Daily Headlines: May 17, 2012
‘Chronically Absent’ Students Skew School Data, Study Finds, Citing Parents’ Role
New York Times, NY, May 17, 2012
Up to 15 percent of American children are chronically absent from school, missing at least one day in 10 and doing long-term harm to their academic progress, according to a new study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
Activist Targeting Schools, Backed By Big Bucks
MSNBC, May 16, 2012
During her tumultuous three years at the head of the Washington, D.C. , public schools, Michelle Rhee set off a lot of fireworks.
She’s still doing it — on a national stage.
FROM THE STATES
Phoenix-Area Companies Take On Role As Class Sponsors
Arizona Republic, AZ, May 16, 2012
In the hallways of the Arizona Charter Academy in Surprise, two small plaques hang on the walls outside the second and fifth grades. They don’t announce room numbers or teachers’ names. Instead, they indicate the classes are sponsored by businesses: one by a cab company, the other by a bank.
STEM Charter School Proposal Interesting Idea
Yuma Sun, AZ, May 16, 2012
Most of us don’t tend to think of education as a national security issue, but if you think about it, that makes sense.
Voucher Eligibility May Reach 100,000
Arizona Daily Star, AZ, May 17, 2012
A new law signed this week by Gov. Jan Brewer could give an estimated 100,000 children in Arizona schools a check from the state to go to a private or parochial school next year instead.
LAUSD and Charter Students’ Experience With Teacher …
Los Angeles Daily News, CA, May 16, 2012
Few things can so starkly highlight the differences between traditional and charter schools like the actions of two groups of students this month.
Wrong Way To Reform Tenure
Los Angeles Times, CA, May 16, 2012
A California lawsuit that seeks a permanent ban on teacher protections that are stronger than those for other public employees goes too far.
Denver Principal Of School In Cheating Probe Got Bonuses For Stellar Scores
Denver Post, CO, May 17, 2012
The principal at one of two Denver elementary schools being investigated for cheating on standardized tests was paid at least $32,000 in bonuses as a reward for his students’ high achievement.
Credit To DPS For Inspecting Scores
Denver Post, CO, May 17, 2012
The district should be applauded for choosing to look into potential cheating on standardized tests.
Charter Schools Up For Vote
News Journal, DE, May 17, 2012
The state board of education is slated to vote today on applications for three new charter schools at its monthly meeting in Dover.
OSSE Report: District Pays At Least $10 Million To Educate Non-Resident Students
Washington Post Blog, DC, May 16, 2012
The District has been trying to save a few dollars by reducing the number of special education students in expensive private schools at public expense.
Florida, Not Kids, Flunked FCAT Testing
Miami Herald, FL, May 16, 2012
Proficiency under pressure — that’s what we test for. Right? That’s what public education is all about in the new Florida . Standardized tests decide whether students graduate, how much teachers earn, what performance grades schools get, how much bonus money to give to schools that excel.
The Cherokee County Charter School Stew
Atlanta Journal Constitution Blog, GA, May 16, 2012
Thrice did a group of Cherokee parents petition their county school board to accept the Cherokee Charter Academy into the public school system. Thrice did the school board refuse, on a 4-3 vote. System officials declared that the charter school brought nothing new to the table – and would drain a system already strapped for cash.
But the charter school movement has considerable clout in the state Capitol.
CPS Plans 60 More Charters In 5 Years
Chicago Tribune, IL, May 16, 2012
Chicago Public Schools plans to create 60 more charter schools over five years, which would increase the share of privately run charters to about a quarter of all schools in the district.
Students Deserve Education Options
Evansville Courier & Press, IN, May 17, 2012
Mr. Krull may not like competition and choice, but it is clear that the current state of education can’t improve without them. True, they are not a panacea for all the educational ills we face, but they are certainly a major tool that every parent should have in their arsenal.
Des Moines Charter School’s Budget Gap Closed, But Future Unclear
Des Moines Register, IA, May 17, 2012
The Des Moines Public Charter School’s $109,000 budget shortfall for the next school year was tentatively resolved Wednesday by a committee that slashed technology, adjunct faculty and rent expenses and secured additional private money.
Voters Should Get The Chance To Set School Board Term Limits, Panel Says
Times-Picayune, LA, May 16, 2012
Voters should have the prerogative this fall to determine if local school boards members will be limited to three consecutive terms starting in 2014, a Senate committee said Wednesday.
State Superintendent White Outlines Plan
Shreveport Times, LA, May 16, 2012
It’s been a whirlwind few months since John White became state superintendent of education. Since his January approval, Louisiana has launched itself into the forefront of education reform, but White said the changes are necessary to improve student outcomes.
The Flaws In The Teacher Evaluation Ballot Initiative
Go Local Worcester, MA, May 17, 2012
A crucial ballot issue coming in November is already raising concerns for local students, teachers, and school systems. The Stand for Children ballot initiative is being condemned by local school committee members and Boston-based organization Jobs With Justice for its lack of clear language and its lack of fair treatment for teachers.
Regional School Board Rejects School Choice
Metro West Daily, MA, May 17, 2012
Saying it felt the risks of class size strain outweighed a nebulous potential for financial gain, the Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee last night rejected School Choice.
Grading Teachers Is Tough To Get Right
Detroit News, MI, May 17, 2012
It’s the teacher’s turn to be graded. Under new teacher tenure laws in effect in Michigan , all classroom instructors must be evaluated annually in every district starting this school year — a practice that has not occurred in some schools in decades.
CMU to name Center for Charter Schools after former Michigan Gov. John Engler Monday
Central Michigan Life, MI, May 16, 2012
Former Michigan Gov. John Engler has put a lot of dedication and hard work into the Charter Schools movement. Next Monday, the Center for Charter Schools will repay that dedication by changing its name to include Engler’s name.
Charter School Bill A Good Balance Between Accountability, Expansion
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, May 17, 2012
If there was one piece of education business that the Missouri Legislature should have finished before it ends its session Friday, it was not the charter school bill.
Charter-School Law Improves Accountability
St. Louis American, MO, May 16, 2012
If we really want to tackle the problems in our schools, we have to start relying on common-sense solutions that put the needs of students ahead of any other interests in the system. Fortunately, in Missouri , lawmakers advocating for a new public charter school law understand this.
Bill To Let Students Attend Schools Closer To Home Hits Roadblock
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, May 17, 2012
Michael Massman and Cory Kraft have tracked, tailed and timed school buses to make their point: that their children shouldn’t have to ride buses for hours to attend far-away public schools in their own districts if other schools are closer to home.
School Voucher System Approved
Concord Monitor, NH, May 17, 2012
After several rounds of editing over the course of the past year, two bills creating a business tax credit and educational voucher system passed by veto-proof margins in the state House and Senate yesterday.
Board To Resign, Phila. Group To Take Over Underperforming Trenton Charter School
Times of Trenton, NJ, May 17, 2012
Having failed to come up with an acceptable turnaround plan for the troubled Paul Robeson Charter School, trustees and administrators of the institution have agreed to relinquish their positions and allow a Philadelphia-based group to take over, with the state Department of Education’s blessing.
Diploma Costs a Weekend and $200
Albuquerque Journal, NM, May 17, 2012
Last Thursday, an Albuquerque High School senior failed his English final exam, meaning he would not graduate with his class. That same day, an Albuquerque High counselor suggested he take a class at Southwest Secondary charter school, which offers online courses for a fee of $200 per semester credit.
School Leaders Hope Tensions Ease Between District, Charter Schools With New Collaboration Launched In The Bronx
New York Daily News, NY, May 17, 2012
The city Department of Education hopes to ease long-existing tensions between district and charter schools with a new collaboration set to kick off in the Bronx.
Under Tax Cap, ‘Yes’ Prevails
Albany Times Union, NY, May 16, 2012
Voters in virtually every school district in the state approved their school budgets on Tuesday.
Research Shows ‘No Excuses’ Model For Schools Effective At Boosting Test Scores
Akron Beacon Journal, OH, May 17, 2012
Former Akron City Councilman Ernie Tarle hopes to create a charter school in Akron that emulates the practices of the country’s highest performing urban charter schools.
Local Charter School Operator Opposes Part Of Cleveland Schools Reform Plan
News Net 5, OH, May 16, 2012
A local charter school operator fears Cleveland’s education reform plan would place an unfair burden on anyone wanting to open new charter schools.
TPS Proposes Dramatic Changes For Its Low Performing Schools
Fox 23, OK, May 16, 2012
Tulsa Public Schools is proposing drastic changes for its low performing schools.
It’s all part of an effort to reform McLain High School after it was listed as most in need of intervention.
Principal Doing Better, But Not The Schools
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, May 17, 2012
Vindication has finally come to a former Camden principal who was dismissed in retribution after blowing the whistle on rigged test scores. But six years later, the school district that fired him is still mired in mediocrity.
SRC Plan Sparks Debate. Will Debate Help?
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, May 17, 2012
Everyone has an opinion about how to fix the district, and the district has an opinion about how to fix itself via a new set of proposals that would close 40 schools, move many students to charters, establish “achievement networks” and require major concessions from the unions to close its fiscal gap.
At KIPP, Dreams of An Ivy League Education
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, May 17, 2012
Nasir Harker, an 11-year-old student at the KIPP Charter School in North Philadelphia, knows everything about wealthy Ivy League colleges like Penn, Princeton, and Harvard:
Ambridge Area Counting Favorable Ruling On Baden Academy
Beaver County Times, PA, May 16, 2012
Eliminating Baden Academy tuition will save the board approximately $900,000, according to Byron, but those savings are based on Commonwealth Court’s review of the state Department of Education’s Charter Appeal Board’s decision to grant Baden Academy ‘s charter.
Reject School Choice Bill
The Herald, SC, May16, 2012
State Sen. Wes Hayes deserves credit for standing firm in opposition to the latest bill to funnel public money to private schools in the state.
The Right ‘Choice’ on Schools
The Sun News, SC, May 17, 2012
The charter school bill that Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law on Monday is good news for parents, students and anyone invested in the future of education in our state, namely, all of us. The next version of school choice coming down the pike (H. 4894), a bill that would in effect pay parents to take their kids out of public schools, should not get the same treatment.
58 Years After Brown, Metro And Other Schools Still Racially Divided
The Tennessean, TN, May 17, 2012
I read with some disappointment but not surprise Tuesday of Metro Schools Director Jesse Register’s testimony in a federal court school rezoning case that he’s not in favor of achieving school diversity by forcing black students from Nashville’s urban area on buses to predominantly white suburban schools.
TEA: Burnham Wood To Keep Accreditation
El Paso Times, TX, May 17, 2012
The Burnham Wood Charter School District , which the Texas Education Agency had been investigating for more than two years, will not have its accreditation status revoked.
Lottery Planned For New IDEA Allan Charter School
Austin American –Statesman, TX, May 16, 2012
With more applications than spots available, IDEA Allan is holding a lottery today at Austin school district headquarters for admission to the new in-district charter program opening in August at Allan Elementary School .
ALA Second Charter School In State To Get Dual Immersion Program
Daily Herald, UT, May 16, 2012
Parents with kindergartners at American Leadership Academy are getting excited for the opportunity that their child might have at being a part of the new Spanish dual immersion program, which will begin in the fall.
Can A Democrat Support Charter Schools?
Seattle Times, WA, May 16, 2012
What is a Democrat? No, really. Can one be a Democrat and favor charter schools?
No, says, Nicholas Carlson, chairman of the 1st Legislative District Democrats, in a pointed email to Guy Palumbo, a Democratic businessman running, gasp, against a fellow Democrat, state Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Moon Area, Seneca Valley To Partner On Cyber School
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, May 17, 2012
In an effort to recapture funds spent on tuition to cyber-charter schools, Moon Area School District plans to team up with Seneca Valley’s Outreach Program for Technology to offer a cyber school of its own next year.
Students Say Virtual School Helps Them Succeed
Victoria Advocate, TX, May 16, 2012
This is school at the Hogan house – not quite homeschool, not quite public school. Instead, Christopher and Samantha Hogan, both seventh-graders, take classes at a virtual school called Texas Connections Academy .
Eagle County School District Replaces Foreign Language Teachers With Computers
CBS Local, CO, May 16, 2012
As part of a massive budget balancing, one school district is now getting rid of most of the foreign language teachers and replacing them with computers.