Click here for Newswire, 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
Education now global, schoolyard fight on tap
Column, Washington Times, DC, October 2, 2013
It’s time. It’s time to look again at how the United States stacks against other countries in education now that Education Secretary Arne Duncan blew it on Monday.
Preparing Teachers for the Urban Classroom
Letters, New York Times, NY, October 3, 2013
Kudos to Joe Nocera for highlighting the overly theoretical approach to preparing teachers in most traditional programs. Without clinical training, one in three new teachers in New York City exits the school system within three years, stymied by poor preparation and the lack of continuing support.
Teacher status around the world: how the US stacks up
Christian Science Monitor, MA, October 2, 2013
The first-ever Global Teacher Status index finds significant disparities in how teachers are viewed. In China, teachers are as respected as doctors; in the US, they’re more often compared with librarians.
The Closing of Diane Ravitch’s Mind
Opinion, City Journal, October 3, 2013
Education writer and activist Diane Ravitch is very angry these days. She’s convinced herself and her followers that elements of the American corporate elite are working to destroy the nation’s public schools, the indispensable institution that has held our republic together for more than two centuries. According to Ravitch, these fake reformers—the “billionaire boys’ club,” as she calls them—are driven by greed: after destroying the schools and stigmatizing hardworking teachers, she says, they want to privatize education and reap the profits from the new market.
STATE COVERAGE
ARKANSAS
Voucher sins
Editorial, Arkansas Times, AR, October 3, 2013
An interim committee of the Arkansas legislature will study the subject of school vouchers before the next regular legislative session convenes in January 2015. We recommend the lawmakers take a look at Georgia, among others.
CALIFORNIA
Backers of proposed El Cerrito charter school ask panel to revive plan
Contra Costa Times, CA, October 2, 2013
Supporters and opponents of a proposed charter school to be located in El Cerrito argued their cases passionately Wednesday evening before the Contra Costa County school board that is considering the charter’s petition after the West Contra Costa school district denied it.
How Charter Schools Lose in SD Unified’s Land-Sale Spree
Voice Of San Diego, CA, October 2, 2013
The San Diego Unified School District has one of the largest real estate portfolios in town, but its assets are quickly dwindling as it sells off “excess” schools and properties to restore furlough days and pay for promised pay raises to teachers and staff.
Turning the city of L.A. into a classroom
Op-Ed, Los Angeles Times, CA, October 3, 2013
Mayor Eric Garcetti and the city would be further ahead by connecting schooling to out-of-school learning, with a program like Chicago’s badge system.
COLORADO
Suit filed to invalidate signatures for Colorado education tax measure
Denver Post, CO, October 2, 2013
A lawsuit challenging the petition-gathering process that got a $950 million school-tax proposal on the November ballot was filed late Wednesday, according to a group opposing the measure.
CONNECTICUT
When is school reform not reform?
Commentary, CT Post, CT, October 3, 2013
Connecticut has received some amount of attention lately for the so-called school reform movement being sponsored and directed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Commissioner of Education Stephan Pryor, and in Bridgeport, nationally known Superintendent Paul Vallas.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Bill aimed at curtailing ‘social promotion’ is endorsed by D.C. Council panel
Washington Post, DC, October 2, 2013
A bill that aims to end the “social promotion” of students in the District’s public schools passed a D.C. Council committee Wednesday.
D.C. charter school allegations raise questions for city officials
Editorial, Washington Post, DC., October 2, 2013
D.C. PUBLIC charter school officials say that, as soon as they learned about alleged fiscal irregularities at the city’s oldest charter school, they took swift action.
FLORIDA
Lee County Education: Pivot Charter charts course for success
News Press, FL, October 3, 2013
A Florida auditor general report released in late August found that Lee County had four schools with low finances and deficits in their net assets during the 2011-12 school year. But of the four, one remains open and has emerged in the black — Pivot Charter School in Fort Myers.
Miami-Dade schools enrollment up because of charter growth
Miami Herald, FL, October 2, 2013
Student enrollment has increased by the thousands this year in Miami-Dade schools — charter schools, that is.
INDIANA
State education board fixes school grading glitch
Munster Times, IN, October 2, 2013
The State Board of Education approved a plan Wednesday designed to produce more accurate ratings of Indiana schools with nontraditional grade groupings.
LOUISIANA
Caddo plan to close 3 schools, convert 17 others to avoid state takeover
Shreveport Times, LA, October 2, 2013
Caddo schools officials are planning to close three schools, revamp as many as 17 others and remove teachers and principals at failing schools in an effort to avoid state takeover of district schools.
John White’s hypocrisy runs amok
Opinion, The Advocate, LA, October 2, 2013
Governor Bobby Jindal, of Louisiana, along with his hand-picked Superintendent of Education, John White, and Republican leaders across the nation have sold the American people a false bill of goods.
Louisiana school voucher program improves racial integration in some cases, study says
Times-Picayune, LA, October 2, 2013
In some cases, students transferring out of public schools through Louisiana’s voucher program improved the racial balance in the schools they left behind, as well as that of the schools they entered, according to a study released Thursday by EducationNext.
MARYLAND
Laurel charter school to build on successful math, science program
Maryland Gazette, MD, October 3, 2013
A Laurel charter school is expanding next school year, offering a math- and science-focused curriculum at a new school in northern Prince George’s for lower grade levels and at a new school in the southern part of the county.
MASSACHUSETTS
Group says state should OK charter school expansion
Patriot Ledger, MA, October 3, 2013
Legislation that would allow for the expansion of charter and non-traditional public schools could help close the achievement gap among the state’s students, supporters say.
MISSISSIPPI
Charter push for Jackson’s Lanier High underway
Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS, October 3, 2013
It both hurts and haunts longtime Jackson physician Aaron Shirley, a proud 1951 alumnus of Lanier High, to see what has happened to his school.
Is takeover best option for school?
Natchez Democrat, MS, October 3, 2013
Next week, the fate of Morgantown Middle School will rest in the hands of the Mississippi Department of Education
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Public Schools- separate, unequal, and unfair
Op-Ed, New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, October 3, 2013
Policies that disproportionately harm and disenfranchise communities of color are incapable of improving either educational achievement or equity
Newark schools could lose chance for $30M in federal funds after fight over ‘Race To The Top’ application
Star-Ledger, NJ, October 2, 2013
The Newark school district will likely lose any chance of winning roughly $30 million in federal funds because of a dispute between union and district officials over the city’s “Race To The Top” application.
State education department approves just three out of 38 charter proposals
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, October 3, 2013
On the eve of the November election, the Christie administration has approved just three more application for charter schools in New Jersey, continuing its on-again, off-again relations with the charter movement.
NEW YORK
City Council members call for end of Mayor Bloomberg strategy for closing struggling schools
New York Daily News, NY, October 3, 2013
Critics say the public doesn’t have enough input in the city’s current process, while Chancellor Dennis Walcott defended the practice and said the city has become a ‘model for urban school systems.’
De Blasio backers push Walcott to hit charter schools
New York Post, NY, October 3, 2013
City Council members urged the schools chancellor to throw in the towel now on controversial space-sharing arrangements between schools Wednesday in preparation for a likely Bill de Blasio mayoralty.
De Blasio eyes ex-Baltimore schools chief as next NYC chancellor
New York Post, NY, October 3, 2013
The former education boss of Baltimore is being pushed for schools chancellor if Bill de Blasio is elected mayor, The Post has learned.
Don’t undermine charter schools with rent
Editorial, amNY, NY, October 2, 2013
Charter schools are a success story in New York City, a town that’s desperate for educational progress. So why does Bill de Blasio want to make life harder for them?
Unchartered waters: Protestors vow no co-location at Seth Low Intermediate School
Brooklyn Daily, NY, October 3, 2013
Families and teachers from Seth Low Intermediate School decried a city plan to install a controversial charter school chain in the building at the corner of W. 12th Street and Avenue P during a raucous public hearing on Sept. 30.
OHIO
Panel to sort charter schools for Columbus levy funds
Columbus Dispatch, OH, October 3, 2013
A new citizen committee could begin drafting rules as early as next week to determine which charter schools could receive local tax dollars from a Columbus City Schools levy on the Nov. 5 ballot.
OREGON
Hillsboro School Board disagrees about whether to invite charter school applications
The Oregonian, OR, October 2, 2013
Is the Hillsboro School District hostile to charter schools? On Tuesday evening, its school board couldn’t decide.
PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania House passes new school property tax reform effort on bipartisan vote; bill now moves to Senate
Patriot News, PA, October 3, 2013
The state House of Representatives has kick-started a new debate on property tax reform, with 149-46 passage of a bill Wednesday that would give local school districts the ability to shift their budgets away from heavy reliance on real estate taxes.
RHODE ISLAND
Escalating costs of Mayoral Academy bear watching
Letter, Daily Breeze, RI, October 3, 2013
I don’t know how or why the decision was originally made to send Lincoln students to the Blackstone Valley Prep Charter School, but as a taxpayer of Lincoln I resent the town having to pay $1.3 million for charter school tuition.
WASHINGTON
Official: W.V. keeping charter school options open
Yakima Herald, WA, October 3, 2013
West Valley School District is considering becoming a charter school authorizer, but Superintendent Mike Brophy said Wednesday that members of the school board are uncertain about moving forward with the plan.
WISCONSIN
Bill would allow UW schools, technical colleges to authorize charter schools
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, October 2, 2013
All University of Wisconsin System campuses, state technical colleges and educational service agencies would be able to authorize charter schools under a bill to be discussed by a legislative committee Thursday.
ONLINE LEARNING
Ambridge develops new online, arts academy
Beaver Times, PA , October 3, 2013
George Davis, in the early weeks of September, found some challenges in his senior class schedule, so he shared them with a guidance counselor at the Ambridge Area High School.
Cyber student’s request to attend Franklin Regional dance prompts policy discussion
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA, October 2, 2013
Franklin Regional officials plan to develop a policy to enable students who attend charter schools or who are homeschooled to attend school dances sponsored by district organizations.
Education reform bill aims to recoup tuition paid to cybers
York Dispatch, PA, October 2, 2013
A bill to reform funding for cyber charter schools passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, a move that has public and cyber school officials weighing the merit of the legislation.
Funding, virtual charters, building alliances set as priorities for D300
Elgin Courier News, IL, October 2, 2013
The Community Unit School District 300 Board of Education recently approved five legislative priorities for the legislatively-active district to tackle this school year.
Learning and removing barriers
Opinion, Black Hills Pioneer, SD, October 2, 2013
Blended learning is the new catch phrase to enhancing the student experience in the classroom. In essence, blended learning can give the classroom teacher greater control over the curriculum and how that material can be delivered to allow student collaboration.
Second-class students?
Opinion, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA, October 2, 2013
The recent passage of state House Bill 618 is devastating for Pennsylvania public cyber school children. HB 618 would cut the funding for our public cyber schools by as much as 10 to 15 percent. This loss would be devastating for our schools.
Virtual academy provides an alternative to home-schooling, traditional schooling
Kitsap Sun, WA, October 2, 2013
Washington Virtual Academy is one of a handful of digital public schools that offer online learning options for students and families who choose not, or are unable, to take part in traditional schooling or home school.
Virtual school’s first year brings hurdles to jump, leaps of success
Star-Telegram, IN, October 2, 2013
In its first year, iUniversity Prep, an open enrollment online school in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district, provides an alternative to brick-and-mortar public schools. The virtual school currently enrolls grades 6-11, but plans to add a grade level each year beginning with 12th grade next year, then down to third in the years that follow.