Daily Headlines: May 22, 2012
Public Money Finds Back Door to Private Schools
New York Times, NY, May 22, 2012
When the Georgia legislature passed a private school scholarship program in 2008, lawmakers promoted it as a way to give poor children the same education choices as the wealthy.
District Grant Contest Unveiled
New York Times, NY, May 22, 2012
School districts will be able to submit proposals for innovative educational programs this year to compete for federal grants of up to $25 million under a new national contest, part of the three-year-oldRace to the Top program. Rules for the competition were to be announced on Tuesday by the Department of Education.
Gates Puts the Focus on Teaching
New York Times, NY, May 22, 2012
A few months ago, Bill Gates wrote an Op-Ed article in this newspaper objecting to New York City’s plan to make public the performance rankings of its teachers. His central point was that this kind of public shaming was hardly going to bring about better teaching.
National Conference in Ohio Focuses on Teachers
Associated Press, May 22, 2012
Educators including the U.S. secretary of education, teacher union leaders and school administrators will focus this week on ways to transform the teaching profession with such targets as better recruiting, preparation and career development, and evaluations based on effectiveness.
Key to Charter School Quality Is Keeping Pressure on Authorizers – Panel
Michigan Live, MI, May 21, 2012
The key to charter school accountability and quality is keeping pressure of the groups authorizing the schools to let only successful operators start schools and closely monitor performance once the doors open, according to a panel of experts.
College Readiness Is More Than Academics
Huffington Post Blog by Kevin P. Chavous, May 22, 2012
College readiness is a top priority of the Obama Administration but what does it really mean to be “college ready”? It’s not simply enough to prepare our kids academically; we must also prepare them with the life skills to successfully navigate the complex college processes associated with admission and financial aid, assist them in developing an understanding of college culture, and the ability to maintain adult relationships.
FROM THE STATES
Pressure Rises To Focus On Teacher Quality
Merced Sun Star, CA, May 22, 2012
Across the political spectrum, people agree that quality teaching is essential to student success. The National Council on Teacher Quality puts it this way: “Effective teachers matter a great deal and ineffective teachers may matter even more.”
Yet in California , principals and superintendents have little flexibility in hiring and firing teachers.
Record Number of School Districts In State Face Bankruptcy
Los Angeles Times Blog, CA, May 21, 2012
Pummeled by relentless budget cuts, a record number of California school districts are facing bankruptcy, state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced Monday.
State Seeks To Strengthen Its Core
Union-Tribune, CA, May 22, 2012
The new program is called “common core” for a reason. It was put together by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. California adopted the plan in 2010.
‘Connecticut Compromise’: An Education Reform Model
USA Today, May 21, 2012
Nobody’s calling what Connecticut just did the second “Great Compromise,” but in time it might be remembered as something akin to the agreement that settled the biggest problem this nation’s Founding Fathers faced.
SCF Charter School Finances Concern Trustees
Herald Tribune, FL, May 22, 2012
The State College of Florida charter school is relying on proceeds from the sale of textbooks and SCF merchandise just to break even, State College of Florida trustees learned Monday night.
IPS Hopes to Recoup Some Money It Expects to Lose in State Takeover of 4 Schools
Indianapolis Star, IN, May 22, 2012
Indianapolis Public Schools officials held out hope Monday that some of the $15.3 million the district expects to lose — money that will fund four soon-to-be former IPS schools taken over by the state — might be recouped.
Fort Wayne Charter School Application Withdrawn
The Journal Gazette, IN, May 22, 2012
The Indiana Charter School Board approved four new charter school applications Monday while denying three others.
Branstad Pushes For Teacher Leadership Programs
Estherville Daily News, IA, May 22, 2012
Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday his administration will push for ways to place teachers in leadership roles that would also lead to higher pay for those to take on more responsibility, such as master teachers or mentors.
Louisiana Schools Voucher Program Begins To Take Shape
Alexandria Town Talk, LA, May 21, 2012
Details of a new school voucher program in Louisiana soon will be taking shape.
Senate Approves $3.4 Billion For School Funding
The Daily Advertiser, LA, May 22, 2012
The Senate has approved a $3.4 billion funding plan for public schools and vouchers to attend private schools. The 26-10 vote sent SCR99 by Sen. Conrad Appel, R-Metairie, to the House for consideration.
CMU Event Honors Former Gov. Engler For Boosting Charter Schools
Detroit News, MI, May 22, 2012
Charter school advocates gathered here Monday to honor former Gov. John Engler’s contribution to their movement while looking to the future of education reform in Michigan.
Detroit Public Schools Announces Plan To Partner With Civic, Cultural Organizations
Detroit Free Press, MI, May 22, 2012
Detroit Public Schools officials announced Monday that the Detroit School of Arts will partner with leading civic and cultural institutions as the first in a plan to create 10 self-governing schools that will decide their own academic and financial curricula for the 2012-13 school year.
Longer School Days, Class on Weekends Result in Improvements at Waypoint Academy
Muskegon News, MI, May 22, 2012
Waypoint Academy was in a fight for its survival when the charter school decided to extend the length of its school day this year.
CMU Center for Charter Schools renamed to recognize efforts of former Michigan Gov. John Engler
Central Michigan Life, MI, May 21, 2012
The work of former Michigan Gov. John Engler in the charter schools movement was recognized Monday when the Central Michigan University Center for Charter Schools was renamed to honor him.
Minnesota Department of Education: New Ratings Aim To Accurately Portray School Performance
Bemidji Pioneer, MN, May 22, 2012
The Minnesota Department of Education released new ratings today to gauge student achievement in an attempt to accurately portray school performance — something the No Child Left Behind law failed to do, officials said.
Education Committee’s Jersey City Branch Announces Board of Education Protest
Jersey Journal, NJ, May 21, 2012
SEOC, which bills itself as a school improvement committee made up of parents and teachers in low-income areas, decided to demonstrate after the public was shut out of the superintendent interview process to replace outgoing Superintendent Charles Epps Jr. That interview process, which began May 12, took place in close session, effectively blocking any community interaction with the candidates.
200 Pupils Key to Charter School Aid
Albuquerque Journal, NM, May 22, 2012
To get the most per-pupil funding at a New Mexico high school, it’s best to have about 200 students.
That’s the “sweet spot,” according to APS Superintendent Winston Brooks, whose budget staff has run an analysis of the small school funding adjustment – a rule in the state funding formula that gives extra money to small schools, to make up for their higher per-pupil costs.
Group Plans March For Private School Scholarships
News Observer Blog, NC, May 21, 2012
Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina has planned a Tuesday afternoon rally and march to push for a program that would use corporate tax breaks to get more low-income students in to private schools.
School Leaders Eagerly Await No Child Left Behind Waiver
WFMY News 2, NC, May 21, 2012
State education leaders might not be sitting by the phone, but they are eagerly awaiting a call from Washington, DC .
Despite Initial Misgivings, Charter School Alliance Supports the Cleveland Plan
Cleveland Plain Dealer Blog, OH, May 22, 2012
The Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools (OAPCS) supports the Cleveland Plan. We have long advocated for portfolio plans, like Cleveland’s, that focus on improving low-performing schools and that provide parents with a range of choices that include district and charter schools.
Survey: Pa. Schools In Dire Financial Straits
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, May 22, 2012
A survey of Pennsylvania school districts to be made public Tuesday shows many headed toward insolvency in the next few years, and to avoid it they are weighing cuts to music, art, physical education, and electives while increasing class size and raising taxes.
Bethlehem School Board Schedules Hearing To Revoke Vitalistic’s Charter
Express Times, PA, May 22, 2012
The Bethlehem Area School Board has scheduled a Sept. 10 charter revocation hearing for Vitalistic Therapeutic Charter School of the Lehigh Valley .
Grading TN Teacher Evaluations
WBIR TN, May 21, 2012
It has been a year of changes for teachers across Tennessee. Assessments of the system are mixed, depending on who is asked.
Is The Seattle School Board Dysfunctional? U.S. Chamber of Commerce Thinks So
Seattle Times, WA, May 21, 2012
According to a report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Seattle School Board suffers from churn and conflict, a poor relationship with the superintendent and what one unnamed observer called “micromanagement on steroids.” Officials here dispute the findings.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Online Charter School Now Offers Dual Credits For Weber State University , High Schools
Standard-Examiner, UT, May 21, 2012
Starting next school year, students enrolled in Open High School of Utah can enroll in online courses that will count toward their graduation requirements for both high school and Weber State University .