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
California dreaming on education reform
Editorial, New York Post, NY, January 18, 2014
The case is Vergara v. California, and it aims to overturn several state laws that make it hard, if not impossible, to sack bad teachers.
Dr. King and the Common Core
Opinion, New York Daily News, NY, January 20, 2014
In the speech, King laments the disparity between African-Americans and white Americans in every aspect of society. He asserts that there is only one way to commemorate the Emancipation Proclamation, and that is “to make its declaration of freedom real.”
Why We Can’t Wait to Close the School Achievement Gap
Huffington Post, January 19, 2014
As we mark the federal holiday that celebrates the life and work and sacrifice of Dr. King, the words of a young transformative leader in the making have been muted. A growing achievement gap affecting students of color threatens our communities.
STATE COVERAGE
ALABAMA
Backdoor charter schools
Letter, The Birmingham News, AL, January 19, 2014
It is apparent that the current Birmingham Board of Education does not plan to seek reelection. After working behind closed and negotiating with other business leaders in the Woodlawn area, they are planning to initiate a process to change Woodlawn to something just short of a charter school.
Takeover of Selma City School System immiment, unavoidable
The Selma Times-Journal, AL, January 18, 2014
In an effort to help The Selma Times-Journal readers better understand the Alabama State Board of Education’s resolution to notify Selma City Schools of its intentions to take over the system, we have translated it into terms that everyone can understand.
COLORADO
With midyear review, Colorado’s new teacher evaluations take shape
Denver Post, CO, January 19, 2014
In her midyear review, part of the new process of educator evaluation in Colorado, high school English teacher Kimba Rael struggles to address how she incorporates math into instruction that generally emphasizes literature.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Dunbar High autonomy proposal stirs debate in D.C.
Washington Post, DC, January 18, 2014
A proposal to improve Dunbar High School by converting it to an autonomous and selective school has generated widespread debate among teachers, students, alumni and community members. It’s a debate not only about the future of Dunbar, one of the District’s most storied public schools, but also about the city’s ability to serve all students.
More than a quarter of state-funded preschool seats went unfilled this year
Washington Post, DC, January 19, 2014
Prince William County qualified for enough state funding this year to provide pre-kindergarten classes to more than 1,600 children from low-income families. But the county turned down nearly all of that money and instead serves just 72 children in four classrooms.
GEORGIA
School board to tackle funding, Common Core, charter status
Marietta Daily Journal, GA, January 19, 2014
Newly elected Cobb Board of Education Chairwoman Kathleen Angelucci and Vice Chair Randy Scamihorn said they have a long year ahead of them.
ILLINOIS
It’s time for school choice in Illinois
Opinion, Chicago Tribune, IL, January 19, 2014
Four years ago, the Illinois General Assembly came close to approving a school voucher program for Chicago Public Schools. Close, but lawmakers failed.
INDIANA
Preschool bill offers poor lesson
Editorial, Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, IN, January 19, 2014
Indiana House members pushed a preschool bill forward last week, but look for their Senate colleagues to take a more skeptical approach to legislation that is more about expanding school vouchers than educating preschoolers.
LOUISIANA
Louisiana begins accepting voucher applications
Alexandria Town Talk, LA, January 20, 2014
The Department of Education is taking applications for students who wish to participate in the Louisiana Scholarship Program, which offers vouchers for some students to attend private and parochial schools at state expense.
MASSACHUSETTS
Atlantis, New Heights charter schools forming partnership
Herald News, MA, January 20, 2014
One is a charter school that has long been a city presence, seeking to expand. The other is a proposed charter school awaiting approval from the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Boston Public Schools seeks more diverse teaching force
Boston Globe, MA, January 20, 2014
The Boston Public Schools, facing a decline in the number of black teachers that puts the school system in violation of a federal court order, is stepping up efforts to recruit and retain teachers of color.
MICHIGAN
Michigan teacher evaluation requirements set for changes under bipartisan legislation
The Ann Arbor News, MI, January 19, 2014
Michigan’s teachers are still going to be graded on how effective they are in the classroom, but lawmakers are considering changing how those grades are determined.
NEW JERSEY
Education reform may have broadest partisan appeal
Commentary, Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ, January 19, 2014
After a bumpy start to the political year, everyone is wondering what will come of Gov. Chris Christie’s ambitions for himself and for the state. Where exactly will the governor use the political capital from his landslide victory in November?
NJEA: New evals scare teachers
Daily Record, NJ, January 20, 2014
Throughout New Jersey, teachers and administrators are bracing for the first set of evaluations that tie staff reviews to student performance.
NEW YORK
Charter lie debunked
Opinion, New York Post, NY, January 19, 2014
To undermine the credibility of charter school success, opponents claim that they churn through their students at a rapid clip, attracting high-performing youngsters while casting off those who cause trouble or drag down test scores.
NORTH CAROLINA
Choice plan leaves low-income students at the bottom
Winston-Salem Journal, NC, January 19, 2014
As schools became less diverse, test scores at some of those schools suffered. While not all schools that saw an increase in low-income and minority students saw drops in their test scores, those that did had one thing in common: a diversity problem.
Local Leaders Rally To Keep PACE Academy Open
WCHL, NC, January 19, 2014
Lisa Gangarosa is the mother of a ninth grader at PACE Academy. She says her family was shocked to hear the Carrboro-based charter school might have to close its doors this summer.
School choice: Program has merit, but it needs us all to make it work
Editorial, Winston-Salem Journal, NC, January 18, 2014
Despite its well-intentioned societal objectives, busing to achieve court-ordered integration in public schools was never a good idea. And while school choice, the program that replaced forced busing in Forsyth County in the 1990s, is not perfect, the foundation on which it is built is closer to our values.
Teachers speak on tenure, 25 percent
Asheville Citizen-Times, NC, January 19, 2014
Those two arguments have framed North Carolina’s debate over tenure for public school teachers for years, though the arguments will take a new turn in coming months.
OHIO
A glut of school vouchers
Marion Star, OH, January 19, 2014
Ohio repeatedly has moved to expand school choice throughout the state, but it appears the Legislature is well ahead of demand.
Charter-school program needs an overhaul
Letter, Columbus Dispatch, OH, January 19, 2014
The Dispatch has performed a great public service by illuminating the raid on the state treasury by charter-school operators who have no educational expertise, no business acumen and no interest in transparency or accountability (“ Charter failure,” article, last Sunday).
Legislation sparks debate over expulsions
Dayton Daily News, OH, January 20, 2014
Republican-backed legislation would allow public school superintendents to expel students for longer and require administrators to develop assessments and action plans each time a student is expelled.
Local grads less ready for college
Columbus Dispatch, OH, January 19, 2014
Graduates of central Ohio high schools were less prepared to enter college in 2012 than the class of 2011, according to new statewide data.
OKLAHOMA
Charter schools make their mark on OKC district
The Oklahoman, OK, January 20, 2014
Despite some mixed results, charter schools in the Oklahoma City school district generally are outperforming their traditional public school counterparts.
Oklahoma teacher need reaches crisis point
Tulsa World, OK, January 20, 2014
Oklahoma’s teacher shortage is worsening as salaries remain among the nation’s lowest and workplace pressures mount, prompting school districts statewide to implement strategies to retain and recruit educators.
PENNSYLVANIA
Media NAACP addresses charter school legislation
Delaware County Times, PA, January 19, 2014
Community members joined Saturday afternoon to delve into concerns surrounding proposed state legislation that could potentially give charter schools more latitude and funding despite their lack of accountability.
North Philly charter school’s wellness center helps students to be well
New York Daily News, NY, January 20, 2014
NURSE JULIA Rodriguez loves at least two aspects of her job working at the Pan American Academy Charter School.
Praise and reproach from Nutter on SRC nominations
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 18, 2014
Gov. Corbett on Friday remade the School Reform Commission – and possibly the Philadelphia School District – in announcing two new choices for the panel.
TENNESSEE
Metro set to spend $560,000 on schools audit
The Tennessean, TN, January 20, 2014
Metro government would spend $560,000 on a highly anticipated audit of Nashville’s public school system under a preliminary agreement reached this month with a Houston-based auditor.
VIRGINIA
Patrick Henry school expanding into once-sealed classrooms
Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA, January 20, 2014
Richmond’s charter school has more room than ever to spread out. The staff, parents and community members are spending a few days sprucing up the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts after four classrooms and the auditorium were finally opened for use after extensive renovations.
WISCONSIN
Charter schools work when controlled locally
Letter, Wisconsin State Journal, WI, January 18, 2014
I was dismayed by last Saturday’s guest column by Jarett Fields, “Phony attacks on charter school expansion.” The bill he supports would take away control of charter schools from local school boards, who understand the needs of their communities.
Private schools hope voucher program expands
Green Bay Press Gazette, WI, January 19, 2014
Administrators of area private schools participating in the expanded Wisconsin voucher program call it a success in its first year and already are working on plans to attract more students through the program in 2014-15.
Small but mighty: Private school enrollments decline, but rural school thrives
Green Bay Press Gazette, WI, January 19, 2014
As private schools weeks kicks off on Jan. 26, leaders of Green Bay area private or parochial schools acknowledge the challenges of declining enrollments, but remain hopeful trends will turn around. Catholic and Lutheran educators say rural schools can survive if congregations remain supportive.
ONLINE LEARNING
Push continues for local online learning options
Naperville Sun, IL, January 19, 2014
The push by local schools for more learning options outside the traditional classroom will have to continue with one less school district.
River Forest offers virtual academy
Muncie Times, IN, January 19, 2014
The River Forest School Corp. has created a virtual online academy to retain students and attract new ones.
Sawyer Academy growing
Pratt Tribune, KS, January 18, 2014
For a school with no building, Sawyer Academy, a virtual school operated through USD 438 Skyline, is doing quite well, thank you.