Daily Headlines for September 13, 2011
Teachers Are Put to the Test
Wall Street Journal, September 13, 2011
Teacher evaluations for years were based on brief classroom observations by the principal. But now, prodded by President Barack Obama’s $4.35 billion Race to the Top program, at least 26 states have agreed to judge teachers based, in part, on results from their students’ performance on standardized tests.
Few States Examine Test Erasures
USA Today, September 13, 2011
Fewer than half the states routinely analyze suspicious numbers of erasures on standardized school tests, a key method of detecting cheating by teachers or their bosses.
Obama’s Ohio Trip to Stress Education
Youngstown Business Journal, OH, September 13, 2011
Education spending will be the focus today as President Barack Obama makes the case for passage of his proposed $447 billion American Jobs Act in Columbus, where he will visit a high school undergoing a modernization project.
We Need More Charter Schools
CNN Blog, September 12, 2011
To compete in the twenty-first century, individuals and countries will have to add value in the workplace to command a high standard of living and be competitive in the global marketplace. Education is the key to adding value.
FROM THE STATES
ARIZONA
Thousands in Arizona Opt to Homeschool
Arizona Republic, AZ, September 13, 2011
The growth of online charter schools and online education in public schools could redefine homeschooling, professor Huerta says. While the academic progress of Arizona’s homeschooled students is not tracked, he said home education that is publicly funded should be better-monitored by state government agencies.
CALIFORNIA
Why Charters and Teachers Don’t Have to Be Enemies
Los Angeles Daily News, CA, September 13, 2011
There was a new twist last week in the ongoing story of education reform and United Teachers Los Angeles. Former UTLA President A.J. Duffy announced his plans to start a charter school based on policies he opposed before stepping down two months ago.
Charter School Opens Downtown
Stockton Record, CA, September 13, 2011
TEAM Charter School, a new downtown campus with kindergartners through third-graders, opened its doors Monday morning for the first time.
$600,000 Loan to West Covina Charter School Raises Questions
San Gabriel Tribune, CA, September 12, 2011
San Jose academy’s inability to meet payroll without a loan has also caused some to question how the school’s finances are being handled.
COLORADO
Teacher Union Court Filing Defends Position In Complaint About Innovation Schools
Denver Post, CO, September 12, 2011
In the latest filing related to a lawsuit against Denver Public Schools, the Denver teacher’s union has filed a response defending their original arguments that state rules were violated when innovation status was given to 10 schools.
Douglas County School District Appeals Voucher Decision
Castle Rock News Press, CO, September 12, 2011
The Douglas County School District made good on its promise to appeal the decision to stop its voucher program and filed an appeal with the Colorado Court of Appeals.
CONNECTICUT
Learning Doesn’t Stop At Lunchtime At Norwich Charter School
Norwich Bulletin, CT, September 13, 2011
For $2.75, Kaliyah Exum-Santos can get a chef-prepared meal with a side of etiquette. It’s the going rate at Integrated Day Charter School in Norwich, where 9-year-old Kaliyah and other students can get a healthy lunch and learn how to eat in a family-style setting.
FLORIDA
State May Review Big Payouts For School Employees
Miami Herald, FL, September 12, 2011
In Miami-Dade, the cost for unpaid sick leave last year topped $20 million for all retiring employees. In Pinellas, it was $10 million
State Tags $1.4 M For Charter School Facilities
Bradenton Herald, FL, September 13, 2011
Manatee County School board members unanimously approved the district’s proposed five-year facility plan Monday with $2.4 million being divided among the district’s traditional schools, and $1.42 million going to charter schools.
Manatee School Board Approves Girls-Only School
Herald Tribune, FL, September 12, 2011
Educations experts remain divided, but one local nonprofit group is convinced enough that it plans to open a girls-only school in East Bradenton for the 2012-13 school year.
ILLINOIS
CPS’ School Day Not That Much Shorter Than Those In Some Suburban Districts
Chicago Tribune, IL, September 13, 2011
Daily minutes vary district to district, and state is at a loss to verify the overall accuracy
Fight for Teachers
Chicago Tribune, IL, September 12, 2011
Our concern is with the Illinois House and Speaker Michael Madigan, whose anti-teacher/education stance is a danger to the young people and teachers of Illinois.
MARYLAND
Howard Residents Debate School-Board Change
Baltimore Sun, MD, September 12, 2011
Howard County citizens debated Monday night whether and how to change the makeup of the school board to allow for more racial and geographic representation.
MICHIGAN
Sen. David Robertson, R-Grand Blanc Twp., Steps into Education Reform Game
Flint Journal, MI, September 12, 2011
This time, the Republican-led effort would throw all kinds of new powers to parents and charter schools. It would even let a district fill classrooms with teachers employed by private, for-profit companies.
NEVADA
The Delta Academy Gives Second Chance to Non-Traditional Students
Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV, September 13, 2011
She goes to The Delta Academy, 4075 N. Rancho Drive, a public charter school with about 150 students in the northwest valley. It serves mostly students who, for various reasons, dropped out of traditional middle and high schools.
NEW JERSEY
Easing the Bureaucratic Burden on Public Schools
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, September 13, 2011
Christie and Cerf argues that student achievement is more important than complying with more than 2,000 pages of regulations.
NJ Seeks No Child Left Behind waiver; Chris Christie Ready To Refocus On Education Reform
Asbury Park Press, NJ, September 12, 2011
For parents and students, this is back-to-school time. For Gov. Christie, it’s back to education reform.
PENNSYLVANIA
In Catholic High School Teachers’ Strike, Both Sides Lament Little Progress
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, September 13, 2011
As the strike by Catholic high school teachers against the Archdiocese of Philadelphia moves into its seventh day, both sides expressed frustration over the slow pace of the talks.
TENNESSEE
School Board Smart To Ask Early About Teacher Evals
Daily News Journal, TN, September 13, 2011
As the current school year unfolds, students aren’t the only ones with something to learn. All Tennessee taxpayers will have an opportunity to watch as the new teacher-evaluation process gets under way and to determine for themselves if the system is the best way to grade our educators
Obama Plan May Aid Nashville Schools
The Tennessean, TN, September 13, 2011
Metro Nashville could receive more than $68 million in school construction money if Congress passes President Barack Obama’s jobs plan, according to White House estimates.
WASHINGTON
Tacoma Teachers Vote To Strike Immediately
Seattle Times, WA, September 12, 2011
Teachers in Tacoma voted overwhelmingly Monday evening in favor of a strike, so after only seven days of school, the 28,000 children in Washington’s third-largest school district will stay home Tuesday.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
State Official Mulls Mandating Web Classes for High Schoolers
Star Press, IN, September 12, 2011
Indiana’s superintendent of public instruction wants all Hoosier students to take one course online before graduating from high school.
Teen Excels in School Thanks to Online Classes
Fox4 News, KS, September 12, 2011
A Kansas City, Kan. teen says she was bullied and harassed so much that she was about to drop out of school. She didn’t have to thanks to a program that is letting her finish her education at home. She can now complete her classes through an online high school.
“Wonderful Experience”: 28 El Paso Families Use Virtual Campus
El Paso Times, TX, September 13, 2011
Cheryl Timmons was unsatisfied with the education her daughters were receiving in El Paso until she discovered a Houston public school they could attend from their El Paso home.
School Experts in Seattle Discuss Online Learning
Seattle Times, WA, September 12, 2011
Education researchers believe it could take 100 years to close the achievement gap between children of different races and economic situations in Washington state, but participants in a Monday forum on education reform say there are ways to shorten the timeline.