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
G.O.P. Bill on Schools Would Set Fewer Rules
New York Times, June 6, 2013
Signaling a preference for a much smaller role for the federal government in public schooling, Senator Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee, is introducing legislation on Thursday to revise No Child Left Behind, the Bush-era education law.
Jumble of education topics facing Congress
Associated Press, June 6, 2013
From pre-kindergarten to No Child Left Behind to college loans, students in every age group are suddenly finding the spotlight on Capitol Hill.
‘Hope Against Hope’: A community’s painful struggle over school reform
Book Review, Washington Post, June 5, 2013
In her new book, veteran education journalist Sarah Carr attempts to tell the controversial story of New Orleans schools post-Hurricane Katrina from the ground up, focusing primarily on affected families and educators.
STATE COVERAGE
ARIZONA
Vail schools may convert to charters
Arizona Daily Star, June 6, 2013
Vail School District is considering converting some of its schools to charter schools in a move to bring in more state funding.
CALIFORNIA
Oakland charter school seeks court order to stay open
KTVU, June 6, 2013
An Oakland charter school that has high-achieving students but allegedly engaged in financial improprieties has gone to court to try to keep its doors open.
Time to make Brown’s school funding reforms work: Editorial
Los Angeles Daily News, June 5, 2013
The new school funding formula proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown is a thoughtful approach, more logical and democratic than its predecessor, and a good start on reforming a broken system.
New leader for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s schools
Los Angeles Times, June 5, 2013
One of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s closest advisors will become the new leader of the nonprofit overseeing public schools under the mayor’s control.
CONNECTICUT
Study shows school suspensions still too high
Republican American, June 6, 2013
In Connecticut, boys are twice as likely to be suspended from public schools as girls. Black and Hispanic boys are two to three times more likely to be suspended than white peers.
Education funding fares well in state budget
Greenwich Times, June 5, 2013
Education reform efforts advanced last year by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy appeared to have survived a struggling economy.
DELAWARE
Charter school reform bill advances in state House
News Journal, June 6, 2013
A bill aimed at reforming the state’s charter school system is headed to full House, despite objections that the measure needs public input and will hurt traditional schools.
FLORIDA
Rowlett parents bullish on charter conversion
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, June 5, 2013
Parents set on converting Rowlett Elementary to a charter operation say their proposed budget shows the magnet school will not only be viable, but capable of bringing in extra funding for fine arts programs many want to preserve.
LOUISIANA
Rules governing funding formula for public schools confirmed by Louisiana House
Times-Picayune, June 5, 2013
Louisiana’s public school funding formula will have to jump through all the same legislative hoops that a regular bill does, under a resolution given final approval by the House on Wednesday. The move is meant to avoid further costly litigation after the state Supreme Court ruled the process by which the formula was passed last year unconstitutional.
MASSACHUSETTS
Parker Charter School graduates 14th class
Lowell Sun, June 6, 2013
The processional was as about as traditional as it gets: 55 senior high school students in robes and mortarboards marching across the grass and onto an outdoor stage to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance.” The processional was as about as traditional as it gets: 55 senior high school students in robes and mortarboards marching across the grass and onto an outdoor stage to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance.”
NEVADA
New star rating system rises over Nevada’s struggling schools
Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 5, 2013
Less than 19 percent of Clark County high school students passed the Algebra I spring semester exam in 2012. Not even half of eighth-graders passed the pre-algebra exam. About one of two students in elementary and middle school earned the minimum score for grade-level proficiency on the state’s reading, writing and science tests.
Silver State Charter High School graduates look back and forward
Nevada Appeal, June 6, 2013
While high school graduation can feel like stepping into the great unknown, Joshua Carmicheal knows exactly where his path is leading.
NEW JERSEY
Camden schools takeover gets OK
Cherry Hill Courier Post, June 6, 2013
New Jersey is about three weeks away from taking control of Camden schools after the state Board of Education approved the intervention Wednesday.
New Teachers Should ‘B’ Ready for Tougher Standards
New Jersey Spotlight, June 6, 2013
State proposes hiking minimum college GPA from 2.75 to 3.0 in attempt to improve quality of new educators
Performing arts school expands to fit new students
Press of Atlantic City, June 5, 2013
When Charter Tech High School for the Performing Arts opened in September 1999, after a two-year battle that moved the fledgling charter school from Ocean City to Linwood, this year’s graduates had not yet even started school.
NEW YORK
Better Teachers for New York City
Editorial, New York Times, June 6, 2013
The new teacher evaluation system that the New York State education commissioner, John King Jr., has imposed on New York City represents an important and necessary step toward carrying out the rigorous new Common Core education reforms.
Criticism of charter school is bogus
Letter, Riverdale Press, June 6, 2013
Re: “Did new charter fake community outreach?” May 30: I have never been a supporter of charter schools and voted in the Assembly against expanding the number of such schools. But they are coming and it is vitally important that the new schools be top notch schools with excellent leadership.
Councilmember Levin demands moratorium on charter schools
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 5, 2013
Charter school spending is “out of control” Councilmember Stephen Levin (D-Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Boerum Hill) said on Wednesday as he called for a moratorium on the opening of all charter schools in New York City.
NORTH CAROLINA
Gov. McCrory: Public school students take too many tests
News & Observer, June 5, 2013
Public school students take too many tests, Gov. Pat McCrory told education leaders Wednesday, and the state needs to figure out how to lighten the load.
NC needs to realize Common Core is a conservative victory
Opinion, News & Observer, June 5, 2013
For some time now, outside groups have been vigorously spreading misinformation about the Common Core State Standards. The effort has been relentless, and North Carolina has not been immune to the falsehoods.
PENNSYLVANIA
Charter school teachers vote in union
Pocono Record, June 6, 2013
Pocono Mountain Charter School teachers, crowded into the school’s dance studio Wednesday afternoon, broke into applaus
Make charter schools fully accountable
Opinion, Scranton Times-Tribune, June 6, 2013
Charter schools are publicly funded but, compared with conventional public schools, they operate off the grid.
Pa. House bill could save York City schools $375K
York Dispatch, June 5,, 2013
Legislation that would overhaul some of the longstanding and much-criticized aspects of the charter school law is awaiting a state House vote.
RHODE ISLAND
Education Is Rhode Island’s Political Football
Opinion, Go Local Prov, June 6, 2013
By now, most every Rhode Islander knows (or should know) that The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education’s contract is up for renewal.
TENNESSEE
Education Pioneers opening office in Memphis
Memphis Commercial Appeal, June 6, 2013
The latest confirmation of the starring role Memphis is playing in education reform is Education Pioneers, a national nonprofit setting up shop here to provide high-caliber fellows for the growing list of charters, nonprofits and foundations looking for strategic talent
VIRGINIA
Chesterfield lawmaker working to help lighten load of mandates pressing on schools
Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 6, 2013
A state requirement that high school students pass a financial literacy class in order to graduate went into effect in 2011, much to the delight of its supporters.
WEST VIRGINIA
Legislators must keep track of new evaluations
Editorial, Journal-News, June 6, 2013
Good school principals have been coaching teachers for many years. Now, such coaching is official policy in West Virginia public schools. A new system of evaluating teachers is based heavily on principals’ views of them.
WISCONSIN
State public education decisions create stir
Shawano Leader, June 5, 2013
Public school representatives were shaking their heads Wednesday at the state budget proposal that the Wisconsin Assembly will begin debating in two weeks. The final elements of the bill, which expands the state’s voucher program and increases per pupil spending in public schools, were approved early Wednesday by the state Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee.
ONLINE LEARNING
Obama to visit NC school, fundraise in California
Associated Press, June 6, 2013
President Barack Obama wants to see the nation’s classrooms transformed into digital learning centers and he is ready to ask federal regulators to use billions of dollars to pay for the broadband and high-speed Internet connections that will be needed to make it happen.
Morning talker: Are cyber schools real schools?
Column, Patriot News, June 6, 2013
Earlier this week Suzanne D. Hair penned a piece on why she sends her son to Commonwealth Connections Academy and arguing that cyber schools are public schools and deserve equal funding. It was in response to another article from a parent insisting that lawmakers stop “overpaying” for charter and cyber schools.
Cutting funds to Pa. charter schools puts students at risk
Letter, Lehigh Valley Express-Times, June 6, 2013
On Monday, House Bill 618, sponsored by state Rep. Joe Emrick, R-Northampton, narrowly passed the House Education Committee by a vote of 13-12. This bill drastically cuts funding to Pennsylvania cyber/charter schools and unfairly creates a double dip for school districts across the state, possibly forcing schools to “virtually close their lids” on our students.
Charter schools remain a hot topic in Harrisburg
The Reporter, June 5, 2013
As the state legislature works towards finalizing a budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year, other pieces of legislation are also being considered, including several focusing on education, most notably H.B. 618 , which made it through the committee by a narrow 13-12 vote and calls for charter and cyber charter school reform.
PA Cyber Charter School to graduate 1,500
PRNewswire, June 6, 2013
The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School will graduate 1,500 members of the Class of 2013, its 13th and largest graduating class ever, announced CEO Dr. Michael J. Conti .
Turner Co. will launch new online school in fall
WALB, June 5, 2013
Turner County is now giving home schooled and private school students another choice for their education. The system is ready to launch a learn at home online school.
Florida Virtual School commencement points to new education trend
Seminole Chronicle, June 5, 2013
When seniors from across the state of Florida came together Saturday at Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, they did so for a graduation that was the first of its kind here in the Sunshine State.
Lee school’s Virtual Instruction Program culls national recognition
Fort Myers Beach Bulletin, June 5, 2013
Lee Virtual Instruction Program, the School District of Lee County’s high-quality, fully online school for students, was recently awarded the Bronze ranking in US News & World Report’s rating of America’s Best High Schools.