11 States Seek Relief From ‘No Child’ Provisions, in Return for Raising Standards
New York Times, NY, November 16, 2011
Eleven states applied for waivers exempting them from key provisions of the No Child Left Behind law by the federal government’s first deadline, promising in return to adopt higher standards and carry out other elements of the Obama administration’s school improvement agenda, the Department of Education said on Tuesday.
With Hispanic Students on The Rise, Hispanic Teachers in Short Supply
Washington Post, DC, November 16, 2011
The surge in Hispanic students across the nation is forcing schools to reckon with a deep shortage of teachers who share their cultural heritage.
Public School Teachers Aren’t Underpaid
USA Today, November 15, 2011
Based on these findings and other supporting data, our best estimate is that teacher salaries are about equal with similarly skilled private employees.
Walton Family Foundation Gives $25 Million to KIPP Foundation
Denver Post, CO, November 15, 2011
The Walton Family Foundation has announced a $25 million grant to the KIPP Foundation to support the nationwide network of KIPP public charter schools.
STATE COVERAGE
ARIZONA
The Charter Difference
Arizona Daily Sun, AZ, November 15, 2011
The small class is in a new charter school. Flagstaff High is the city’s largest and oldest school. Both schools are comprehensive and offer enrichment for students who clearly see college within the next three years.
CALIFORNIA
Push to Convert Fresno’s Hamilton Elementary to a Charter School Fails
The Fresno Bee, CA, November 15, 2011
An effort by the head of the Fresno Teachers Association to turn Hamilton Elementary into a charter school was quashed Tuesday, a day before the application was to be presented to the Fresno Unified Board of Trustees.
County Board of Education Should Re-Approve Three Rocketship Charters
Mercury News, CA, November 15, 2011
At the Santa Clara County Board of Education’s meeting Wednesday, trustees should dismiss the recommendation of their staff analysts and approve three charter school applications submitted by Rocketship Education — schools the board already approved in 2009 and has to reconsider only because of a technicality.
Parents Push for French Immersion School
Press Democrat, CA, November 15, 2011
French with English used primarily during language arts classes. A group of Sonoma County parents and educators is pushing to create a local French-language charter school, which they say would be unique on the West Coast.
COLORADO
Forward and Faster for DPS
Denver Post, CO, November 16, 2011
There is no going back. There is no slowing down. In two straight elections, one for mayor of Denver and one for the Denver School Board, voters have spoken loudly and clearly in favor of a reform agenda for Denver Public Schools.
CONNECTICUT
Tong Tackles Teacher Tenure
New Haven Independent, CT, November 15, 2011
If Connecticut elects him to the U.S. Senate, William Tong wants to help teachers—by helping them leave the schools.
School Choice Lottery Poorly Managed, Critics Say
Hartford Courant , CT, November 16, 2011
Diana Turner’s son, Travis, is thriving at Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford , but her daughter, Arianna, has missed out on a chance for a magnet school four years in a row and, Turner said, is not challenged at a parochial school.
FLORIDA
Coconut Grove Charter School Gets Reprieve
Miami Herald, FL, November 15, 2011
A troubled charter school is “heading in the right direction,” school district officials said.
New $30M Fund to Help Florida Charter Schools
Ocala Star-Banner, FL, November 15, 2011
The state has established a $30 million fund to entice successful charter school operators to open new schools or expand existing ones to serve 15,000 more low-income children statewide.
GEORGIA
Fulton School Board Votes To Become A Charter System
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, November 15, 2011
Fulton County parents may soon gain greater authority over how their neighborhood schools are run.
ILLINOIS
Community Groups Gear Up For CPS’ Annual Changes To Neighborhood Schools
Chicago Tribune, IL, November 16, 2011
With Chicago Public Schools weeks away from announcing this year’s list of school closings and consolidations, community groups have begun revving up for what likely will be a fierce battle to keep neighborhood schools open.
INDIANA
Voucher Program Gives Families A Choice
WTHI, IN, November 15, 2011
St. Patrick School has seen 24 more students enroll this year, 18 of which rely on a new school scholarship program in Indiana.
Evaluating Teachers Becomes Tricky For States
Indianapolis Star, IN, November 16, 2011
A nationally recognized expert in teacher effectiveness has some advice for states, including Indiana, that are creating new systems to judge teachers:
LOUISIANA
Does New Orleans Welcome Disabled Students?
NPR, November 15, 2011
New Orleans has become the center of an education revolution, where more than 70 percent of students attend a charter school.
MARYLAND
City School Board Denies All Charter Applications For Upcoming School Year
Baltimore Sun Blog, MD, November 15, 2011
Six charter applicants seeking to open schools in Baltimore city in school years 2012 and 2013 were all denied Tuesday, after the city school board voted to affirm city schools CEO Andres Alonso’s decision that the plans for the new schools were insufficient or failed to present a compelling reason to obtain charter status.
MASSACHUSETTS
State Bonds Boost Schools’ Expansion Plans
Cape Cod Times, MA, November 16, 2011
Two public Cape charter schools — Sturgis Charter Public School in Hyannis and Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School soon to be in East Harwich — are getting public financing to build new schools.
MISSOURI
More Than 200 Turn Out to Discuss the KC School District
Kansas City Star, MO, November 15, 2011
Since the state of Missouri launched its Missouri School Improvement Program two decades ago, Kansas City has never reached the state’s full accreditation standard.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Mayor Invites State Takeover of Lawrence Schools
Eagle Tribune, NH, November 15, 2011
Mayor William Lantigua today said he has asked the state to take over the city’s public schools.
NEW JERSEY
Opposition Rallies Against Latest Charter School Plan
Edison Sentinel, NJ, November 16, 2011
A proposal for a Hebrew language charter high school is back in front of the state Department of Education for the fourth time.
Voorhees Residents Outraged At Plans For Another Charter School
South Jersey Sun, NJ, November 15, 2011
The Creative Studies Charter School is a grassroots proposal for a public school of choice that follows a year round calendar. The annual cost to Voorhees taxpayers for the school would be about $1.2 million if approved by the state in January 2012.
Tenure, Charters, Vouchers: Lame Duck Session’s Big Three
NJ Spotlight, NJ, November 16, 2011
Now that New Jersey’s midterm election is over, with little changed in the legislature, it’s back to business in the Statehouse — and that means education reform.
Christie Pushing For Specific Legislation By Year’s End
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, November 16, 2011
The full-time Republican governor laid out his vision Tuesday for what legislation he wants to sign in the next two months.
NORTH CAROLINA
Super Schools: How Some Schools Are Succeeding
WNCT, NC, November 15, 2011
Washington Montessori Public Charter School is held to the same testing standards as every other state and federal funded school. But while others are failing to meet standards for growth-Montessori is moving forward.
600-Student Charter School Planned for Jamestown
Jamestown News, NC, November 16, 2011
There seems to be some debate as to whether the historical significance of Jamestown is of major importance or is merely a footnote. That debate will likely be over, however, if two local men are successful in turning their dream into reality.
OHIO
New Teacher Evaluation System Coming To State Schools By 2014
Newark Advocate, OH, November 15, 2011
The State Board of Education has taken the first step toward creating a statewide teacher evaluation model that would account for student growth.
Lakewood City Academy Among Top Performing Charter Schools In State Subhead: Invited To Columbus To Share Success Strategies
Lakewood Observer, OH, November 15, 2011
Lakewood City Academy, the district-sponsored community/charter school housed at the former Franklin Elementary School, has done such a good job in getting its students on track toward graduation that legislators in Columbus invited some of the staff down to the capital to share their strategies for success.
PENNSYLVANIA
Charter-School Founder Addresses Critics in Cherry Hill
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, November 16, 2011
The event was billed as a news conference, but it turned into a town-hall-style meeting, where hundreds heard Khan and charter-school advocates make the case that nontraditional alternatives are the solution to a national educational system that they said has fallen behind the rest of the world’s.
Charges Increased Against New Media Charter Founders
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, November 16, 2011
Two former officials from a charter school in Northwest Philadelphia, already charged with stealing more than $500,000 in taxpayer funds, were also indicted Tuesday for alleged bank fraud.
TENNESSEE
State Reveals LEAD Academy Will Take Over Another Failing Metro School
The Tennessean, TN, November 16, 2011
LEAD Academy charter school in Nashville will take over another failing Metro Nashville public middle school next fall, state officials announced this week.
Charter, Private Operators To Upgrade 2 Underachieving Memphis Schools
Commercial Appeal, TN, November 16, 2011
A charter school operator and a private Memphis school got state approval Tuesday to set up shop in inner-city Memphis schools where student achievement has fallen short.
Williamson County Snubs Student Teaching
The Tennessean, TN, November 15, 2011
Tennessee’s new teacher evaluation system has hit an unexpected snag.
TEXAS
Study Challenges IDEA Charters’ Success Claims
American Statesman, TX, November 15, 2011
IDEA Public Schools, which has basked in accolades for its highly ranked schools and has set its sights on revamping and running some of the Austin school district’s most academically troubled campuses, might have an overrated reputation for teaching challenging populations, new research has found.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
A Breakthrough Model For Day Schools?
New York Jewish Week, NY, November 15, 2011
The school, which is expected to open with up to 150 children in pre-kindergarten through second grades, will offer a “blended learning” model, featuring individualized, “project-based” education that combines computers and face-to-face instruction.
Virtual High School Lets Kids Go To School At Home
KVVU Las Vegas , NV, November 15, 2011
The Virtual High School lets kids go to school in the comfort of their own home. CCSD says this type of online learning could help the ailing graduation rate.