Daily Headlines for November 29, 2012
Great Teacher Evaluation Shouldn’t Be Good Luck
CNN Blog, November 29, 2012
In the nine years I’ve been in the classroom — at three different urban schools — I’ve consistently experienced evaluations that have allowed me to grow as an educator. I’m a better teacher because of that, and my students have benefited.
Charter School Group Calls For Tougher Laws
USA Today, November 28, 2012
In what may be a wake-up call to many of the USA’s 6,000 charter schools, an influential group called Wednesday for tougher standards for these independently run public schools, saying lawmakers should have more power to close down underperforming schools.
Tougher Charter School Standards Praised — By Charter Group
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, November 28, 2012
An essential feature of the Cleveland school reforms recently supported by city voters is the school district’s decision to engage with the city’s best charter schools to lift outcomes for all students — in part by making it harder for sham charters to take root. That approach has been reaffirmed from an unlikely quarter: the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.
FROM THE STATES
ARIZONA
Public Schools Compete With Charter Schools For Enrollment Numbers
KVOA, AZ, November 28, 2012
New numbers reveal that there are now over 144,000 Arizona students enrolled in charters. That’s about 10,000 more than previous years. This is the highest of anywhere in the country, second to Washington D.C.
CALIFORNIA
ICEF Charter Schools Say They Are Back On Track Financially
The Daily Breeze, CA, November 28, 2012
ICEF Public Schools, a collection of 14 charter schools in Los Angeles County that nearly shut down two years ago because of fiscal malaise and overexpansion, is back on track financially, officials announced this week.
Charters and Special Ed: Checking Up
Voice of Sand Diego, CA, November 28, 2012
Because of the unique way special education is funded in California , new charter schools are automatically enrolled in their home school district’s special education program. In San Diego Unified and elsewhere, the district charges charter schools a per-student fee for those services.
Hollister Charter School Gains District Approval In 3-2 Vote
Gilroy Dispatch, CA, November 28, 2012
The Hollister School District on Tuesday approved a contract and conditional approval of a petition to open a charter school in Hollister for the 2013-14 school year.
COLORADO
Approve STRIVE High School at Denver’s North Annex
Denver Post, CO, November 29, 2012
The Denver school board should OK a resolution authorizing a Strive high school of 500 students in the North High annex.
Hamner Named House Ed Chair
Ed News Colorado, CO, November 28, 2012
Rep. Millie Hamner of Dillon has been named chair of the House Education Committee and Rep. Cherilyn Peniston of Westminster will be vice chair.
DELAWARE
Is Building Of Odyssey School Necessary?
The News Journal, DE, November 28, 2012
I simply don’t understand why this school has to be built. We have declining enrollments in many New Castle County schools, public and private. Why can’t we use McKean or Dickinson? They are both down 400 students from 2000-2001. We used Wilmington High for Cab Callaway and Wilmington Charter.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Ward 8 Parents, Teachers Challenge D.C. School Closure Plan
Washington Post Blog, DC, November 28, 2012
A standing-room only crowd of parents, teachers and activists gathered Tuesday evening at Savoy Elementary School in Southeast Washington to critique and challenge Chancellor Kaya Henderson’s plan to close 20 under-enrolled schools.
FLORIDA
Union Against Evaluations
Hernando Today, FL, November 29, 2012
Even if Pablo Picasso could be hired to teach art in Florida schools, chances are he would be among many to score poorly under the state’s new teacher evaluation process.
Florida Failing To Hold Private Schools Accountable, Even With State Money
Bradenton Herald, FL, November 29, 2012
Several confounding questions surround yet another alarming situation at a private school owned by a man whose financial track record can only be described as wanting at best. The Prep Academy is now the fourth school owned by Hendrik Lamprecht to fall into deep trouble, though its exact status remains hazy.
ILLINOIS
General Assembly To Vote On Extending School Closings Announcement
Chicago Tribune, IL, November 28, 2012
The request by Chicago Public Schools for more time to compile a list of school closings was all but granted Wednesday, giving officials four more months to make a case for why schools need to be shut down.
INDIANA
Marshall Academy Offers Kids An Option
Journal Gazette, IN, November 29, 2012
Research suggests that neighborhood schools are valued highly by urban residents and represent an important part of neighborhood identity.
Indiana Governor Warns Of Foes To Education Reform
Washington Times, DC, November 28, 2012
At the forefront of education reform in the U.S., Indiana faces an uncertain future after its trail-blazing schools chief was ousted three weeks ago and replaced by a teachers union official.
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Voucher Test
Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2012
This week a state court in Baton Rouge is hearing the union challenge to Louisiana ‘s Act 2, which expanded the New Orleans program statewide and allows families with a household income less than 250% of the federal poverty line to get a voucher to escape schools ranked C or worse by the state. Gabriel’s voucher covers $4,315 in annual tuition.
Foundation Invests in N.O. Charters
The Advocate, LA, November 29, 2012
The Texas-based Laura and John Arnold Foundation announced a $25 million investment Wednesday to help create and expand high-performing charter schools in New Orleans .
New Orleans School Reforms Get $25 Million Grant To Expand
Times- Picayune, LA, November 28, 2012
In a significant vote of support for New Orleans’ school reforms, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation announced a $25 million investment Wednesday to help successful local charters expand and to attract top national charter organizations to the city. The goal is to turn education around for 15,000 kids.
Teachers Should Be Active In Reform Effort
American Press, LA, November 28, 2012
One might almost understand why Steve Monaghan senses an attack. Almost. The president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, speaking at the organization’s annual meeting last week, cited Gov. Bobby Jindal’s education agenda in 2012, through which the governor used the weight of his high office to stack the deck in favor of his version of school reform.
MASSACHUSETTS
Brockton School Officials Mounting Effort To Block Charter School
Enterprise News, MA, November 29, 2012
School officials and School Committee members are gearing up to mount opposition to a proposal to start a charter school in the city.
MICHIGAN
Media Plays Into ‘Unfounded Hysteria’ Over School Reforms
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, MI, November 28, 2012
The Bridge Magazine is misleading the public when describing an educational reform bill, said Michael Van Beek, education policy director of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Is Michigan ‘s Education Achievement Authority Establishing A Statewide School Reform District On The Fast Track?
Grand Rapids Press, MI, November 28, 2012
Michigan Republicans are continuing to shape a proposal that could lead to a statewide expansion of a school district aimed at turning around low-performing schools.
Proposed Teacher Evals Draw Critics
Detroit News, MI, November 29, 2012
Teacher evaluation models at 28 Michigan school districts all fall short of what Michigan should strive for in its new statewide model, according to a nonprofit education advocacy group.
MINNESOTA
New Coalition Targets Achievement Gap In Schools
Star Tribune, MN, November 28, 2012
An influential collection of metro-area organizations goes public Thursday with a new attempt to focus the spending of millions intended to erase the achievement gap in inner-city schools.
MISSISSIPPI
Charter Schools: What Is Your Definition Of A Pilot Program?
Clarion Ledger Blog , MS, November 28, 2012
I got a call from Rep. George Flaggs, D-Vicksburg, this morning. “It will be a pilot program,” Flaggs told me straight off, referring to charter schools and my column today. We talked at length, and he ran down what he sees a House charter school bill looking like. But is it a pilot program?
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Lynch for Education, So Long As Students Stay In Assigned Schools
Laconia Daily Sun, NH, November 28, 2012
John Lynch has been handing out favors. The beneficiary is our teachers’ union. Under his direction this fall, the Board of Education promoted rules that make it harder for parents to choose an alternative to the public school for their children.
NEW JERSEY
Reaching Students
Asbury Park Press, NJ, November 29, 2012
For students at Red Bank Charter School, the 18-classroom, sky-blue building perched on Oakland Street, the school week is 40 hours long, similar to a full-time job.
‘Renaissance Schools’ Get Board’s Go-Ahead in Camden
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, November 29, 2012
A proposal to build up to five new “renaissance schools” in Camden under the fledgling Urban Hope Act passed a key hurdle early yesterday morning as the Camden school board gave the go-ahead to the controversial plan.
In A Reversal, Camden School Board Approves KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy Renaissance School
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, November 29, 2012
Reversing itself, the Camden school board Wednesday backed the creation of a “Renaissance school” at the site of the former public Lanning Square Family School .
NEW YORK
Group May Sue Over Money Owed to Poor New York School Districts
New York Times, NY, November 29, 2012
Six years after New York’s highest court forced the state to substantially increase financing to poor school districts, the group that won that ruling is threatening a new lawsuit unless Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and the Legislature come up with billions of extra dollars for those districts.
Teachers Face ‘Anxiety’ With New Evaluations
Daily News, NY, November 29, 2012
This school year teachers at Albion and other school districts in New York will be graded, from a 1 for ineffective to a 4 for highly effective.
Alarm Again Raised Over Lack Of Buffalo Teacher Evaluation Plan
Buffalo News, NY, November 28, 2012
Superintendent Pamela C. Brown on Wednesday renewed her call for Buffalo Teachers Federation President Philip Rumore to return to the negotiating table to reach an agreement on teacher evaluations.
School Superintendents Respond On Teacher Evaluations
Newsday, NY, November 28, 2012
After reading the editorial “More whining on evaluations” [Nov. 28], I believe that Newsday is more interested in being quotable than factual. To make the argument that the new teacher accountability program isn’t unfunded, or underfunded, the writer suggests that Middle Country received an additional $4 million in aid, leading a reader to conclude that there are plenty of dollars available for these evaluation programs.
OHIO
Major Charter Schools Don’t Apply For Cleveland School Tax Money
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, November 29, 2012
Most of Cleveland’s major charter school organizations did not apply by Tuesday’s deadline for a share of money from the just-passed school levy.
Ohio’s 3 Finalists To Vie For Millions
Columbus Dispatch, OH, November 29, 2012
A plan by Reynoldsburg schools to personalize student learning was among 61 finalists nationwide selected by the U.S. Department of Education for a shot at $400 million in federal Race to the Top funding.
State May Count Hours, Not Days In School Year
Columbus Dispatch, OH, November 29, 2012
Longer days instead of make-up days may be ahead for Ohio schools struggling to rearrange their calendars after snow days and other scheduling calamities.
Finally, Progress On School Reform
Salem News, OH, November 29, 2012
At long last, Ohio seems on the brink of simple, common-sense school reforms.
PENNSYLVANIA
With Deadline Looming, A Bus Tour Of Schools
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, November 29, 2012
Friday is the deadline for district students to apply to a citywide or special-admission high school, or to transfer to a district neighborhood school.
State Fails For Attempt To Remove Standard From Tests
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader , PA, November 29, 2012
CALL IT THE de-standardization of standardized tests. When test results don’t meet your goals and you can’t change the tests, change the way you use the tests.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Charleston County School District Still On Track To Open Lowcountry Tech Program On Downtown Rivers Campus
Post and Courier, SC, November 29, 2012
The school board didn’t take any action that would change its 2007 decision for the new Lowcountry Tech program to share space with the Charleston Charter School for Math and Science in the downtown building, and it doesn’t appear that a majority of the board would support changing that.
Buist Academy Increasing Enrollment For 2013-14 School Year By 70 Students To 480
Post and Courier, SC, November 29, 2012
Buist Academy , one of the most in-demand magnet schools in Charleston County , will accept more students for the 2013-14 school year.
TENNESSEE
Creation of Municipal Charter Schools Could be an Option for Suburbs
WREG, TN, November 28, 2012
A federal judge’s decision to stop municipal schools from opening is not quiet the end of the line for those people in support of them.
Closures Intrinsic to Charter-School System
Nashville Public Radio, TN, November 29, 2012
Families and Metro education officials are being reminded charter schools aren’t necessarily permanent. Charters are ramping up in Tennessee , boasting some ten thousand students. They get public money to run their own way, on the promise they’ll put up good test scores. But some charters inevitably fall short, and shutting them down is a messy process.
School Dispute Roils Memphis
The Tennessean, TN, November 29, 2012
Leaders of an attempt by six Memphis suburbs to start their own public school systems are considering how to respond after a federal judge halted their effort.
WISCONSIN
ALPS Charter School Resembles One-Room School House
The Oshkosh Northwestern, WI, November 28, 2012
A small Oshkosh charter school emulating the feel of historic one-room school houses may soon find itself the recipient of state-wide attention, and some possible funding to help share the school’s methods.
ONLINE LEARNING
School Board Institutes Fees For Cyber, Charter Student Activity Participation
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA, November 28, 2012
Charter and cyber-school students are welcome to participate in Penn Hills School District sports or extracurricular activities — but it’s going to cost their schools.
Don’t Give Up On Online Learning
The Tennessean, TN, November 29, 2012
Opponents of online learning options for children are shortsighted in their recent criticism of the new Tennessee Virtual Academy . Technology is the future of education throughout the world, and Tennessee cannot afford to be left behind.
Online Schools Spend Millions on Advertising to Recruit New Students
NPR StateImpact , OH, November 29, 2012
In the stories on online education we wrote with the Cleveland Plain Dealer earlier this year, we looked at the huge growth in online charter schools and one of the big questions about those schools: Where does the money go?
Students And Funds Increasingly Move Toward Digital Classrooms
The Review, OH, November 29, 2012
Since the first Ohio virtual schools opened in 2000, charter schools have increased in popularity statewide, with approximately 30,000 students currently enrolled. As more students enroll in these schools, questions regarding standards and accountability arise
JRL Online Class Bid Denied
The Advocate, LA, November 29, 2012
State officials Wednesday rejected a bid to offer online classes to public school students by a firm linked to the 2009 bribery trial of the brother of former U.S. Congressman William Jefferson.