Daily Headlines for August 31, 2011
Going Back to School with More Choice
Wall Street Journal, August 30, 2011
Columnist Bill McGurn on Indiana school vouchers and Catholic school enrollment. Also, Heritage Foundation fellow Rachel Sheffield on the expansion of school choice.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
L.A. Unified Gives Insiders First Chance At New Charter Campuses
Los Angeles Times, CA, August 31, 2011
District alters policy to allow teachers and administrators priority in submitting plans, instead of charter groups and other outsiders. Any group can still compete for existing, low-performing schools.
Schools Told To Follow Rules Or Lose Money
San Francisco Chronicle, CA, August 31, 2011
San Francisco school officials have some explaining – and complying – to do.
Last year, the district failed to follow the strict rules attached to a $56 million, three-year federal grant to improve student performance at 10 of its lowest-performing schools.
COLORADO
Daniels Fund Promises Up To $530,000 To Help Douglas County Schools In Voucher Case
Denver Post, CO, August 31, 2011
The Daniels Fund, known across the West for helping send needy and deserving kids to college, has agreed to pay much of the legal bill for the Doug las County School District as the district fights to keep its voucher program alive.
In Education, Money Isn’t All
Denver Post, CO, August 31, 2011
The amount of funding available for K-12 education in Colorado has led to considerable debate. The Lobato case being heard before the state Supreme Court challenges the constitutionality of our school finance system, and Proposition 103 is a ballot initiative for raising additional state revenues for public schools.
FLORIDA
From Pre-K to College: Invest Now
Miami Herald, FL, August 30, 2011
Florida voters feel so strongly about the importance of public education that more than a decade ago they passed a constitutional amendment calling it the state’s “paramount duty.” They also have approved a class-size amendment and a “high-quality” universal, voluntary pre-K program available at public schools or through private schools or faith-based organizations.
Staff Opposes Application of Charter School for ESE Students
Gainesville Sun, FL, August 31, 2011
Alachua County school district staff recommended denying a charter for H3 Direct Academy Inc., a charter school that would have served students with mild to severe cognitive disabilities.
GEORGIA
Misquote Clouds Charter’s Problems
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, August 31, 2011
Some charter school advocates are using a quote attributed to me to try to further their cause. Trouble is, they’re misquoting me – and they should know it, as they attended the Cherokee County school board meeting where I made the statement.
ILLINOIS
No Changes To CPS Admission Rules For Magnet, Selective Schools
Chicago Tribune, IL, August 31, 2011
The Chicago Board of Education passed a multiyear admissions policy for magnet and selective enrollment schools last week, allowing changes made last year to stay in place in the long term.
Brizard, Teachers Union Agree On More Rigorous Curriculum
Chicago Tribune, IL, August 31, 2011
After weeks of public feuding over teacher salaries and longer school days, Chicago Public Schools chief Jean-Claude Brizard and the teachers union came together Tuesday to embrace a more rigorous curriculum for CPS students beginning the 2012-13 school year.
Chicago Public School To Vote On Converting To Charter
WBEZ, IL, August 30, 2011
It’s believed to be the first time ever: a local school council at a Chicago public school will consider a resolution to shut itself down for poor performance and convert to a charter school.
INDIANA
Public Learns More On Takeovers
Indianapolis Star, IN, August 31, 2011
Practical concerns about state intervention at some local schools dominated questions from community residents at public forums Tuesday night.
KANSAS
K-12 Reform Needed
Topeka Capital Journal, KS, August 30, 2011
According to the U.S. Department of Education, only a third of Kansas students are proficient in reading and roughly one out of four are functionally illiterate.
MASSACHUSETTS
Parent Power
Boston Globe Blog, MA, August 30, 2011
Used to be that Massachusetts was the epicenter of most of the innovations occurring in education. We had the best standards in the nation.
MICHIGAN
Snyder’s Education Plan Should Include Vouchers
Times Herald, MI, August 31, 2011
Gov. Rick Snyder wants to provide students with more learning opportunities by increasing the number of charter schools, expanding the Schools of Choice program and providing more access to online courses.
MISSOURI
Kansas City School District Loses Leader Who Began Turnaround Effort
New York Times, NY, August 31, 2011
John Covington arrived here two years ago with the promise of transforming a district that had become synonymous with the failures of urban education. He even managed to win support for his drastic recommendation to shut down nearly half its schools, saying it was a necessary step to achieve desperately needed stability.
NEVADA
At Start Of School Year, Teachers Unions Are Not Happy
Las Vegas Sun, NV, August 31, 2011
Teacher unions across Nevada are refusing to make concessions in contract negotiations and lashing out against politicians who were once their allies. The source of their anger? Budget cuts and changes to education rules.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
School Misstep On Lottery Baffling
Nashua Telegraph, NH, August 31, 2011
Since its opening four years ago, the Academy for Science and Design in Merrimack has made quite a name for itself as one of the top-achieving schools in the state – charter or otherwise.
State Education Official: School Choice Controversy Highlights NCLB Weaknesses
Portsmouth Herald, NH, August 31, 2011
The deputy commissioner of the N.H. Department of Education said the city’s recent struggles with the issue of school choice in its elementary schools points a spotlight on the weaknesses in the federal No Child Left Behind law.
NEW JERSEY
Jersey City Opens Math, Engineering Charter School
Jersey Journal, NJ, August 31, 2011
Joined by Jersey City Jerramiah T. Healy, METS Charter School officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday at its new schoolhouse at 108 Ninth St.
NEW YORK
City Teachers Union Seeks to Appeal Ruling
Wall Street Journal, August 31, 2011
The New York City teachers union has filed a request to appeal a judge’s decision that teachers’ names should be made public alongside scores that attempt to measure their students’ progress.
NORTH CAROLINA
Unite for Teacher Training
News Observer, NC, August 31, 2011
It’s fitting that most of the nation’s 55 million pre-K through high school students are going back to school just before and after Labor Day. The folks running the show in the classrooms and the offices have become the dominant force in today’s union movement.
NORTH DAKOTA
State Panel Delays New Teacher Evaluation Method
Argus Leader, ND, August 31, 2011
The department asked the six-member legislative rules committee to adopt a professional teachers rule that would set statewide standards for teacher performance and evaluation.
OHIO
Charter School Futility
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, August 30, 2011
The state has to find a better and more timely way to put poorly performing charter schools out of business.
PENNSYLVANIA
Catholic Teachers Ask For Mediator
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, August 31, 2011
THE UNION representing teachers at Catholic high schools yesterday asked for the Philadelphia Archdiocese to call in a mediator to resolve a contract dispute that threatens the start of the school year.
Democratic Legislators Seek To Abolish Philadelphia School Reform Commission
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, August 31, 2011
Skewering the Philadelphia School Reform Commission as an ineffective, dysfunctional body that answers to no one, four area legislators called Tuesday for its dissolution.
Could a Board Do Worse?
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, August 31, 2011
Sen. Mike Stack’s proposal to replace the School Reform Commission with an elected board of education is timely.
RHODE ISLAND
Charter Schools Give More Poor, Minority Children A Chance
Providence Journal, RI, August 30, 2011
You would have to have a heart of stone to visit the Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy in Cumberland, and come away wanting to block other children, particularly poor and minority ones, from having this opportunity.
SOUTH CAROLINA
School Board May OK Quick NC Charter Schools Jump
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC, August 31, 2011
North Carolina is setting up a fast-track system to allow new charter schools to open in time for classrooms to open a year from now.
WASHINGTON
Teachers Ignored In Education Reform
Spokesman-Review, WA, August 31, 2011
If you want to “fix schools,” apparently, there’s one group of people you should ignore. Teachers.
WISCONSIN
Charter Schools: Starting With Boys Makes Sense
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, August 31, 2011
It’s an odd twist to the intriguing proposal for an all-male charter school in Madison. The state Department of Public Instruction told the State Journal last week that it’s reviewing whether the proposal for Madison Preparatory Academy complies with federal and state laws requiring boys and girls to receive equal educational opportunities.
Ag-Based Charter School Gets Boost From State
Fond du Lac Reporter, WI, August 31, 2011
Two years ago, when massive budget deficits forced school officials to shutter three grade schools in the Waupun Area School District, the small communities of Alto and Fox Lake particularly mourned their loss.
Racine School Voucher System Gets Mixed Reviews
WISN, WI, August 30, 2011
One of the governor’s controversial budget items is playing out in Racine this week as kids go back to school.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
MC Joins Virtual Academy
Lancaster News Era, PA, August 30, 2011
After paying fees of more than $1 million over two years for student enrollment in cyber schools, Manheim Central board members agreed Aug. 16 to join the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13’s Virtual Academy.
Norman Named Pilot Site For National Virtual Learning Program
The Oklahoman, OK, August 30, 2011
Norman Public Schools was selected from districts across the nation to pilot an online learning program for the next three years. The pilot program is being completely funded by Gen. Colin Powell’s Americas Promise Alliance.
Oregon Students Taking Classes Online
KDRV, OR, August 30, 2011
Most Oregon students will return to class next week; but for Oregon Connections Academy Students, today was their first day back to school. Unlike other students, starting their school day was only a click away. This school year, some students have opted for a different type of
learning, and teachers are also exploring this virtual classroom setting, both in hopes of finding an environment that suits them best.