Daily Headlines for December 21, 2011
Charter School Proponents Focus On Accountability In Word If Not In Deed
Huffington Post, December 20, 2011
The most recent call to close underperforming charter schools came not from a teachers’ union or a school district, but from a charter-school trade association.
In Education, Focus On What We Can Control
Indianapolis Star, IN, December 21, 2011
When I’m asked about the issue of neglectful parenting and the impact it has on schools, I often offer a confession: While I don’t want to diminish the problem, I have no clue as to how to address it. I don’t see how a new law or policy would improve the situation.
STATE COVERAGE
CALIFORNIA
Can Clergy Run Charter Schools?
Orange County Register, CA, December 21, 2011
A decision by school officials in Compton to deny a charter school application filed by a Christian pastor inspired the first California lawsuit filed by a new Orange County-based legal activist group that focuses on economic and individual liberty.
Why Rocketship Will, Must Work
San Jose Inside, CA, December 20, 2011
In my 38 years in public education, I never witnessed as consequential a vote as was taken on Dec. 14 and the early morning hours of Dec. 15. The Santa Clara County Office of Education Board, on a very controversial 5-2 and 4-3 vote, approved 20 new Rocketship Education charter schools in Silicon Valley.
CONNECTICUT
Malloy Maps Education Push for Connecticut
Wall Street Journal Blog, December 20, 2011
Spurred by a second loss of federal education grant money and a so far unfulfilled campaign promise to reform Connecticut’s schools, Gov. Dannel Malloy sent state lawmakers a letter Tuesday asking for February’s legislative session to focus on improving public schools.
FLORIDA
Seminole Fights Law Letting Top Charters Expand
Orlando Sentinel, FL, December 20, 2011
Two school boards in Central Florida were faced with a similar dilemma this fall — either approve a charter school application that board members felt was lacking, or face a fight with the state.
GEORGIA
Fulton School Board Denies Charter Extension To Nationally Acclaimed School
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, December 20, 2011
The Fulton County Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to deny the contract extension of a nationally acclaimed Alpharetta charter school, a move that could close the school this summer.
More Georgia Schools Accused of Cheating
New York Times, NY, December 21, 2011
Investigators who this year found rampant cheating among Atlanta public school teachers and principals released another report on Tuesday detailing widespread wrongdoing in another Georgia county.
HAWAII
Changes Coming For Badly Flawed State Charter School System
Hawaii Reporter, HI, December 201, 2011
Hawaii legislators are planning a complete overhaul of the state’s charter school system in the wake of “glaring concerns” about lack of accountability and even possible fraud at some schools.
ILLINOIS
Parents React to Rockford Charter Schools
WIFR, IL, December 20, 2011
Ever since they came to Rockford about two years ago there’s been some questions and concerns but also satisfaction with charter schools.
INDIANA
Changing School Board Is First Step To Reform
Northwest Times, IN, December 21, 2011
Changing the selection process for the Indianapolis Public Schools board is no silver bullet, but it is an essential step toward transformation of the state’s largest school system.
LOUISIANA
Orleans Parish School Board Defers Decision On Charter School Applicants
Times Picayune, LA, December 20, 2011
The seven different groups asking the Orleans Parish School Board for the chance to open new charter schools in the city will have to hold their breath another month.
MARYLAND
Baltimore Schools’ Uncharted Waters
Baltimore Sun, MD, December 21, 2011
Our view: Despite frustration among school system officials and union members, turning back the clock on the city’s landmark teachers contract is not an option
New Education Evaluation System Coming
Delmarva Now, MD, December 21, 2011
A new system for evaluating teachers and principals based on student growth is set to start next school year in Maryland.
MASSACHUSETTS
Incomplete Report
Boston Herald, MA, December 21, 2011
Charter schools, however, religiously avoid the hard-to-educate students. Meanwhile the Pioneer Institute is dogmatic in its attack on true public schools, hoping that the public won’t notice its educational sin of omission.
Charter School Question Rages
Somerville News, MA, December 21, 2011
It was a packed house at the Somerville High auditorium this last Wednesday, December 14, more audience members than this reporter has ever seen at any public hearing.
Charter School Gets Green Light, Words of Caution
Gloucester Times, MA, December 20, 2011
The state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education took no action today regarding the Gloucester Community Arts School — meaning the school is clear to go forward for at least a third year next fall as Gloucester’s first public but independently run charter school.
MICHIGAN
When Charter School Per-Pupil Grants Lower Than Those Of Home District, Excess Goes To State
Ann Arbor Journal, MI, December 21, 2011
If a student lives in Ann Arbor and enrolls in Ann Arbor Public Schools, that student is worth a $9,020 foundation allowance from the state of Michigan. But if a student lives in Ann Arbor and enrolls in the Ann Arbor Learning Academy, a charter school, the student is now worth only a $7,110 foundation allowance. That’s almost a $2,000 difference.
Caps On Charter Schools Raised
Niles Daily Star, MI, December 20, 2011
Parents and students will have more options about where to attend school under landmark charter school reform legislation signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder Tuesday.
MINNESOTA
Cost Vs. Benefit Steers Debate Over Future Of Integration Aid
Star Tribune, MN, December 20, 2011
At a State Capitol hearing Tuesday, a handpicked task force wrestled with a $93 million question: Are the benefits of school integration worth the cost?
Ashland School District Planning to Open Three New Charter Schools
Fox21, MN, December 20, 2011
“The system doesn’t work for everybody so we’re trying to give them just another option,” says Ashland School District Superintendent Keith Hilts.
NORTH CAROLINA
City Schools Could Lose $4.6M
Chapel Hill News, NC, December 21, 2011
A proposed charter school could cost the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools $4.6 million in 2012-13, its first year of operation, according to the district’s assistant superintendent for support services.
OHIO
Ohioans Should Be Glad To See Teach for America
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, December 20, 2011
Now that several foundations have raised more than $2 million to support the program and a helpful law from the Ohio General Assembly has swept away legal barriers that kept Teach for America out of Ohio’s classrooms, the highly respected organization finally will get to work in Northeast Ohio next year.
OKLAHOMA
Enrollment Reaches Peak In 30 Years For Oklahoma City Schools
The Oklahoman, OK, December 21, 2011
The growing Hispanic population within Oklahoma City Public Schools has contributed to the district reaching the largest enrollment numbers since the 1970s.
PENNSYLVANIA
Bill And Melinda Gates Pledge $100K To Philly Schools
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, December 20, 2011
Philadelphia’s new education compact between the school district, city, state and two charter school coalitions has attracted the attention of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which pledged $100,000 in funding and a chance at millions more.
Charter Lacks Specifics, Vision
Courier Times, PA, December 21, 2011
A charter school’s application is short on specifics and offers proposals that are similar to the district’s offerings, according to Bensalem’s superintendent of schools.
Charter School Has $1M Budget
Daily Item, PA, December 21, 2011
Money was the biggest issue at the public hearing Tuesday night on the proposed New Berlin Charter School, held in the Mifflinburg Middle School with almost the entire school board and about 50 people attending.
RHODE ISLAND
School Committee, Council Unite To Oppose Mayoral Academy Plan
Valley Breeze & Observer, RI, December 20, 2011
In a rare demonstration of accord, the School Committee and Town Council agree on something: A proposed kindergarten and elementary school branch of the Rhode Island Mayoral Academies is a bad idea.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Principals Feeling New Levels of Accountability
The Island Packet, SC, December 21, 2011
The Beaufort County School District is right to reopen principal positions when academic results are not what they should be in the school. Two principals were recently notified they would have to reapply for their jobs because student achievement at their schools has not improved at the rate the district desires.
Zais Blasted Over Denial of Grants
Post and Courier, SC, December 21, 2011
Superintendent of Education Mick Zais is pitting a political fad against the future of South Carolina schoolchildren, state Rep. Joe Neal said Tuesday during a Statehouse rally.
TENNESSEE
Sen. Faulk Proposes Changes To Teacher Evaluations
Times News, TN, December 20, 2011
A local state senator has filed a bill to allow high value-added student test scores to count more in Tennessee teacher evaluations.
TEXAS
Over Opposition, Austin School Trustees Approve IDEA Charter At 2 East Austin Campuses
Austin American Statesman, TX, December 20, 2011
After weeks of public outcry, protests and marches, the Austin school board early Tuesday voted 6-3 to hire a South Texas charter operator to run two East Austin schools.
KIPP Offers A Model For Public Schools
San Antonio Express, TX, December 21, 2011
The building that houses KIPP Aspire Academy on Fredericksburg Road is on the older side but very well maintained. Many traditional public schools have more sumptuous digs.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Board Hesitant About Online Learning
News-Times, CT, December 20, 2011
The Board of Education member is banging the drum about online learning, which he said is a great educational opportunity that the school district has not fully embraced.
Access, Interactivity The Keys To Volusia’s School Tech Plans
Dayton Beach News-Journal , FL, December 21, 2011
As a follow-up to a recent article about technology in Volusia and Flagler schools, I’d like to provide further illumination about digital learning and the current status of technology initiatives in Volusia County Schools.