For-Profit Certification for Teachers Is Booming
New York Times, NY, November 27, 2011
He is earning his teaching certificate through an online, for-profit alternative certification program, a nontraditional route to teaching that is becoming more common in Texas .
Big Expansion, Big Questions for Teach for America
Associated Press, November 27, 2011
By 2015, with the help of a $50 million federal grant, program recruits could make up one-quarter of all new teachers in 60 of the nation’s highest need school districts. The program also is expanding internationally.
Teach for America Has Become Embedded in New Orleans Education
Times Picayune, LA, November 27, 2011
As with so much else that defines the post-Katrina school system, the group’s ubiquity in New Orleans sets the city apart, but also places it squarely at the center of national debate over the future of the teaching profession.
STATE COVERAGE
ALABAMA
GOP Ready For Battle With Alabama Education Association
Tuscaloosa News, AL, November 28, 2011
Alabama’s new Republican-controlled Legislature ran over the Alabama Education Association in the 2011 session and is looking for more victories next year when the longtime leaders of the educators’ group head into retirement.
ARIZONA
‘Teaching Interns’ Help Lacking Schools
Arizona Republic, AZ, November 27, 2011
A key part of O’Keefe’s new life is a relatively new type of teaching certificate granted by the Arizona Department of Education to people who already have college degrees and want to become public-school teachers but don’t want to go back to college for another four years.
CALIFORNIA
Teacher Ratings And The Public’s Right To Know
Los Angeles Times, CA, November 28, 2011
The Los Angeles Unified School District is going against public opinion by siding with the teachers union against full transparency on value-added teacher ratings.
Public Schools, Private Donations
Los Angeles Times, CA, November 27, 2011
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is trying to balance parental donations with the need for equal education opportunities for all.
Santa Clara County Friendliest To Charter Schools
Mecury News, CA, November 24, 2011
Charter schools, once considered the experimental outliers of public education, are poised to go mainstream in Santa Clara County .
Charter School Parents Blast District
San Diego Union-Tribune, CA, November 25, 2011
Parents of charter school students in South Bay demanded Wednesday that the Sweetwater Union High School District rescind what they say is an unlawful new policy that limits the number of Sweetwater students who are guaranteed admission to San Diego State University .
Brown Fumbles Federal Funds For K-12 Schools
Sacramento Bee, CA, November 28, 2011
At a time when California has cut funding for K-12 education – and is about to cut more – the state just left $49 million in federal education dollars on the table.
COLORADO
Colorado Voter Turnout Shows High Interest In Education Reform
Denver Post, CO, November 26, 2011
Near-record campaign contributions, national media attention and large voter turnouts revealed deeper public interest in education in Colorado this year.
Colo. School Incentive Program Awaits More Funds
Denver Post, CO, November 27, 2011
A pilot program to improve college readiness among Colorado teens produced more high scores on students’ Advanced Placement tests—and paid $69,500 to teachers as a reward.
Denver Middle Schools Recruiting And Captivating Students
Denver Post, CO, November 27, 2011
Denver Public Schools set out to fix that flight, and the result is such a varied menu of middle schools that they are locked in competition and parents’ heads are spinning.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
New Initiatives Making Schools Data Readily Available
Washington Post, DC, November 26, 2011
Parents across the Washington region will soon have more readily available — and useful— information about how their public schools are doing, the result of new initiatives underway at the local and state level for reporting and displaying education data.
Education Group on DC Plan: Teachers Want More Than Money In Choosing Their Schools
Washington Post, DC, November 25, 2011
The National Education Association has responded to a District of Columbia proposal to give city teachers a bonus to transfer to underachieving schools by saying money is not what motivates great educators.
Enrollments Show D.C. Parents Want More School Choices
Washington Times, DC, November 27, 2011
OK school-choice advocates. It’s time to go old-school this week as the Gray administration begins drawing up a school-closure list and as the new panel charged with examining the education-affordability factor holds its first session.
FLORIDA
8 New Jacksonville Charter Schools In Works
Florida Times Union, FL, November 25, 2011
When the 2012-13 school year begins, Duval County Public Schools will have the most charter schools in its history.
Little Merit, Maybe No Pay
Palm Beach Post, FL, November 24, 2011
In an interview with The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board, Gov. Scott brushed aside criticism that the state’s emerging teacher evaluation system is too complicated and imprecise. While gung-ho on the measuring half of the equation, he was noncommittal on the crucial second half of any merit pay plan: pay.
Parental Demand Fuels Charter Schools’ Growth in Broward
Sun Sentinel, FL, November 25, 2011
Given a choice, Broward County parents are increasingly turning to charter schools for public education.
GEORGIA
Ga. To Roll Out Teacher Evaluations In Schools
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA, November 27, 2011
For the first time ever, student test scores will soon factor into evaluations for teachers and principals across Georgia under a new statewide program.
ILLINOIS
Teachers Express Concern Over Evaluation
Chicago Tribune, IL, November 28, 2011
As Chicago Public Schools officials begin heated negotiations over teacher evaluations, a study that will be released by the district Monday shows teachers strongly oppose tying student achievement to their own performance.
INDIANA
Ind. School Takeover Creates Headaches For Parents
Chicago Tribune, IL, November 26, 2011
Indiana’s takeover of five troubled public schools is creating headaches for some parents who are eager to see the curriculum plans of the private companies that were chosen to oversee the schools.
LOUISIANA
Jefferson Charter School Budget Has $87,500 Per Student
Times Picayune, LA, November 27, 2011
As Jefferson Parish public school officials consider opening more charter schools, they are questioning whether the system’s first charter is doing enough to help at-risk students.
MAINE
Rules May Slow Charter Schools
Kennebec Journal, ME, November 26, 2011Maine’s new law authorizing charter schools says they can start operating July 1, but potential founders say the proposed enrollment rules would force them to delay opening until 2013.
MICHIGAN
State to Fine Detroit Public Schools for High Truancy
Detroit News, MI, November 28, 2011
State officials are weighing how much to penalize Detroit Public Schools for persistent truancy, a problem that could cost the financially troubled district up to $25.9 million, according to documents obtained by The Detroit News.
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Sets Sights Beyond ‘No Child Left Behind’
Pioneer Press, MN, November 26, 2011
Minnesota education officials think the federal No Child Left Behind law is so flawed that they have designed a new accountability system that will focus not just on test scores but also on other measures of student growth – such as boosting the achievement of students of color.
NEW JERSEY
Tax Credit For Vouchers May Not Fly
Asbury Park Press, NJ, November 25, 2011
As the state Legislature prepares to discuss education reform during the lame duck session, the fate of one of Gov. Chris Christie’s main proposals, a pilot school voucher program, remains on the bubble.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Public Schools Battle For Students
Sentinel Source, NH, November 27, 2011
Facing growing costs, declining enrollment and bracing for more cuts to state and federal funds, some area school districts hope to tap a new source of revenue: out-of-town students.
NEW JERSEY
Christie Administration Considering ‘Model Curriculum’ for Low-Performing Schools
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, November 28, 2011
The Christie administration is launching an effort to create a “model curriculum” for low-performing schools — its most aggressive step yet to dictate not only what is taught but also how and when it is taught.
Pay Up
Hudson Reporter, NJ, November 27, 2011
Four Jersey City-based charter schools filed a petition Tuesday requesting that Acting Commissioner of Education Chris Cerf issue a ruling declaring, among other things, that the city’s charter schools are not being properly funded, as required by the New Jersey Constitution and state statutes.
NEW YORK
Principals Protest Role of Testing in Evaluations
New York Times, NY, November 28, 2011
Through the years there have been many bitter teacher strikes and too many student protests to count. But a principals’ revolt?
Diversity Is Key To Charter School’s Success
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, NY, November 26, 2011
The Nov. 17 article “Diversity divide” stated that Rochester’s poverty problem is among the worst in the country. That may be the only consistent truth in this article seeking to paint Genesee Community Charter School as “an enclave for white, middle-class students.”
Grading a Teacher Evaluation System
New York Times, NY, November 26, 2011
Re “Tennessee’s Push to Transform Schools” (editorial, Nov. 12):A meaningful evaluation system that identifies and supports great teaching is a cornerstone of Tennessee ’s work to improve public education. Stakeholders outside of government and the education establishment have a special role to play in this transformative work. One such statewide entity is the citizen-led State Collaborative on Reforming Education, or Score.
OHIO
Charter Schools Lure Suburban Kids, Too
Columbus Dispatch, OH, November 27, 2011
More than 23,000 central Ohio students chose charters last school year, including more than 10,300 from suburban and rural districts.
Weems School Has A Hard Lesson To Teach Ohio: Editorial
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, November 26, 2011
When community schools are managed poorly — as happened at Cleveland ‘s Weems School , a financial mess finally put out of its misery in 2009 — Ohio ‘s alternative public schools get another black eye. At a minimum, state lawmakers must make sure that inept sponsors and founders don’t just take the public’s money and run.
PENNSYLVANIA
A Charter School’s Troubles Emerge
Morning Call, PA, November 26, 2011
Funded by more than $19.2 million in state and local tax dollars, Vitalistic Therapeutic Charter School of the Lehigh Valley and its sister preschool have served mostly poor children with learning,
New SRC Trying To Show That It’s Learned Its Lessons
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, November 26, 2011
With a scandal over apparent favoritism being shown in awarding a charter-school contract, followed by the forced resignation of the district’s superintendent, Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission has justifiably been harshly criticized in recent weeks.
Northeast Phila. Charter School Getting A Better Report Card
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, November 27, 2011
It’s been nearly four years since two mothers from Philadelphia Academy Charter School, concerned about their children’s education, began raising alarms about management of the Northeast charter.
Supreme Court Limits 4-Year-Old Tuition Payments
Beaver County Times, PA, November 27, 2011
A state Supreme Court decision issued this week could save area school districts some money by reducing kindergarten tuition costs to cyber charter schools.
RHODE ISLAND
Providence Groups To Protest Mayoral Academy Proposal
Providence Journal, RI, November 25, 2011
A coalition of Providence neighborhood associations, parents and public officials will announce their opposition to a proposed mayor academy at a news conference at the State House Monday at 11 a.m.
TENNESSEE
Holding Back New Charters
Commercial Appeal, TN, November 26, 2011
From an economic standpoint, saying yes to a flood of new applicants presents a problem.
TN Evaluation System Threatens to Repeat D.C. Mistakes
The Tennessean, TN, November 26, 2011
News reports on Tennessee’s teacher evaluation program have focused on a cumbersome observation system and an application, as required by a new state law, for factoring student test data into teacher ratings, even though two-thirds of them teach untested grades or subjects. Overlooked so far is questionable application of test scores to the third for which data are available.
Blount County : HOPE Academy Will Harm Students
Daily Times, TN, November 27, 2011
A charter school isn’t in the best interest of Blount County’s schoolchildren, according to school officials.
School Boards Oppose Slate of Bills
The Tennessean, TN, November 25, 2011
Tennessee school board members don’t want parents using public funding toward private school tuition.
TEXAS
Award-Winning Eastside Robotics Team Worried About Charter School Proposal
American Statesman, TX, November 27, 2011
For some, plans to install a charter school within the Austin school district’s Eastside Memorial High Schools spark concerns based on philosophical differences over charter schools.
Battle Looms Over New HISD Teacher Reviews
Houston Chronicle, TX, November 25, 2011
Houston school officials attracted national attention this year when they approved a tougher system for evaluating teachers. Now they must defend it against a challenge from the labor union.
WISCONSIN
Madison Schools’ Dual-Language Program Prompts Concerns
Wisconsin Sate Journal, WI, November 28, 2011
Students in the Madison School District ‘s dual-language immersion program are less likely than students in English-only classrooms to be black or Asian, come from low-income families, need special education services or have behavioral problems, according to a district analysis.
Teachers Union Presents Plan Measuring School Quality
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, November 27, 2011
After declining to join a task force to discuss how to better measure school quality in Wisconsin , the state’s largest teachers union is presenting its own set of proposals on the matter.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Virtual Schools Are Multiplying, But Some Question Their Educational Value
Washington Post, DC, November 26, 2011
A Virginia company leading a national movement to replace classrooms with computers — in which children as young as 5 can learn at home at taxpayer expense — is facing a backlash from critics who are questioning its funding, quality and oversight.
In Digital Learning, Who Is Protecting the Children?
Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2011
Digital learning seems clean and unfettered, unlike the messy and uncertain atmosphere of the traditional classroom (“My Teacher Is an App,” Review, Nov. 12). But isn’t this perceived instant clarity true of most new fads?
Technology Can Never Replace Inspiring Teachers
Watertown Daily Times, NY, November 25, 2011
The newest magic elixir is the idea of minimizing the role of living teachers by replacing them with technology-based education, in the form of laptop computers and other technological devices.
“Blended Learning” Coming to Brunswick High
Sun News, OH, November 25, 2011
Students in six Brunswick High School classes will be spending study time more wisely next semester by spending less time inside the classroom.
Cash for N.C. High School Online Classes Tapped Out
The Virginian-Pilot, VA, November 27, 2011
Surging enrollment in North Carolina’s online class program for public high school students is creating a funding shortfall that means teens in 15 school districts have been blocked from signing up for spring classes.