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NEWSWIRE IS BACK! Click here for the latest weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else, spiced with a dash of irreverence, from the nation’s leading voice in school reform.

NATIONAL

Teachers and Policy Makers: Troubling Disconnect
New York Times Blog, NY, January 31, 2013
Can the school reform movement accept constructive criticism? Gary Rubinstein hopes so. Mr. Rubinstein joined Teach for America in 1991, the program’s second year, and has now been teaching math for 15 years, five of them in some of the nation’s neediest public schools and 10 more at the prestigious Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan.

Race to the Top: D.C., Maryland and Georgia Way Back in the Field
Washington Post, DC, February 1, 2013
In the second year of Race to the Top, the Obama administration’s signature effort to improve public schools, nine of 12 jurisdictions that received $4 billion in federal grants made good progress. But three — the District, Maryland and Georgia — have stumbled, federal officials said.

Growing Number Of Educators Boycott Standardized Tests
USA Today, January 1, 2013
The decision by a group of Seattle teachers to boycott a standardized test this winter could spill out to other cities as a decade of frustration over testing simmers.

Charter Schools That Start Bad Stay Bad, Study Finds
Washington Post Blog, DC, January 31, 2013
Charter schools that start out doing poorly aren’t likely to improve, and charters that are successful from the beginning most often stay that way, according to a new study by researchers at Stanford University.

Democrats Launch Speakers Bureau To Hold Obama’s Feet To Fire On Education Reform
Forbes, January 31, 2013
Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), in conjunction with Education Reform Now (ERN), launched today their “I’m A DFER” Speakers Bureau of former Democratic state legislators, according to a press release obtained by Crotty on Education.

FROM THE STATES

New Legislation May Change Charter School Authorization Process
Alaska Public Radio Network, AK, January 31, 2013
Right now, if you and a group of like-minded individuals want to set up a charter school in your community, you need to petition your local school board to get your plan approved. A new bill could change that and open authorization up to universities, other government agencies, and nonprofits.

ARIZONA

Bill Would Mandate School-Choice Guide
Arizona Republic, AZ, January 31, 2013
A bill in the state Legislature would require the Arizona Department of Education to mail a “how-to” guide of educational options each year to the parents of 1 million children.

COLORADO

Parent Trigger Bill Pops Up
Education News Colorado, CO, January 31, 2013
A group of 10 Republican lawmakers has introduced a measure that would allow parents to petition the State Board of Education for conversion of struggling schools.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

School Choice Pays Off, Literally
National Review Online, February 1, 2013
The District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) produced $2.62 in benefits for every dollar spent on it. In other words, the return on public investment for the private-school voucher program during its early years was 162 percent.

FLORIDA

Fla. Back on Track with Race to the Top
St. Augustine Record, FL, February 1, 2013
Top grant projects, U.S. Department of Education officials say the state has regained its momentum.

GEORGIA

Charter Students, Lawmakers Mark School Choice Week
Cherokee Tribune, GA, February 1, 2013
Cherokee Charter Academy students visited the state Capitol on Friday to meet with local legislators and participate in a rally to celebrate National School Choice Week.

ILLINOIS

The Ins And Outs Of Chicago’s Charter Network Expansion: What’s Working, What’s Not – And Why
Medill Reports: Chicago, IL, January 31, 2013
Don’t let the name fool you. This is not a school with selective enrollment. This is not a private school. It’s a charter school. It’s also a public school, according to Angela Montagna, director of external affairs for the Noble charter network, who is quick to correct anyone who says otherwise.

INDIANA

Parents Faced With More School Choices
Muncie Star Press, IN, February 1, 2013
As one local charter school prepares to close its doors, another one is planning its grand opening. Hoosier Academies, a tuition-free public charter school, will shut down its brick-and-mortar Muncie location in June.

Ball State Puts More Rigor Into Charter Renewal Process
Northwest Times, IN, February 1, 2013
Tabitha and Eliseo Velez, who have six children enrolled at Charter School of the Dunes in Gary, are among parents and community members advocating the school remain open.

Mayor Greg Ballard Seeks Authority To Take Over IPS Schools Taken Over By State
Indianapolis Star, IN, January 31, 2013
Mayor Greg Ballard will ask the State Board of Education next week to give him authority over four former Indianapolis Public Schools taken over by the state.

IOWA

Report: Iowa Teacher Evaluations Fail To Identify Top Educators
Des Moines Register, IA, February 1, 2013
The first statewide review of teacher evaluations revealed a patchwork system in which the majority of teachers aren’t rated in a way that identifies the best performers, according to an annual state education report released Thursday.

MAINE

Reactions to Charter School Cuts
WLBZ-TV, ME, January 31, 2013
Republicans are reacting with anger at the Education Committee’s vote to cut funding from Charter Schools along with Public Schools.

MARYLAND

Charter School Students, Parents, Teachers Lobby Lawmakers
WBAL, MD, January 31, 2013
Ten years after Maryland’s charter school law was enacted, more than 200 student, parents and teachers from charter schools around the state were in Annapolis today to urge lawmakers to make changes to the charter school law.

Johns Hopkins Hoping To Revive East Baltimore Neighborhood On Its Border
Washington Post, DC, January 31, 2013
The renowned Johns Hopkins University medical campus looms over East Baltimore like a fortress on a hill. On its northern edge lies a humble neighborhood of rowhouses weathered by decades of crime, poverty and decay.

MICHIGAN

Detroit Area’s Catholic Schools Shrink, But Tradition Endures
Detroit Free Press, MI, February 1, 2013
More than 13,000 “Mercy girls” have received a Catholic education from Mercy High School, founded in Detroit in 1945, when the city’s population was heavily Catholic.

NEVADA

Success-Induced Environment
Daily Sparks Tribune, NV, January 31, 2013
Parents and families came out in hoards Thursday night at Alpine Academy Charter School in Sparks. The school celebrated National School Choice Week, a nationally recognized program, advocating for parents’ choice to send their children to the school of their choice.

Empowering Parents To Choose Best School
Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV, February 1, 2013
Failure can be one of the best things in life. In the short term, failure doesn’t seem attractive, because it involves … well … failing. In the longer term, however, failure motivates us to either try a different method and succeed or find a different path entirely.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Charter Schools Group Drops State’s Rank Due To Moratorium
Union Leader, NH, January 31, 2013
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools has dropped New Hampshire’s ranking from one of the most friendly states for charter schools to one of the most hostile, citing a State Board of Education moratorium on the approval of any new state-authorized charters. In its 2013 assessment of state charter school laws, New Hampshire dropped from No. 11 in 2012 to No. 30.

NEW JERSEY

Two Camden Charter Schools Scramble To Restore Tax-Exempt Status
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, February 1, 2013
Charter schools across New Jersey leverage their federal tax-exempt status to enhance their classrooms and expand their facilities.

NEW YORK

Teach-Eval Talks Thaw
New York Post, NY, February 1, 2013
Gov. Cuomo’s threat to have Albany impose a new teacher-evaluation system if the city and UFT can’t agree to one on their own is working.

The Plan to Save Catholic Schools
Wall Street Journal, February 1, 2013
This is Catholic Schools Week, when dioceses across the country celebrate the great gifts that are our Catholic schools.

Democracy Prep Founder Seth Andrew Unveils Ambitious Plan To Help Grads Hit The Ground Running In College
New York Daily News, NY, January 31, 2013
Call it the gift that keeps on giving. A highly touted charter school has already helped students from Harlem’s poorest families nail down a spot in a college next fall.

Plan for Older Students Faces Obstacles
New York Times, NY, February 1, 2013
With that in mind, Goodwill wants to expand its services by opening a charter school that focuses on awarding high school diplomas to older students, instead of the G.E.D.’s that adult education programs traditionally offer. The charter application will be filed in February.

NORTH CAROLINA

School Districts And Charters
Burlington Times News, NC, February 1, 2013
We have long supported charter schools in North Carolina. We favored lifting the state’s 100-school cap in 2011 because we think charter schools encourage innovation, give parents a choice, and put needed competitive pressure on the public schools to do a better job.

OHIO

Gov. John Kasich’s School Plan Would Dramatically Overhaul Ohio’s Funding Formula
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, January 31, 2013
Gov. John Kasich wants a major overhaul of Ohio school funding that focuses on bridging the wide gaps in income and property values among districts, while also giving charter schools the same level of state money that traditional districts get.

Kasich School Plan Prompts Optimism For Area Educators
Toledo Blade, OH, February 1, 2013
Ohio school superintendents reacted with guarded optimism Thursday to Gov. John Kasich’s school funding proposal, as they hailed a guarantee that no school districts will receive less money under the plan than they currently do, but must wait for details on how the formula would affect individual districts.

PENNSYLVANIA

No Cheating On Charters: We Must Be Honest About The Performance Of Our Schools
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, February 1, 2013
Wouldn’t we all love to respond to a disappointing performance review by changing the measuring tool to give us a better result? Many of us would joyfully toss the bathroom scale out the window in favor of one that knocked off 10 pounds. How about moving the end zone five yards closer so our favorite wide receiver could catch the game-winning throw?

SOUTH CAROLINA

Teacher Grading Plan Draws Fire From Greenville County School Board
Greenville News, SC, January 31, 2013
Their progress is her progress. And it gets measured in many ways, including with a test three times a year in math and reading called Measuring Academic Progress.

Zais: Choice Funds Students, Not Schools
SCNow, SC, January 31, 2013
South Carolina Superintendent of Education Mick Zais said he has high hopes a school choice bill will be passed in the General Assembly this year.

TENNESSEE

Tennessee Voucher Debate: The Chance, And Price, of ‘School Choice’
WRCBTV, TN, January 31, 2013
His second graders have reached the point that Daris Waters calls “show what you know.” “What’s my first step,” he asks. “You want to borrow a ten so the two becomes a 12,” a young man answers softly but confidently.

TN Teachers Not Told of Bad Evaluations
The Tennessean, TN, February 1, 2013
The number of Tennessee teachers apparently not told how poorly they scored on a teacher evaluation is worrisome to Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman, who questions how they can improve without feedback.

TEXAS

AISD School Board Joins Anti-Voucher Resolution
KFDA, TX, January 31, 2013
Amarillo schools are jumping on board the growing resistance toward the controversial school voucher program.

‘Choice’ Schools OK Testing, Not Open Enrollment
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX, January 31, 2013
Between now and the Legislature’s scheduled May 27 adjournment, Texas will almost surely see its most extensive push ever for sending students to private schools with state-arranged financing.

VIRGINIA

Va. Senate Panel OKs Grading Schools
Washington Times, DC, January 31, 2013
Two major components of Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell’s education reform agenda won a Senate committee’s endorsement Thursday on the narrowest of party-line votes.

WASHINGTON

Bills To Grade Schools, Hold Back Third-Graders Well-Meaning But Problematic
Seattle Times, WA, January 31, 2013
The State Senate Education Committee falls short in efforts to rate schools and ensure all third-graders can read.

WISCONSIN

School Vouchers Harm Public Education
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, January 31, 2013
With voucher advocates this week trumpeting National School Choice Week, it is a fitting time to examine some Milwaukee choice schools and the proposed expansion of private school vouchers in Wisconsin. Some politicians are intent on slowly doing away with our public education system in favor of privatized education that is paid for with taxpayers’ money.

ONLINE LEARNING

School in Thumb Takes Online Learning To The Max
Bridge Magazine, MI, January 31, 2013
Allison Ruiz was attending the Thanksgiving parade in downtown Detroit two months ago when she got a call from a student with a homework question.

Lakeville Looks At Doing More With Online Learning
Star Tribune, MN, January 31, 2013
The district wants to tap into a growing, and potentially lucrative, market of students working via the Internet.

Skandera OK’s Virtual School
Albuquerque Journal, NM, February 1, 2013
State education chief Hanna Skandera overruled the Public Education Commission this week, opting to allow a new all-online charter school to open in the fall.

NEWSWIRE IS BACK! Click here for the latest weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else, spiced with a dash of irreverence, from the nation’s leading voice in school reform.

NATIONAL COVERAGE

We Choose Everything – Why Not Our Schools?
Detroit News, MI, January 31, 2013
Being able to choose these goods and services is the essential first step to being an educated consumer, and being an educated consumer is an essential right of the American experience. It is truly awful, then, that many Americans are not permitted to choose the school where their children receive their education — a product more vital than any iPhone or brand of milk, and moreover, a product guaranteed to them by their states.

E-Mails Link Bush Foundation, Corporations And Education Officials
Washington Post Blog, DC, January 30, 2013
A nonprofit group released thousands of e-mails today and said they show how a foundation begun by Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and national education reform leader, is working with public officials in states to write education laws that could benefit some of its corporate funders.

FROM THE STATES

ALABAMA

Give School Systems The Opportunity To Innovate, Be Flexible
Birmingham News, AL, January 30, 2013
Who in the world would argue against giving Alabama public schools more flexibility and an opportunity to be innovative?

ARKANSAS

Arkansas Educators React To Charter School Rally, Legislation
KUAR, AR, January 30, 2013
One day after a rally to push for more public charter schools in Arkansas, various groups of state educators gathered together at the Capitol on Wednesday to say current legislation that would create an independent commission to approve new charter schools would be an overreach into the state’s education system.

CALIFORNIA

Manzanita Backers Show Their Support
Lompoc Record, CA, January 30, 2013
With dozens of bright yellow balloons hovering above, a wide range of speakers took to the podium at Tuesday night’s Lompoc Unified School District board meeting, many of them with a clear and united message: Keep Manzanita Charter School in this community.

COLORADO

Stone Creek Tops State’s Independent Schools
Vail Daily News, CO, January 30, 2013
A local independent charter school earned some of the state’s best marks in independent rankings.

DELAWARE

Families, Children Benefit From School Choice
News Journal, DE, January 31, 2013
School choice is important. It’s important because it can literally change the trajectory of a child’s life. Where one child flourishes, another will fall behind. Each child is different, with unique strengths and needs. How well a child performs in a school depends on how well that child’s learning needs are met by the school.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Can Traditional School Systems Be Replaced By Charters?
Washington Post Blog, DC, January 30, 2013
When activists from the District and across the country gathered Tuesday at the U.S. Education Department to call for an end to school closures, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten issued a statement in solidarity: “It’s time to fix, not close, our schools,” she said.

FLORIDA

Concerns Mounting Over Teacher Evaluations
Sunshine State News, FL, January 31, 2013
Questions are continuing to mount about the future of Florida’s new teacher evaluation system, with Senate President Don Gaetz becoming the latest state official to wonder if the system needs to be overhauled.

Forsyth Academy Weighs Change From Charter To Program
Gainesville Times, FL, January 30, 2013
New opportunities could be heading to the Forsyth Academy if the local school district decides to convert it from a charter format to a program.

1,100-Student Charter School Proposed In Palm Beach Gardens
Palm Beach Post, FL, January 30, 2013
A charter school that will create about 75 jobs and bring about 1,100 students to a vacant warehouse has been proposed for Hiatt Drive.

Scott Wants $1.2B for K-12
Hernando Today, FL, January 31, 2013
When Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday that he will propose an increase of $1.2 billion in the state’s K-12 education budget, or an increase of roughly $400 per student, some in the school district reacted to the news with a similar wave of curiosity that makes a person halt next to one of those plastic “Win a free cruise!” boxes full of business cards.

GEORGIA

Charter-School Commission Holds First Meeting
Rome News-Tribune, GA, January 31, 2013
The commission at the heart of last year’s controversial charter-school constitutional amendment held its organizational meeting Wednesday.

Charter Schools Commission Holds First Meeting Since Its Rebirth
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, January 30, 2013
It’s back. The State Charter Schools Commission, brought back to life with the passage of the charter schools constitutional amendment in November, held its first meeting Wednesday.

IDAHO

Report: Idaho Lags in Charter School Growth
Magic Valley Times-News, ID, January 31, 2013
Idaho lags behind other states in charter school growth, according to a new report from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation.

IOWA

Iowa Senate OKs Basic Aid To Schools, Setting Up Showdown With House
Des Moines Register, IA, January 31, 2013
A showdown is brewing after the Iowa Senate approved a $187 million school aid spending package Wednesday that will be sent to the House, which is being urged by Gov. Terry Branstad to delay action until it develops a plan to reform the state’s education system.

KANSAS

Battle Begins In House Over Public Unions
The Lawrence Journal-World, KS, January 30, 2013
A bill that opponents and supporters agreed would weaken the ability of public employee unions to participate in politics won preliminary approval on Wednesday.

LOUISIANA

Education Laws Topic Of Forum
The Advocate, LA, January 31, 2013
Louisiana legislators need to rework the education accountability and choice laws that siphon resources from public schools, punish teachers based on faulty measuring tools and disproportionately affect at-risk students, a panel of Tangipahoa Parish educators and elected officials said.

MAINE

Democratic Majority On Education Panel Wants Charter School To Share In Cuts
Bangor Daily News, ME, January 30, 2013
The Legislature’s Education Committee voted 8-5 along party lines Wednesday to include charter schools in $12.6 million in cuts to education aid, sparking the latest partisan battle on education reforms.

If Current Charter School Problems Not Solved, Movement Will Fail
Morning Sentinel, ME, January 31, 2013
An advertisement airing on local television, sponsored by the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools, gives the impression the charter school movement has no downside.

Charter Schools Are Not Free
Bangor Daily News, ME, January 30, 2013
There is an advertisement airing on local television sponsored by the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools. As with a lot of the political-type advertisements, it gives the impression that there is no downside to the charter school movement. They say it’s free, open to all and implies that parents will be able to work better with teachers in a charter school setting.

MARYLAND

Independently Operated Schools Sound Off On Contract Recommendations
Baltimore Sun, MD, January 31, 2013
In a public forum packed with emotion as well as people, the Baltimore school board heard Wednesday from independently operated schools fighting for contract extensions as some presented narratives describing their strengths and weaknesses.

Heavy Load Puts Teacher Retention At Risk In Prince George’s
Maryland Gazette, MD, January 31, 2013
Considering all the positive outcomes arising from our public schools in recent years, it is somewhat disheartening to see the issue of turnover rearing its ugly head in Prince George’s County once more. All our advances will be for naught if this community fails to entice educators to spend their careers right here.

MASSACHUSETTS

Charter School Site Offers Opportunities For City, Schools
Gloucester Daily Times, MA, January 31, 2013
The issue confronting Mick Lafata — who owns what, until a few weeks ago, had been a bustling Gloucester Community Arts Charter School – is purely a business matter.

MICHIGAN

School Choice Has Helped Michigan’s Children
Detroit News, MI, January 31, 2013
A new study by researchers at Stanford University shows superb positive effects for students attending charter schools in Michigan. It is the most rigorous study of charter schools ever done in this state and positions Michigan as one of the nation’s leaders in charter school policy and performance.

MISSISSIPPI

High-Risk Students Key For Charter School
Jackson Magazine, MS, January 30, 2013
The crisis in American and Mississippi education is with our high-risk children, those living in profound poverty or those who have learning disabilities. Though we must do better by all children, in Mississippi, as in the rest of America, we fail most our high-risk students.

MONTANA

Bill Calls For Charter Schools In Montana
Beartooth NBC, MT, January 30, 2013
Today a bill was heard in the house that could bring charter schools to the state of Montana.

NEVADA

Charter Schools, Vouchers On Education Leaders’ Wish List
Las Vegas Sun, NV, January 31, 2013
Nevada’s education leaders called for the expansion of charter schools and vouchers during a panel discussion highlighting School Choice Week.

NEW JERSEY

Most N.J. Charter School Facilities Outdated, Analysis Finds
Star-Ledger, NJ, January 30, 2013
Almost three-quarters of New Jersey’s charter schools that participated in a recent survey were built before 1970, and a third are housed in buildings not originally built as schools, according to an analysis released today.

N.J. Limitations On School Choice Blocks Opportunities For Students
Times of Trenton, NJ, January 31, 2013
If, as a nation, we choose our presidents, then why not our schools? Why, as parents, are we subjected to the dictates and mandates of an American education system gone awry, one that’s been hijacked by interests and decisions not of our choosing?

NEW YORK

Cuomo: State Might Impose Evaluations
Wall Street Journal, January 31, 2013
State officials will impose their own job evaluation system on New York City’s teachers if a deal isn’t reached soon between the union and the city, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.

Gov’s Teacher-Eval Ultimatum To Mike
New York Post, NY, January 31, 2013
If Mayor Bloomberg and the city teachers union can’t come up with their own teacher-evaluation plan, Albany will step in and do it for them, Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders warned yesterday.

OHIO

Kasich Rolling Out His Plan For Schools
Columbus Dispatch, OH, January 31, 2013
Gov. John Kasich will unveil his long-promised school-funding plan today, in which he’ll propose creating a $300 million “innovation fund” to support school initiatives to improve teaching and learning, sources said. Kasich also is expected to seek expansion of tax-funded tuition vouchers and an increase in state aid for tutoring and intervention services for struggling readers.

PENNSYLVANIA

Former Official Of Charter School Network Reportedly Will Plead Guilty
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 31, 2013
The former business manager of Dorothy June Brown’s charter school network has signaled that he intends to change his plea and admit that he played a role in Brown’s alleged scheme to defraud the schools of $6.7 million.

Look At The Effective Work By Charter Schools
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, January 31, 2013
Using a headline to imply that charter schools as “a class” are “sub-par” does a great disservice to the educators, parents and students who support charters as a viable educational option, particularly for traditionally underserved students (“Sub-Par Options: Charter Schools as a Class Don’t Measure Up,” Jan. 27 editorial).

Money, Charter Schools Main Focus Of First York City Schools’ Recovery Plan Meeting
York Daily Record, PA, January 30, 2013
The advisory committee charged with creating a recovery plan for the York City School District heard an overview of the district at its first meeting Wednesday night. The 20 members also shared some of their hopes and concerns for the committee, with concerns about money and charter schools being a main focus.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Choice Leads To Child-Centered Education
Aiken Standard, SC, January 30, 2013
In the S.C. House of Representatives we deal with a lot of issues. None are more important to families than education.

How Should We Measure Teacher Success?
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC, January 30, 2013
Browsing the S.C. Department of Education’s proposed “Educator Evaluation and Support Guidelines,” the model proposed to overhaul the state’s system for measuring teacher success, two conclusions present themselves.

TEXAS

Higher Learning: Ignite Offers Flexible Schedules For Students
Valley Morning Star, TX, January 30, 2013
Located in Raymondville, it is one of six charter schools in the Ignite Public School District. The schools have flexible schedules to accommodate students in different circumstances.

Charter School Network Gets $5 Million Pledge
Dallas Morning News, TX, January 30, 2013
The Harold Simmons Foundation will give $5 million over four years to Uplift Education, North Texas’ largest charter school network.

VIRGINIA

Va. Panel Backs A’s -To-F’s For Schools
Washington Times, DC, January 30, 2013
Virginia public schools will get the same kind of report cards their students take home if legislation endorsed Wednesday by a House of Delegates committee becomes law.

WISCONSIN

Tough Decisions Lie Ahead For Wisconsin’s School Voucher Program
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, January 30, 2013
A gathering sponsored by a national school choice group Wednesday in Milwaukee played to the theme of support for quality educational options for all children. Gov. Scott Walker, Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Thornton and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett – all in attendance – endorsed that sentiment.

Vouchers Hurt Public Schools
Wisconsin State Journal, WI, January 31, 2013
With voucher advocates trumpeting “National School Choice Week,” it is a fitting time to examine the proposed expansion of private school vouchers in Wisconsin. Some politicians are intent on slowly doing away with our public education system in favor of privatized education paid for with taxpayer money.

ONLINE LEARNING

Jeb Bush: Students Should Have The Choice Of Digital Schools
CNN, January 31, 2013
The Fair sisters graduated from Nevada Virtual Academy last spring and enrolled at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. After all the time she spent at the doctor’s office, Kaleigh is pursuing a degree in nursing – through online courses, of course.

Erie-Area Home-School Families Shifting To Online Programs
Erie Times News, PA, January 31, 2013
Harborcreek Township resident Dianne Jackson knew she had to make a change when she saw her daughter struggling in both public and private schools.

Our View: Too Soon To Call Virtual Schools A Failed Idea
Jackson Sun, TN, January 31, 2013
The Tennessee General Assembly approved what have come to be known as “virtual schools” in Tennessee. The state’s first, and only, online virtual school opened in 2011 in Union County.

Franklin School Board Plans For More Virtual Learning
Anderson Mail Independent, SC, January 30, 2013
Franklin County school superintendent Ruth O’Dell this week outlined the school system’s main objectives.

Idaho’s Largest Charter School Escapes Much Of The Criticism Aimed At Corporate Partner
Boise State Public Radio, ID, January 30, 2013
Wyatt’s mom, Jenifer Bell laughs at that. She says she turned to online education when her oldest child, Alexa reached school age. Her daughter was too sick to go to traditional school.

NEWSWIRE IS BACK! Click here for the latest weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else, spiced with a dash of irreverence, from the nation’s leading voice in school reform.

NATIONAL COVERAGE

Grade Our Teachers, Help Our Students
CNN, January 30, 2013
Knowing how to identify and measure great teaching is a huge step toward providing better feedback and support for teachers and building a better education system for all our children — but it’s just one step. The challenge now is to use this information to give teachers the tools, resources and support they need to do their best work.

Activists to U.S. Education Department: Stop School Closings Now
Washington Post, DC, January 29, 2013
Activists fighting school closings across the country converged at the U.S. Education Department on Tuesday to demand federal action to stop the shutdowns, which they say disproportionately affect poor and minority students.

Making the Grade
Washington Times, DC, January 29, 2013
More than 200 organizations across the country are staging some 3,600 events to mark School Choice Week. Many grateful parents, however, have reason to celebrate every week.

Offer More Options For Students
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 30, 2013
It is no secret that our education system needs reform, but what direction to take and how to get there present a formidable challenge. Countless studies have shown that our children’s math and science skills are dangerously below average.

FROM THE STATES

ALABAMA

State Positioned To Exit No Child Left Behind Act
Tuscaloosa News, AL, January 30, 2013
It’s a new day for public education in Alabama, Thomas Bice, superintendent of the state Department of Education, said Tuesday in Tuscaloosa.

ARKANSAS

Former Florida Governor Pushes For Charter Schools In Ark.
KUAR, AR, January 29, 2013
As lawmakers consider proposals to expand charter schools in the state, the former Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, spoke at the state Capitol Tuesday as part of rally by a group that advocates for charter schools.

ARIZONA

Arizona Charter-School Safety A Concern
Arizona Republic, AZ, January 30, 2013
As schools examine their safety plans in the wake of the Newtown shooting, many of the Valley’s charter and private schools are not as prepared to defend against internal and external threats as their traditional public-school counterparts, police and school officials say.

CALIFORNIA

Proposed Charter School Plan From Former Mayor Yunits Does Little For Brockton
Enterprise News, CA, January 29, 2013
Regarding “SABIS charter school will help Brockton fulfill promise” commentary by John T. Yunits on Jan. 20:

School Choice Is Expanding Across U.S.
Orange County Register, CA, January 29, 2013
All of us can choose from among dozens of brands of automobiles. But when it comes to something more precious, parents generally have little choice in their children’s public schools. The educational bureaucracy makes the decision.

Private Money And Public Schools
Sacramento Press, CA, January 29, 2013
Last December 3, the California Fair Political Practices Commission recommended fining Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a Democrat, $37,500 for improperly reporting donations to his multiple nonprofit groups.

5 Keys Charter School Helps S.F. Inmates
San Francisco Chronicle, CA, January 29, 2013
Latrice Alexander beamed and cheered as her son walked across the Hall of Justice stage to accept his high school diploma Tuesday.

CONNECTICUT

Advocates For Charter Schools As Answer To Achievement Gap
Danbury News Times, CT, January 29, 2013
Connecticut has an opportunity — despite historic fiscal woes — to accelerate the groundbreaking progress made by Connecticut’s charter schools. The 27 letters of interest, one from Danbury, submitted to the state by educators, officials and clergy leaders, all of whom want to create new, public charters schools, offer proof that a growing corps of leaders are lining up to change the status quo and meet the huge parent demand for great public school choices.

FLORIDA

Education Commissioner Praises Hillsborough School Choice
Tampa Bay Tribune, FL, January 30, 2013
New Education Commissioner Tony Bennett, an ardent supporter of school choice, visited a Tampa showcase and panel discussion on Tuesday to laud the local district for what he called its innovative offerings.

Decision Delayed On St. Petersburg Charter School’s Fate
Tampa Bay Times, FL, January 30, 2013
It’s a question of survival for Imagine St. Petersburg, but one whose answer will have to wait another month.

Lawmakers Work To Clamp Down On Charter Schools
WFTV, FL, January 29, 2013
State lawmakers are working to clamp down on charter schools after the principal of a failed Orange County charter school left her job with a half-million dollar payout.

GEORGIA

‘Trigger’ Bill Would Let Parents, Staff Petition To Change Schools To Charters
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, January 29, 2013
Hoping to capitalize on the momentum of November’s positive charter school vote, a leader in the Georgia House introduced legislation Tuesday to give parents the right to petition to turn their low-performing public schools into independent charter schools.

Lindsey: Plan Means Parents Would Get Involved In Charters
Reporter Newspaper, GA, January 30, 2013
State Rep. Edward Lindsey, a Buckhead Republican, says his proposal making it easier to convert an existing school into a charter school is about getting parents involved in education.

Details About Charter High School Under Wraps
Cherokee Ledger News, GA, January 30, 2013
Cherokee Charter Academy officials are jubilant about a five-year renewal of their petition, with permission to begin offering a high school, issued earlier this month by the state Department of Education.

We Bought The Charter Hype
Covington News, GA, January 29, 2013
An article in the AJC last week noted that $2.7 million was spent by proponents of the charter school amendment as compared with $262,822 spent by those who opposed the amendment. Among those who contributed to the proponent campaign were K12 Inc. and Charter Schools USA, both for profit companies that manage charter schools.

ILLINOIS

Charter Advocates Rally As School-Closing Critics Pack Meetings
Chicago Tribune, IL, January 30, 2013
As opponents of school closings in Chicago pack community meetings this week to make their voice heard, charter school advocates took part in a rally Tuesday at Union Station to draw attention to their call for greater school choice.

INDIANA

3rd Charter Set To Appeal To Ball State
The Journal Gazette, IN, January 30, 2013
Timothy L. Johnson Academy has joined two other Fort Wayne charter schools that will appeal Ball State University’s decision not to renew their charters.

LOUISIANA

Group Lauds La. Charter Schools
The Advocate, LA, January 30, 2013
Louisiana won high marks Tuesday from a charter school advocacy group, including the state’s lack of any cap on the number of charter schools and the transparency of its application and review process.

MASSACHUSETTS

Framingham’s McAuliffe Charter Gets State’s OK To Expand
MetroWest Daily News, MA, January 30, 2013
The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday unanimously granted Christa McAuliffe Charter School’s request to increase its student population nearly 33 percent over the next few years, an expansion that will lead to the hiring of more teachers and a move to a new facility.

Charter’s Landlord Out $1 Million-Plus
Gloucester Times, MA, January 30, 2013
Three weeks after the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School’s early and unexpected closure, the landlord of the former school building in Blackburn Industrial Park estimates he is out more than $1 million in rent as he begins the search for a new tenant.

Group Eyes Charter School With Multi-Age Classes
Cape Cod Times, MA, January 30, 2013
A group of educators and parents are setting a course for a new regional charter school on Cape Cod with multi-age classrooms.

MICHIGAN

Inkster District Could Convert High School Into A Charter School
Detroit Free Press, MI, January 30, 2013
Under a radical plan to deal with a $12-million deficit, Inkster Public Schools would turn its high school over to a charter school management company to run and become a K-8 district.

MISSOURI

Missouri Could Speed Up Its Takeover Of KC School District
Kansas City Star, MO, January 29, 2013
Proposal working its way through the Senate could bring state control before start of the new school year this fall.

NEVADA

Nevada Needs More Education Competition
Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV, January 30, 2013
Gov. Brian Sandoval on Sunday joined more than 20 other governors in signing a proclamation recognizing School Choice Week. Twenty-nine events are scheduled around the state this week to celebrate educational choice. That’s great. What would be even better? If Nevada already had more school choice.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Educational Opportunity Is Under Attack On Many Fronts
Union Leader, NH, January 30, 2013
Educational opportunity is something we all want for our children. But it is under threat in New Hampshire. While the wealthy can choose among many options to find the best education for their children, two small programs that increase options for poor people in New Hampshire are under attack.

NEW YORK

Mayor Bloomberg Plans To Slash 1,800 Teaching Positions Through Attrition In Proposed New $70.1 Billion Budget
New York Daily News, NY, January 30, 2013
Mayor Bloomberg gave his final budget address as mayor on Tuesday, proposing a $70.1 billion plan that slashes up to 1,800 teaching positions through attrition.

Mulgrew’s End Game
New York Daily News, NY, January 30, 2013
Under surprisingly aggressive questioning at a legislative budget hearing Tuesday, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew revealed his true heart’s desire for the nation’s largest school system. He wants a patsy to take over.

Tour Aimed At Promoting Charter Schools Coming Here
Buffalo News, NY, January 30, 2013
A cross-country “whistle-stop” train tour aimed at promoting alternative choices for public education – mainly charter schools – will bring its message to Buffalo during a breakfast reception at 8 a.m. Friday in Statler City, 107 Delaware Ave.

OKLAHOMA

State School Superintendent Asks For $2.6 Billion For Oklahoma Education
The Oklahoman, OK, January 30, 2013
State schools superintendent Janet Barresi asked the joint Budget and Appropriations Committee on Tuesday morning to increase the state education budget by nearly $300 million compared to last year.

PENNSYLVANIA

Truth Revealed About Charters
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 30, 2013
The latest numbers on charter school performance in Pennsylvania give new meaning to the term fuzzy math.

Harrisburg Schools Saddled With Debt And Growing Exodus To Charter Schools, Says Veno
Patriot News, PA, January 29, 2013
Two trends threaten Harrisburg School District’s future financial success, said state-appointed chief recovery officer Gene Veno: increasing payments for past debt and a growing exodus of students to charter schools.

Bethlehem Area School District Premieres Video Series ‘Come Join Us’
Leigh Valley Express-Times, PA, January 29, 2013
The message to parents considering private or charter schools was clear: give Bethlehem Area a chance.

Reading Superintendent Against I-lead Middle-school Proposal
Reading Eagle, PA, January 30, 2013
Dr. Carlinda Purcell believes that, when it comes to education, choice can be a good thing.

New Hope Best Choice For Me
York Daily Record, PA, January 29, 2013
If you had a gifted child, wouldn’t you want them to be taking classes that challenged them? This is how my parents felt when making the decision to send me to New Hope Academy Charter School. School choice is important to me because it provides me with the level of education I need and am capable of doing.

TENNESSEE

Voucher Legislation Includes Caps, Private School Restrictions
Nashville Public Radio, TN, January 29, 2013
A proposed voucher program would be restricted to students poor enough to get free or reduced lunch and attending a school in the bottom five percent in the state. School voucher legislation from the Haslam Administration has been filed for consideration by the General Assembly.

UTAH

Tax Transparency
Salt Lake Tribune, UT, January 30, 2013
Many Utahns are still just a bit in the dark about charter schools. These non-traditional public schools are relatively new, but over the past decade the number of charters has risen consistently until now there are 85 in the Beehive State.

VIRGINIA

Defying Obama, Virginia Democrats Kill Charter School Bill
Watchdog blog, January 29, 2013
Snubbing their national party’s position, Virginia Democrats killed a charter-school bill in the state Senate and threaten to quash similar reform measures.

WASHINGTON

Teachers Should End Boycott Of MAP Assessment Test
Seattle Times, WA, January 29, 2013
Seattle Public Schools teachers boycotting the MAP test should stop. There is value in a local assessment.

WEST VIRGINIA

Bureaucracy Keeping Schools From Thriving
Journal-News, WV, January 30, 2013
It’s all about change. The recent firing of the State Superintendent of Schools is all about change. The State Board of Education decided to fire the Superintendent without following proper legal procedures.

ONLINE LEARNING

Cyber Charter School Applications Denied
Delaware County Times, PA, January 29, 2013
Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Ronald Tomalis denied applications for eight proposed cyber charter schools Monday, including one based in Springfield.

Cybernots – The Schools That Boldly Went Nowhere
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, PA, January 29, 2013
Call them Cybernots, exploring the new world of Pennsylvania public education.

Virtual Academy Contrite About Poor Math Scores
Nashville Public Radio, TN, January 30, 2013
An online public school enrolling thousands of students across Tennessee once again faced scrutiny from state lawmakers yesterday (Tuesday). The virtual school, based in Union County, uses curriculum developed by a for-profit company called K12 Inc. The school’s standardized test scores have been some of the lowest in the state.

TN Lawmakers Blast Online K12 School
The Tennessean, TN, January 29, 2013
Top officials from Tennessee’s embattled publicly funded online virtual school faced sharp criticism from members of the state House Education Committee Tuesday over its abysmal test results, with lawmakers delivering a clear message: You’re on notice.