Vol. 16, No. 17 A “GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS STORY” was how Education Secretary Arne Duncan described the state of education in America in testimony before Congress on the Obama administration’s budgetary request, as the federal government continues to try and find its footing on a proper role in advancing education. That’s a fair description, provided the good…

Vol. 16, No. 16 CHARTERS DO MORE WITH LESS. The Muskegon Heights Charter School System in Michigan posted impressive student achievement statistics in the face of great financial challenge, as is usually the case for charter schools across the country. From 2012-14, average student achievement growth in math and reading across Muskegon schools ranged anywhere from 155 percent in reading…

Vol. 16, No. 15 TENNESSEE STRIKES AGAIN. Monday afternoon, the Tennessee House of Representatives took the final approval measure necessary to make the Volunteer State more charter-friendly. This latest piece of legislation grants chartering authority to the State Board of Education, allowing a quality charter school application to be under the auspices of the State Board…

Vol. 16, No. 14 SINK OR SAIL. There’s a perfect storm brewing in Tennessee, with proposals aimed at expanding educational choices coming from all directions. It’s a perfect storm because while there are pieces in place that could expand the state’s charter school sector, there are also proposals that would help expand the entire portfolio of options…

Vol. 16, No. 13 NY APRIL FOOLS BUDGET? New York’s budget passed late Monday night, and it’s being billed as a “bold course” of action for charter schools. April fools? If only. The sad reality is that this budget is nowhere near bold because it neglects more than half of the state’s charter schools! Apparently…

Vol. 16, No. 12 MARCH MADNESS IN YORK, PA. For many across the country, March Madness is viewed as a time full of Cinderella-storied basketball teams that overcome all odds, along with shining moments that shock and inspire. These sentiments are also present in the ongoing struggle of New Hope Academy in York, PA, where a…

Vol. 16, No. 11 ROOM FOR GROWTH. The 15th Edition of Charter School Laws Across the States: Rankings & Scorecard is here,providing a definitive snapshot on whether or not states have taken meaningful action in expanding charter schools since the first charter law passed in 1991. Experience in seeing how policies have played out over the last…

Vol. 16, No. 10 CHARTER BATTLES: A NEW HOPE. New Hope Academy is a charter school in York, PA, that serves a student body of which 98 percent live in poverty. Since 2007, that student body has had a 93 percent attendance rate, 84 percent have gone on to a post-secondary education, and nearly 23 percent…

Vol. 16, No. 9 OPPORTUNITY SHORTCHANGED. Once again, President Obama’s FY15 budget has shortchanged money for the successful, popular, money-saving Opportunity Scholarship Program in Washington, D.C.  Sadly, this is not the first time D.C. vouchers have been zeroed-out of the budget, even though research validates the program’s effectiveness, despite President’s claims to the contrary. Very few…

Vol. 16, No. 8 HONORING TEACHERS. A significant portion of commentary on education policy has always focused on the hard work and devotion that is demanded of teachers in our society. But what has unfortunately happened is the same forces that trumpet the hard work of teachers end up hurting them, with a broken status quo…