Daily Headlines for July 16, 2013
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NATIONAL COVERAGE
NEA votes $3 member fee for school improvement
People’s World, July 15, 2013
The National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest teachers and school personnel union, will institute a $3 per member extra fee on its three million members to fund new school improvement plans.
STATE COVERAGE
ARKANSAS
Charter schools and increasing segregation
Arkansas Times Blog, July 15, 2013
The U.S. Supreme Court has pretty well decided this is a post-racial world and things like school assignments that resegregate public schools or admission policies that favor whites are no longer constitutional concerns. We’ve come so far, Justice John Roberts reminded us just the other day.
CALIFORNIA
El Cerrito landmark eyed for new charter school
Contra Costa Times, July 15, 2013
Silicon Valley-based charter school operators who are petitioning the West Contra Costa schools for approval of a charter are simultaneously negotiating to lease an iconic El Cerrito landmark to house the new school.
Charter schools — a report card
Editorial
Los Angeles Times, July 15, 2013
What can the education world conclude about charter schools after their first couple of decades in existence? Something so simple that it’s almost earth-shattering: The best ones benefit students enormously, especially those students who are low income, African American or still learning English.
COLORADO
New charter Montessori school has eyes for Fort Collins
The Coloradoan, July 16, 2013
What would be the city’s sixth charter school is trying to take root in Fort Collins with intent to open in fall 2014.
District judge says two Denver schools don’t meet innovation criteria
Denver Post, July 16, 2013
Denver Public Schools did not adhere to the intent of state law when implementing innovation plans for two campuses in a Northeast neighborhood, a district court judge ruled.
Colorado school funding rebounding from cuts during Great Recession
Denver Post, July 16, 2013
Colorado schools will get a sizable bump in per-student funding for the first time since the Great Recession, but the increase offers a false sense of economic progress, according to several district officials.
FLORIDA
¡Dale! Rapper Pitbull a new school-choice voice and 305 charter school booster
Miami Herald, July 15, 2013
The Miami-born son of Cuban exiles is helping build a Little Havana charter school that opens next month and was a featured speaker at the 2013 National Charter Schools Conference in Washington, D.C., where he wowed the crowds.
ILLINOIS
Federal lawsuits against CPS school closings begin Tuesday
Chicago Tribune, July 15, 2013
Hearings begin Tuesday on two lawsuits seeking to block the Chicago school board’s decision to close 49 elementary schools and a high school program, with officials from the district and parents expected to testify over four days.
IOWA
26 applicants seek Iowa’s top education job
Quad City Times, July 15, 2013
A small-town high school principal, a state official who helped design the new career ladders for Iowa teachers, and a man who in May was appointed to a top post in the National Education Foundation are three of 26 applicants for Iowa’s top education post.
Bad policies in education reform law
Opinion
Des Moines Register, July 15, 2013
From all the pounding of chests and declarations of victory from both sides of the aisle, one would think the 2013 education reform bill passed by the Iowa Legislature and signed into law by the governor was the panacea for Iowa’s education system. The truth is a large portion of the legislation will come back to haunt the Legislature.
LOUISIANA
Course Choice demand exceeds 2,000 slots
The Advocate, July 15, 2013
Demand for nontraditional public school courses has exceeded the 2,000 available slots, state education officials said Monday.
MASSACHUSETTS
Choice on school boss looms for new mayor
Boston Herald, July 16, 2013
The city’s next mayor will be quickly thrown into the fire by having to pick a new school superintendent, a critical move that could set an early tone for the new administration as it seeks to land a superstar to take Hub schools to the next level.
MICHIGAN
Jack Martin a good choice to lead DPS
Editorial
Detroit News, July 16, 2013
Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Roy Roberts has made it pretty clear in recent months that after two years on the job he’s ready to spend more time on the golf course and enjoy retirement. Now he can. And his replacement Jack Martin is a competent choice to take the reins of the troubled district.
NEW MEXICO
Audit faults PED’s money management
Albuquerque Journal, July 16, 2013
Chief among Balderas’ concerns is the PED’s handling of special education funding and its financial oversight of state-chartered schools.
NEW YORK
Arbritrators could set framework for eventual deal between New York City, teachers union
New York Daily News, July 16, 2013
UFT members have been working without contract since 2009, and union says its members are entitled to two raises that other workers got during that time. City says that would cost $5.4 billion. Situation probably won’t be resolved until Bloomberg leaves office, but it could have wide-reaching implications.
NORTH CAROLINA
Public school officials await proposed changes to charter school regulations
Mt Airy News, July 16, 2013
Local school officials are keeping a wary eye on recent House action passing a bill that proposes allowing charter schools to add to the number of grades they serve without state approval. If that bill is reconciled by the state Senate, it would next be headed to Gov. Pat McCory’s desk.
What will this week bring for public education in North Carolina?
Progressive Pulse, July 15, 2013
As the 2013 legislative session speeds to the finish line, what will lawmakers decide about public education? Lots of unanswered questions remain as a conference committee works down to the wire to decide the 2013-15 budget and several bills could see final votes this week.
OHIO
Deadline near to apply for school vouchers
Columbus Dispatch, July 16, 2013
Ohio’s new budget was a big win for school-choice proponents, but parents wanting a tax-funded voucher to send their child to private school will have to act fast.
Kasich: City schools need levy to pass
Columbus Dispatch, July 16, 2013
With about 100 protesters chanting outside, Gov. John Kasich signed into law yesterday a bill that requires Columbus City Schools to place a tax levy on the ballot in November that would raise money for both district and charter schools.
PENNSYLVANIA
Penn Hills council denies classroom extension for Imagine charter
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 16, 2013
Barring an appeal, officials at the Imagine Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship will have to make due without modular classrooms in the 2013-14 school year.
Network to run 14 former parish schools
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 15, 2013
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput signed documents Monday designating 14 former parish elementary schools in low-income neighborhoods as Catholic “mission schools” operated by an independent network.
School district is ‘pleased’ as lawmakers approve funding
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 16, 2013
STATE HOUSE representatives were back in Harrisburg yesterday to pass a bill that finalizes a state budget including $60 million in funding for the beleaguered school district.
SOUTH CAROLINA
S.C. schools to pilot teacher evaluation system
Charleston Post Courier, July 15, 2013
A performance-based teacher evaluation system being piloted this year across South Carolina won’t include letter grades, a deputy superintendent said Monday.
TENNESSEE
TN seeks to toughen standards on teacher licensing
The Tennessean, July 16, 2013
A plan to tie teacher licenses to student test scores is once again thrusting Tennessee into a small group of states making radical changes to education policy even as it generates kudos for the state’s head educator.
UTAH
Charter Schools – Concerns and Values
Utah Policy, July 15, 2013
In Utah, charter schools have been operating for 14 years. Over those years, many observers have asked my opinion of these schools. Some asking are vociferous opponents; others are supporters. My typical answer is: “Some charter schools are excellent; some are not good.” This opinion is based on my direct and long experience.
VIRGINIA
Richmond School Board approves new charter school
Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 16, 2013
The Richmond School Board approved the city’s second charter school Monday, an administration-backed specialty program designed to teach life and job skills to students with severe cognitive disabilities.
WASHINGTON
Initiatives often need clarification by courts
Opinion
Bellingham Herald, July 16, 2013
Not getting the answer they wanted from voters last fall, opponents of the charter school initiative are continuing their fight in the courts. A coalition led by the Washington Education Association filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court last week arguing that Initiative 1240 violates the state Constitution.
WISCONSIN
Local husband and wife fight school choice vouchers
Journal Times, July 15, 2013
Last month, Warner introduced a School Board resolution — approved by the full board on Monday — that opposes the expansion of vouchers in Wisconsin.
ONLINE LEARNING
Rock Hill teachers get schooled on iPads
The Herald, July 15, 2013
The sun is finally out, but dozens of Rock Hill school district teachers aren’t heading outside to soak up the rays; instead, they’re going indoors at Mount Holly Elementary School for two days of iRock preparation.