Daily Headlines: March 7, 2012
College Hunt Starts Earlier at New Breed of Schools
New York Times, NY, March 7, 2012
Established nonprofit private schools and new for-profit ones are taking divergent approaches to a question that vexes almost every parent and student headed into the college admissions thicket: Is it better to get a jump on the process but risk turning high school into a staging ground for college admission?
FROM THE STATES
Charter School Group Chooses Wrong Side
Orange County Register, CA, March 6, 2012
Charter Schools Association of California, which represents 663 of the state’s 982 charters, has endorsed Gov. Jerry Brown’s November ballot initiative to raise taxes by $7 billion.
Bridgeport School Takeover Lessons
The Day, CT, March 7, 2012
The state taking control of a school system, no matter how dysfunctional the system has become, is a very serious matter, in that it usurps a community’s right to educate its children.
‘Creative … Motivating’ And Fired
Washington Post, DC, March 6, 2012
Wysocki, 31, was let go because the reading and math scores of her students didn’t grow as predicted. Her undoing was “value-added,” a complex statistical tool used to measure a teacher’s direct contribution to test results. The District and at least 25 states, under prodding from the Obama administration, have adopted or are developing value-added systems to assess teachers.
In D.C., Reach Inc. Explores Tutoring As A Two-Way Street
Washington Post, DC, March 6, 2012
At first blush, it sounds like a recipe for disaster: Take kids who need to improve their reading skills and have them tutor other kids who have trouble reading. But that’s exactly what goes on twice a week at Perry Street Prep, a pre-K-to-12th-grade public charter school in Northeast Washington’s Woodridge neighborhood.
Time To Raise Teacher Pay
News Press, FL, March 7, 2012
Florida’s teachers have been hammered hard in recent years, with stagnant pay, increased work and accountability, and higher deductions for retirement.
Leon Schools Solicits Charter Students
Tallahassee Democrat, FL, March 7, 2012
The Leon County school system is inviting about 1,000 students in the district who attend charter schools to come back to the system and attend the district school of their choice — as long as that school isn’t bursting at the seams with a population too large to handle.
Students, Parents Plead to Save Heritage Academy in Bunnell
Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL, March 7, 2012
If Heritage Academy closes this spring, it’ll mean the end of a “close-knit family.”
About 20 students, parents and staff of the Bunnell charter school appealed to members of the Flagler County School Board during a regular meeting Tuesday at Flagler Auditorium.
Pasco School Board Sets Final Deadline for Charter Schools USA
Tampa Bay Times, FL, March 7, 2012
A large charter school management firm that won reluctant approval to open a school in Pasco County might soon lose its chance to start that school.
Lynn and Thrasher Quibble Over Parent Trigger Bill
Miami Herald Blog , FL, March 6, 2012
The hotly debated parent trigger bill will make it to the Senate Floor after all. The controversial proposal, SB 1718, would allow parents to demand sweeping changes at low-performing public schools, including having the school converted into a charter school. The proposal has divided the Senate, and insiders predict any vote on the bill would be really, really close.
Jeb Bush Foundation Using ‘Parent Trigger’ To Trigger Donations
Palm Beach Post, FL, March 6, 2012
The controversial “Parent Empowerment” proposal isn’t just causing a bipartisan kerfuffle in the Senate where critics say the measure is a cash cow for for-profit charter schools and private management companies.
New Bill Draws Two Members Out Of Districts
Cherokee Tribune, GA, March 7, 2012
The latest attempt by legislators to redraw redistricting maps for the Cherokee County Board of Education creates seven posts, but leaves two of the newly drawn seats open with both Board Chairman Mike Chapman and Vice Chairwoman Janet Read out in the cold once again.
Ga. Senate Could Hear School Voucher Bill
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA, March 7, 2012
GOP leaders have revived a bill that would expand Georgia’s school voucher program to include military families and foster care children.
Charter School Financial Problems Exaggerated
Cherokee Tribune, GA, March 7, 2012
As treasurer for the Georgia Charter Educational Foundation and finance member of the Local Governing Council for Cherokee Charter Academy, I find it necessary to set the record straight on the recent report of a $1.3 million deficit. As Mark Twain once said, “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” This is the case with Cherokee Charter Academy ’s financial situation.
Longer School Day Subject of Dueling Forums
Chicago Tribune, IL, March 6, 2012
With the controversy over school closings and turnarounds behind the district—at least until next year—Chicago Public Schools advocates are refocusing efforts once again on the longer school day debate.
White Expects State Voucher Program to Start Small
Alexandria Town Talk, LA, March 7, 2012
It could be several years before a proposed statewide expansion of the New Orleans voucher program would have a noticeable number of students switching from public to private schools, says Superintendent of Education John White.
For starters, there’s little space in private schools.
Louisiana School Voucher Expansion Expected To Have Gradual Impact
Times-Picayune, LA, March 6, 2012
For all of the controversy surrounding Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposal to expand private school vouchers — and use public education dollars to do it — the program’s impact across the state may be extremely limited, at least at the outset and in comparison with some of the governor’s other plans, education officials say.
Democrats, Teachers Union See Plot To Stifle Debate In Delayed Education Bills
Sun Journal, ME, March 7, 2012
It was nearly a month ago that Gov. Paul LePage unveiled a controversial package of education proposals that include teacher evaluation, school choice and diverting public funding for religious schools.
City Residents Plead Their Case for School Targeted for Closure
Baltimore Sun, MD, March 6, 2012
Armed with picket signs and passion for their schools, Baltimore residents packed the district’s headquarters Tuesday night, pleading with school board members to preserve the programs that CEO Andrés Alonso has recommended be closed or dismantled.
Panel: Restrict School Options
The Salem News, MA, March 7, 2012
“The School Committee has all agreed that things are certainly not equitable in the way the schools are set up now, and the major issue is a socioeconomic one,” she said.
DFL is Stuck in the Mud of Teacher Seniority
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN, March 6, 2012
So there I was, in late February, a lifelong, die-hard progressive DFL mom from Minneapolis, sitting in the governor’s office with Rep. Branden Petersen, a die-hard conservative Republican dad from Coon Rapids .
Charter Schools To Rob Counties
Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS, March 7, 2012
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, along with Senate Education Committee Chairman Gray Tollison, R-Oxford, have recommended a bill, SB 2401, that would, in effect, take local ad valorem taxes from one district to fund a charter school in another district.
Emily Fisher Vows To Keep Trenton Charter School Open
The Trentonian, NJ, March 6, 2012
Hundreds of students, parents and faculty members of the Emily Fisher Charter School family packed the school’s gymnasium Tuesday night in a rally where they vowed to fight the state Department of Education’s order to shut the school down effective June 29.
Tenure Reform Needs Clarity
Asbury Park Press, NJ, March 6, 2012
A landmark teacher tenure reform bill got off to a rocky start during an initial Senate committee hearing Monday in Trenton. The bill took criticism from both sides of the fight — Gov. Chris Christie and the New Jersey Education Association.
“Parent Trigger” Law Proposed for Rochester Schools
13WHAM-TV, NY, March 6, 2012
A local parents group is lobbying for a state law that would give Rochester parents an unprecedented amount of power. The “parent trigger” bill would give parents the ability to force dramatic change on a given school. If parents collected enough signatures, they could fire a principal and cut the teaching staff in half, close a school or turn it in a charter school.
The Trouble With Humiliating Teachers
Wall Street Journal, March 7, 2012
When I dropped my kids off at school last week, I had a hard time looking their teachers in the eye. The New York City government had just posted their performance assessments online, and though I’m a strong supporter of teacher accountability and effectiveness, I was baffled and embarrassed by the decision.
One of Two Proposed Utica Charter Schools Moves Forward
Utica Observer Dispatch, NY, March 6, 2012
One of two proposed charter schools for Utica has gotten the green light to move forward with its application.
Newark Project Aims to Link Living and Learning
New York Times, NY, March 7, 2012
Work has begun on an education-centered community featuring three charter schools and affordable housing for teachers in the city’s decayed downtown, with much of the design work done by the noted architect Richard Meier.
Most Wake Students Get First Choice Under New Assignment Plan
News & Observer, NC, March 7, 2012
Nearly 75 percent of Wake County students got their first choice under the new student assignment plan as school board members opted Tuesday not to make major changes for this fall.
Charters Pass Tests of Quality, Opportunity
News & Observer, NC, March 7, 2012
Your March 1 editorial “Charter missions” said, “North Carolina ‘s charter movement has stumbled a little along the way, with racial and socioeconomic imbalance in some schools and low test scores in others.” The charge is usually more direct, like “charters are a way to racially segregate public schools.” This claim is not new and comes early in the discussion because it’s the most emotionally charged.
Bonus Pay OK’d For 2 Wake Schools
News & Observer, NC, March 7, 2012
The Wake County school board on Tuesday approved offering bonus pay to teachers and other staff at Walnut Creek Elementary School and the Longview School.
Nine Charter Schools Approved, Jamestown’s Still Waiting
Jamestown News, NC, March 7, 2012
Now that the state Board of Education has approved the opening of nine charter schools – two of which are in Guilford County – what does this mean for the opening of Jamestown ‘s possible charter school, Mendenhall Country Day?
Teacher Performance Pay Is Off State Agenda
News & Observer, NC, March 7, 2012
A legislative education committee won’t include performance pay for teachers in its recommendations for short-session laws, one chairman said.
Philadelphia School Deficit Could Hit $400 Million, Official Says
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, March 7, 2012
The Philadelphia School District could face a budget shortfall of as much as $400 million in the next fiscal year, a top district official said Tuesday.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board Advised To Reject Charter of One School; Renew Another
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, March 7, 2012
Review teams Tuesday recommended that the Pittsburgh Public Schools board renew City Charter High for an additional five years but advised against renewing Career Connections Charter High School .
Testimony Raises Questions About New Hope Management Agreement
The York Dispatch, PA, March 7, 2012
Several fiscal revelations came to light after another four-hour marathon New Hope charter renewal hearing. Namely, New Hope Board of Trustees vice president John Eyster testified that he did not do his “due diligence” in thoroughly reading the management agreement in 2007 when New Hope began.
Riverview Provides Cost-Effective Model
Beaufort Gazette, SC, March 7, 2012
Innovation and competitiveness are long-standing attributes that define Americans.
That’s why it’s hard to rationalize the ongoing actions of the Beaufort County Board of Education with regard to Riverview Charter School. In particular, why does the school board intend to waste time and money fighting a recent federal court decision (and common sense) in an apparent attempt to stifle the innovation and competitiveness Riverview brings to our public education system?
IDEA To Expand Recruiting Efforts As New Opt-Out Deadline Approaches
Austin American-Statesman, TX, March 6, 2012
About half of the 350 families assigned to a new district charter program at Allan Elementary School in August had opted out as of Feb. 24, leaving IDEA Allan underenrolled.
American Fork Mom Takes Action, Starts Charter School
Daily Herald, UT, March 7, 2012
Last year brought us Tiger Moms with uber-strict parenting, endless piano recitals and math-filled vacations. Then French moms told us all about bringing up tantrum-free, vegetable-eating bébés — all in style. Forget east and west, superior parenting exists in American Fork, sparked with an entrepreneurial spirit and a can-do attitude.
Assembly Taking Up Special-Needs Education Change
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, March 7, 2012
Some students with disabilities in Wisconsin next school year could attend a private or a public school outside their home district with the help of a taxpayer-funded subsidy, under a bill advanced one step by the state Assembly late Tuesday.
Defunding and Privatization Threaten Public Schools
The Badger Herald, WI, March 6, 2012
Public education currently stands under twin towers of threat — de-funding and privatization. This is consistent with a conservative agenda to eliminate many public programs — including public education.
State House Passes Education Reform Legislation
Casper Star-Tribune, WY, March 6, 2012
A bill that continues efforts to help make Wyoming public school students better prepared for college and careers passed the state House of Representatives on Tuesday.
VIRTUAL LEARNING
Tight Budgets Make Cyber Charter Schools Easy Targets
Patriot News, PA, March 7, 2012
In recent months, conversations surrounding the funding of Pennsylvania’s 12 cyber charter schools have reached a fever pitch, not only in Harrisburg, but across the commonwealth.
AIU to Start New Cyber Charter School in Fall
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, March 7, 2012
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit will start a new cyber charter school in the fall that will integrate online learning and workplace experiences.
Florida House Opens Up Online Learning Options
Bradenton Herald, FL, March 6, 2012
A bill that expands online learning opportunities to elementary school-age children has been passed by the Florida House.