, AL, April 17, 2013
Say this much about the Center for Education Reform: It’s not a fan of the quality of public education in Alabama.
CALIFORNIA
County Board Concerned With BCS’ Lack Of Diversity, Community Discord
Los Altos Town Crier, CA, April 17, 2013
Bullis Charter School’s annual report to the Santa Clara County Board of Education left some board members concerned about the school’s lack of diversity and wondering whether its exemplary academic program outweighs the community discord over sharing facilities with the Los Altos School District.
LAUSD OKs Parent-Trigger Petition
Los Angeles Times, CA, April 18, 2013
The school board ratifies a partnership between L.A. Unified and a charter school to take control of the low-performing 24th Street Elementary in Jefferson Park.
COLORADO
St. Vrain Valley School District’s Charters Team Up To Work On Issues
Longmont Daily Times-Call, CO, April 18, 2013
So five of the six charter school boards are negotiating a memorandum of understanding to clarify how much of the 2012 mill levy override funds will go the charter schools and when that money will be distributed.
CONNECTICUT
11 “Developing” Teachers Face Possible Removal
New Haven Independent, CT, April 17, 2013
Twenty-nine teachers may lose their jobs at the end of the school year as the district’s new teacher evaluation system moves to a new phase: Pushing out not just lowest-performing teachers, but those who failed to improve to “effective” over three years.
DELAWARE
Pencader Seeks $350,000 Bailout From The State
The News Journal, DE, April 18, 2013
Like thousands of parents across Delaware, Ron Prettyman can’t wait to see his son James receive his high school diploma.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Study: Charters Get Less Funding Than Traditional Public Schools
Washington Post, DC, April 17, 2013
Public charter schools received significantly less funding than traditional public schools in five cities, including the District, between 2007 and 2011, according to a new study released Wednesday.
Injecting Integrity Into D.C. Schools Testing
Washington Post, DC, April 17, 2013
Mr. Catania, chair of the council’s education committee, will hold a hearing Thursday on legislation that would make cheating on standardized tests illegal and establish some test-security protocols for the city’s traditional and charter public schools
D.C. Council, Residents Criticize School-Funding Formula
Washington Examiner, DC, April 17, 2013
The District’s funding of schools based on the number of students they enroll is flawed, D.C. Council Education Committee Chairman David Catania said Wednesday.
IOWA
Education Deal Seems Unlikely As Feud Ignites In Iowa Legislature
Des Moines Register, IA, April 18, 2013
Progress on top-priority education reform was stymied by arguments and recriminations in the Iowa Legislature on Wednesday, as the governor’s office released a video critical of Democrats and lawmakers were unable to agree even on a negotiation strategy.
Iowa Lawmakers Dally On Education
Mason City Globe Gazette, IA, April 18, 2013
Only a generous teacher could give Iowa lawmakers an incomplete for education reform. Anyone else who blew off a homework deadline would earn an “F.”
MAINE
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em …: School Board Seeks Pact With Proposed Brunswick Charter School
Forecaster, ME, April 17, 2013
In an attempt to provide an alternative to nearby charter schools, the School Board is in preliminary talks for a partnership with a proposed charter school at Brunswick Landing.
MICHIGAN
Detroit Schools Get Graded
Detroit News, MI, April 17, 2013
A new ranking of elementary and middle schools from Excellent Schools Detroit showcases the best schools in Detroit — as well as the worst. The ranking is based solely on state standardized test scores (the MEAP), but it’s still a good indicator of how well schools are teaching the kids in their care.
Failing Schools
Lansing State Journal, MI, April 17, 2013
Tom Watkins recently chided Michigan educators for not offering school reform ideas. The popular term Failing Schools has long been the central theme of public-education detractors and reform advocates.
Charter Schools Spell Trouble
The Macomb Daily, MI, April 18, 2013
Mayor Fouts in his recent letter to the editor provided some important facts about charter schools. The expansion of charter schools in Michigan will continue to take away much needed funds from our local school districts.
MISSISSIPPI
‘New Era’: Governor Signs Education Reforms, Including Charter Schools, Into Law
Clarion Ledger, MS, April 18, 2013
Education reform measures signed into law by Gov. Phil Bryant constitute real progress, business leader and education advocate Jim Barksdale said.
MISSOURI
Achievement Gap Is Real And Consequential
St, Louis American, MO, April 18, 2013
I agree with Brittany Packnett’s call for sharing responsibility for a just educational system. Her voice is one of many within Teach for America and across the nation engaged in blunt debates about academically underperforming children in our schools and our responses to their plight.
Teacher Tenure Still A Live Issue In Jefferson City
St. Louis Beacon, MO, April 18, 2013
A bill that would bring big changes to how Missouri teachers are evaluated – and how those evaluations could affect their jobs – lost big in the Missouri House last week, but those who favored the changes aren’t giving up yet.
NEW YORK
Could Charters Chew Up The Rochester School District?
Rochester City Paper, NY, April 17, 2013
Lately, there’s been a lot of chatter about charter schools. Rochester, with some of the lowest-performing schools in the country, is a market ripe for an explosion of charters, according to some local educators.
NORTH CAROLINA
Class-Size Caps For K-3 Ended In Senate Bill
Enquirer-Journal, NC, April 17, 2013
Republican senators recommended Wednesday to end caps on the number of students in North Carolina’s public school classrooms for the earliest grades, partially backing off mandates over the last decade to improve student-teacher ratios.
OHIO
School Funding Plan From Ohio House Headed To A Vote With Many Details Still Unclear
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, April 18, 2013
Details about how charter school funding would be affected under the House plan are just trickling out and also have limitations that make direct comparisons difficult.
Coleman Balks At School-Takeover Legislation
Columbus Dispatch, OH, April 17, 2013
Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman opposes a legislative plan that would allow him to pick two of the five members of a state panel that could take over Columbus City Schools.
PENNSYLVANIA
Parents At Laboratory Charter School Take Issue With Its Board
Philadelphia Enquirer, PA, April 18, 2013
Parents at the flagship school of Dorothy June Brown’s charter network in Philadelphia are fighting for the school’s survival, and say the greatest obstacle may be the school’s own board.
TENNESSEE
TN Charter Authorizer Bill Back On Track
The Tennessean, TN, April 18, 2013
An overhauled version of a controversial bill that would allow the state to approve charter schools in five counties, including Davidson, cleared a Senate committee Wednesday, one day after it became clear it wasn’t going anywhere in its previous form.
TEXAS
Board of Education Bristles At Losing Power Over Charter Schools
Austin American-Statesman, TX, April 17, 2013
The State Board of Education on Wednesday lambasted a high-profile proposal approved by the Texas Senate that would strip the education panel of its power to authorize new charter schools.
Senate Chooses Consensus Over Gridlock In Compromise On Charter School Bill
Austin American-Statesman, TX, April 17, 2013
Charter schools are one of the best reforms to happen to public education because they provide competition and quality alternatives to regular public schools without charging tuition. Charter schools are detrimental to public education because they siphon money and higher-performing students from traditional public schools in an unfair competition that exempts them from costly state regulations governing their public school peers.
UTAH
Charter School Unveils $8 Million Project
Daily Herald, UT, April 18, 2013
Renaissance Academy executive director Marc Ursic unveiled plans Wednesday evening for a $8 million building project that will house a space education center in north Lehi.
WISCONSIN
Walker Takes Control On Charters; Madison School Board Cedes It
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, April 18, 2013
Charter school advocates are understandably irritated by the policy the Madison School Board approved Monday to tighten eligibility requirements for the publicly funded, semi-autonomous schools.
ONLINE LEARNING
Philadelphia Hopes To Launch Online Cyber School In Fall
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, April 18, 2013
Cyber charter schools, watch out. The Philadelphia School District is coming for your students.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board Expected To Vote On Expanding Online Academy
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, April 17, 2013
The board of Pittsburgh Public Schools is expected to vote next week on expanding its new Pittsburgh Online Academy from grades 6-12 to grades 4-12.
New Florence Girl Advocates For Cyber Schools At State Hearing
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA, April 18, 2013
Two bills that would reduce funding for cyber schools from local school districts could be considered by the state House in June.
State House Oks Virtual Charter School Moratorium
Kane County Chronicle, IL, April 17, 2013
Legislation to slap a one-year hold on the creation of new online charter schools has cleared the Illinois House on Wednesday.