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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 COVERAGE

How To Get High School Dropouts Into ‘Recovery’? Ideas Bloom Across US.
Christian Science Monitor, MA, January 15, 2013
Innovative programs across the US are finding some success in reengaging high school dropouts. They strive to target ‘disconnected’ youths – those not in school and not working, who are a costly burden for taxpayers.

FROM THE STATES

ARKANSAS

Big Week For School Choice
Arkansas Times, AR, January 16, 2013
Arkansas’s public school system could be upended by events this week.

CALIFORNIA

First Success For ‘Parent Trigger’ Shouldn’t Be The Last
Orange County Register, CA, January 15, 2013
In recent days, these pages have given repeated attention to a disheartening new report from the education group StudentsFirst, which identified California as a national laggard in education reform.

L.A. Unified To Overhaul Struggling Crenshaw High
Los Angeles Times, CA, January 16, 2013
Calling Crenshaw the worst in L.A. Unified, Supt. John Deasy gets the green light to turn the landmark campus into three magnet schools.

Hebrew-English Charter School In Van Nuys Approved By LAUSD
Las Angeles Daily News, CA, January 15, 2013
A proposed Hebrew-English charter school in Van Nuys won the approval Tuesday of the LAUSD board, which also OK’d the renewal of two landmark charters and the conditional approval of a third.

California Charter Schools Grow At Fastest U.S. Rate
Huffington Post, January 15, 2013
California leads the nation in both the growth and overall number of charter schools, according to a study by the Washington-based National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

COLORADO

Several School Districts In Colorado Pushing For Rigor In Science
Denver Post, CO, January 16, 2013
Come this fall, a new initiative to increase the rigor of science and math education will start by changing the sequence of classes students take.

CONNECTICUT

State Teacher Evaluations To Cost Darien Time And Money
Darien Daily Voice, CT, January 16, 2013
New state mandated teacher evaluations are expected to significantly increase the amount of time Darien school administrators devote to evaluating teachers. Darien is also considering spending $80,000 to help transition to the new system.

FLORIDA

Legal Challenge To The Teacher Merit-Pay Law Starts Today
Tallahassee Democrat, FL, January 16, 2013
In 2011, Gov. Rick Scott chose a landmark education bill tying teacher pay to student performance as the first he would sign as governor.

GEORGIA

Parent Trigger Bill Another Avenue For Charter Schools; BOE Chair Kelley Skeptical Of Proposal
Douglas County Sentinel, GA, January 16, 2013
A Republican legislator said he plans to introduce a bill in the General Assembly that will let parents who aren’t satisfied with their child’s school petition the local school board to convert the school into a charter school.

INDIANA

We Can’t Vouch For This Expansion Plan
Northwest Times, IN, January 16, 2013
Legislation to expand eligibility for school vouchers in Indiana needs to be scrapped, at least for now. Those vouchers allow many Hoosier families who otherwise can’t afford a private school to have that school choice option.

State Senator Proposes To Rein In National Common Core Education Standards
Evansville Courier & Press, IN, January 15, 2013
A Republican state senator wants to pull Indiana schools off a set of national education standards that he said are a “step backward for Indiana.”

IOWA

Governor Lays Groundwork For Ed Reform Talk
Globe Gazette, IA, January 16, 2013
On the heels of a report card giving Iowa an “F” for its state education policy, Iowans got a taste Tuesday of the education talking points they’ll hear during this legislative session.

LOUISIANA

Ascension Board Denies Charter Application
The Advocate, LA, January 16, 2013
The Ascension Parish School Board on Tuesday rejected the application of a charter school that hoped to open in the parish for the 2013-14 school year.

Orleans Parish School Board, RSD launch OneApp program
The Advocate, LA, January 16, 2013
The unified enrollment application known as OneApp was launched Tuesday by the Recovery School District and the Orleans Parish School Board in an effort to continue streamlining the process for families deciding where to send their children for the 2013-2014 school year.

Jindal Gains Victory As Court Puts Hold On Voucher Block In Tangipahoa
The Times-Picayune, LA, January 15, 2013
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s school voucher overhaul racked up a victory Monday when a panel of appellate court judges granted to stay a federal district court judge’s ruling to block the program’s implementation in Tangipahoa Parish.

MARYLAND

Holding Charter Schools Accountable
Baltimore Sun, MD, January 15, 2013
Improved review process for Baltimore City weeds out unsuccessful experiments while still encouraging innovation

MASSACHUSETTS

$2.5B School Aid Plan Outlined By Governor Patrick
Boston Globe, MA, January 16, 2013
Governor Deval Patrick proposed Tuesday to sharply increase spending on public education by more than $2.5 billion over the next four years, an investment he said was critical to the state’s social and economic future.

Newburyport Charter School Buys Local Building With Help From Mass Development Bond
Boston Globe, MA, January 15, 2013
Newburyport’s River Valley Charter School now owns the 36,000 square foot building it has been leasing for over a decade.

MICHIGAN

At This Late Stage, Detroit Schools’ Leaders Are Still In Conflict
Detroit News, MI, January 16, 2013
For many months now, in my board-appointed capacity as interim superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools, I’ve been working hard to follow a judge’s order to collaborate with Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts in administering the school district.

MISSISSIPPI

Senate Committee Approves Charter School Bill
Hattiesburg American, MS, January 15, 2013
Legislation to expand charter schools in Mississippi is once again moving forward, with the state Senate Education Committee approving Senate Bill 2189 on a split vote Tuesday.

Nonprofit Vs. For-Profit Debate Could Be Sticking Point In House
Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS, January 16, 2013
As the charter schools debate moves to the forefront of legislative agendas this week, one little-discussed issue will be key to codifying support in the House for a bill the Senate will accept.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Derry Charter School Leadership In Place
Union Leader, NH, January 15, 2013
When Derry’s new alternative charter high school opens next September at the Gilbert H. Hood Middle School, current district middle school assistant principals Justin Krieger and Joe Crawford will be the full-time co-directors of the school.

NEW JERSEY

East Brunswick Township Council Blocks Charter School Move; Hatikvah Threatens Lawsuit
Asbury Park Press, NJ, January 15, 2013
In the wake of the Township Council’s reversal on Monday of a variance granted this summer by the Zoning Board, Hatikvah International Charter School said that it plans to file a lawsuit against the township to fulfill its plans to move and expand.

NEW YORK

School’s Twist on Going Private
Wall Street Journal, January 16, 2013
A Vermont town’s plan to close its only public grade school and reopen it as a private academy puts an unusual twist on efforts by parents and residents nationwide to seize more control of educational opportunities.

Former Urban Choice Leader Starting Another Charter
Rochester City Newspaper, NY, January 15, 2013
Figuring out how to improve student performance in the city’s schools is arguably the biggest challenge facing Rochester. Like many cities across the country, Rochester has pursued multiple avenues to increase student achievement with little success.

Teacher-Eval Talks Bog Down
New York Post, NY, January 16, 2013
City officials and the teachers union yesterday spent crucial negotiating time for a deal on a new teacher-evaluation system bickering over whether an independent mediator was needed.

District, Union Reach Deal On Teacher-Evaluation Plan
Buffalo News, NY, January 16, 2013
The Buffalo teachers union and district officials reached an agreement on a teacher-evaluation plan Tuesday night at the union’s Porter Avenue headquarters – likely staving off the loss of $33.4 million in state aid at nearly the last minute.

In Speech, Quinn Spells Out Education Platform
Wall Street Journal Blog, January 15, 2013
City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, a top Democratic contender in this year’s mayoral race, generally aligned her education platform with the policies of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in a speech Tuesday, saying the city needs to build on a “foundation” that is already in place.

OKLAHOMA

Gates Foundation Study About Teacher Effectiveness A Must Read For Policymakers
The Oklahoman, OK, January 16, 2013
AS Oklahoma continues its journey toward improving evaluations for teachers, policymakers should pay attention to the results of a new nationwide study on determining educator effectiveness.

Make Superintendent Appointive? Don’t Forget Labor, Insurance Posts
The Oklahoman, OK, January 16, 2013
STATE Sen. Susan Paddack ran for the office of state schools superintendent in 2010. She lost. Now Paddack, D-Ada, says there’s no reason for the job to be political in nature. She’s filed a bill seeking to make the position appointive.

PENNSYLVANIA

School District Of Lancaster Eyes Charter School
Lancaster New Era, PA, January 15, 2013
Supporters and opponents of a charter school proposed for Lancaster city painted starkly different pictures of the school during a hearing before the School District of Lancaster board Tuesday night.

TENNESSEE

Schools That Take Vouchers Must Be Accountable
The Tennessean, TN, January 16, 2013
Gov. Bill Haslam surprised the world at an education forum Monday, committing to school voucher legislation. Earlier, he had indicated that would not be part of his legislative agenda.

School Vouchers May Help, But Won’t Solve Larger Problem
Leaf Chronicle, TN, January 16, 2013
We were surprised to learn Gov. Bill Haslam has decided to come forward with a proposal on school vouchers in his State of the State address Jan. 28. Haslam has been saying he was undecided on the issue, and did not foresee making it part of his legislative agenda this year.

TEXAS

School Trial Turns To Efficiency
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, TX, January 15, 2013
The sweeping case challenging how the state helps pay for Texas schoolchildren’s education entered a new phase Tuesday, now focusing on “efficiency” with testimony from a Mansfield mother who home-schooled her fifth-grader for a year because there was no space at a local charter school.

Travis Heights Will Be Austin District’s First Home-Grown Charter School
Austin American-Statesman, TX, January 15, 2013
Such lessons will be routine next school year once Travis Heights becomes the Austin school district’s second full-scale in-district charter school.

VIRGINIA

Teacher Pay Plan Would Cost Districts
Suffolk News Herald, VA, January 15, 2013
Suffolk’s public schools superintendent appears supportive of much of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s 2013 education agenda, but he is lukewarm on plans for a partially state-funded raise for some teachers.

VERMONT

Vt. School Boards, Officials Propose Reform
Barre Montpelier Times Argus, VT, January 16, 2013
Some of Vermont’s top educators called Tuesday for an overhaul of the state’s education system, saying one is needed to ensure children are ready to compete globally.

WASHINGTON

Tests, Observers, Kids = Fair Teacher Evaluations
Bellingham Herald, WA, January 16, 2013
Just as Washington’s school districts are gearing up to adopt new teacher evaluation systems, along comes an authoritative mega-study that spells out how to get it right. The project – funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – is an exceptional piece of science.

Seattle Teacher Protests Over MAP Tests Counterproductive
Seattle Times, WA, January 15, 2013
A testing boycott by teachers at two Seattle schools taps into anger over standardized tests but stops short of offering solutions.

WEST VIRGINIA

A Consensus Begins On School Reform
Charleston Daily Mail, WV, January 16, 2013
No one is happy with the public school system in West Virginia. Taxpayers give a larger portion of their meager incomes to education than residents of all but a handful of states, but our schools are near the bottom in academic achievement.

Teachers Union Wary Of Shifting Control
Charleston Daily Mail, WV, January 16, 2013
The head of West Virginia’s largest teachers union is wary of education reform plans that involve shifting more control to regional bodies.

WYOMING

Wyoming Senate Amends, Advances Education Superintendent Bill
Star Tribune, WY, January 15, 2013
The Wyoming Senate restored some duties to the state schools superintendent as it advanced a bill revamping how the state Department of Education is run.

ONLINE LEARNING

Fighting the Long Battle for a Virginia Virtual School
Bacons Rebellion, VA, January 15, 2013
Del. Dickie Bell, R-Staunton, knows he faces an up-hill climb creating a public online alternative to local school districts in Virginia, but he’s not giving up. The challenges are many. The educational establishment doesn’t like any idea that would turn schooling over to private-sector contractors.

Virtual Charter Schools Out Of Bill
Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS, January 16, 2013
Virtual charter schools would not be allowed in Mississippi under a bill that passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday.

Funding Of Virtual Schools A Concern For Superintendent
Woodward News, OK, January 16, 2013
Woodward Superintendent Tim Merchant expressed concern with the allocation of state money to virtual private schools during his report at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

Colorado Virtual Academy’s District Charter in Jeopardy
KUMC, CO, January 15, 2013
The future of the state’s largest virtual K-12 school may be in jeopardy. With its charter set to expire later this year, Colorado Virtual Academy needs to find an authorizer, or shut down over the summer.

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.

FROM THE STATES

ARKANSAS

6 Charter Schools Approved by ADE
KARK, AR, January 14, 2013
Arkansas Education is changing with the times and ready to integrate new ways of learning. The State Board of Education approved six charter school applications, including three that will be new technology schools.

CONNECTICUT

Budget Cuts Forcing Charter Schools To Take Hard Look At Their Future
Hartford Courant, CT, January 14, 2013
Less than a year ago, the future looked bright for charter schools in Connecticut, with a promise of support from the governor and the General Assembly’s commitment of additional funding for each of the next three years.

Charter School Push Fails Math Test
Stamford Advocate, CT, January 14, 2013
Even if charter schools did a measurably better job of educating students than traditional public schools (they don’t).

Writer Exaggerates Success Rate Of Charter Schools
Waterbury Republican-American, CT, January 14, 2013
This is in response to Jennifer Alexander’s Jan. 12 letter, “School choice is solving many of state’s problems,” which was written in response to The Sunday Republican’s Jan. 6 editorial “A solution to border-jumping.” Ms. Alexander’s opening statement described public schools quite well except for of the reference to the ZIP code!

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Businesses And Charter Schools Work Together
Washington Times, DC, January 14, 2013
Public education has changed dramatically in the District of Columbia since Congress temporarily awarded responsibility for it to a federal control board 16 years ago.

Report Says D.C. School Closures Unlikely To Save Much Money In 2013-14 School Year
Washington Post, DC, January 15, 2013
D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson’s proposal to close 20 underenrolled schools appears unlikely to produce substantial savings next year, according to a report scheduled for release Tuesday by the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization.

FLORIDA

Pines Parents Voice Concern Over Charter Schools’ Finances
Sun Sentinel, FL, January 14, 2013
Sun Sentinel — Pembroke Pines charter school parents showed up in full force Monday night to voice their concerns about the financial instability of the city-run charter system.

ILLINOIS

Patriots Charter Eager For Space At Jackson School In Rockford
Rockford Register Star, IL, January 15, 2013
Next year, she hopes to have her own classroom space. And she will if the charter school finalizes a deal with the Rockford School District to buy Jackson Elementary School, which closed after the 2010-11 school year.

IOWA

NCLB Requirements Costing Sioux City School District $300K Per Year
Sioux City Journal, IA, January 14, 2013
The Sioux City school district could free up more than $300,000 in funding if students can meet No Child Left Behind proficiency requirements for the second year in a row.

$187 Million Education Reform Plan Focuses On Teacher Career Paths
Des Moines Register, IA, January 15, 2013
Resistance to the use of student achievement data in teacher evaluations and concerns that new career pathways could mean higher numbers of students in classrooms are among the hurdles facing Gov. Terry Branstad’s education proposal, which will cost $187 million annually within five years.

KANSAS

Charter-School Prospect Advances
The Hutchinson News, KS, January 14, 2013
The odds the now-closed Mount Hope school building could reopen this fall as a K-though-12 charter school rose Monday, but officials made no commitment.

LOUISIANA

Lycée Français Parents Express Concerns Amid Continuing Reports Of Mismanagement
Times-Picayune, LA, January 14, 2013
State-appointed consultants to the French charter school Lycée Français listened to the concerns of parents and teachers Monday night out of the hearing of the charter school’s board, which has come under fire for micromanagement and mismanagement.

White Proposes Teacher Evaluation Changes
Monroe News Star, LA, January 14, 2013
Louisiana’s new teacher evaluation system is designed to be tough, says Superintendent of Education John White, but it needs a little tweaking so a few more teachers can make it into the “Highly Effective” category.

Panel: State Likely To Win Appeal
The Advocate, LA, January 15, 2013
The Louisiana Department of Education’s claim that a federal judge lacked authority to halt the state’s voucher program in Tangipahoa Parish is likely to succeed on appeal, a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday.

MAINE

Better No Charter Schools Than Poor Ones
Kennebec Journal, ME, January 15, 2013
Charter school proponents, including this newspaper, always make the point that charter schools are public schools. When they work best, they are places that can strike a spark with students who are not learning in a traditional environment.

MARYLAND

Teachers Get Bonuses In Some Schools With Lower Suspension Rates
Baltimore Sun. MD, January 14, 2013
The Baltimore school system is paying bonuses to teachers and administrators at struggling schools that reduce suspensions, drawing criticism from union leaders who say the program could provide a financial incentive to ignore problems and jeopardize school safety.

MASSACHUSETTS

New Bedford Mayor Urges State To Reject Charter School Application
South Coast Today, MA, January 15, 2013
Mayor Jon Mitchell is urging the state to turn down the application of a Roxbury-based charter school seeking to open a similar high school in New Bedford, arguing that the new school’s costs far outweigh its benefits.

MICHIGAN

Edge Given To Charter Students
Detroit News, MI, January 15, 2013
A report released Monday by an independent analyst of charter schools shows charter school students in Michigan and Detroit are out-learning their public school counterparts.

Jackson Community College Trustees Told Proposed Charter School Would Be Separatist And Divisive
Jackson City Patriot, MI, January 15, 2013
A majority of those who spoke to Jackson Community College trustees on Monday said a new charter school JCC is being asked to authorize would be separatist and divisive.

NEVADA

State Board Of Education Sworn In, Begins Work On Reforms
Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV, January 14, 2013
Nevada’s newly constituted State Board of Education, including Elaine Wynn, director of Wynn Resorts since 2000, was sworn into office Monday and immediately got down to work on Gov. Brian Sandoval’s ambitious education reform agenda.

NEW YORK

Catholic Schools Await More Closing Bells
New York Times, NY, January 15, 2013
But now, Holy Cross is one of 28 elementary schools being considered for closing this year by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

Catholic Schools Await More Closing Bells
New York Times, NY, January 15, 2013
But now, Holy Cross is one of 28 elementary schools being considered for closing this year by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

NORTH CAROLINA

Durham School Board Seeks Understanding With Charter Schools
Durham News, NC, January 15, 2013
With up to 11 new charter schools possibly coming to Durham County in the next two years, the school board wants to improve cooperation between charter schools and traditional public schools.

MCA High School Approved By State Board Of Education
Mount Airy News, NC, January 15, 2013
The North Carolina State Board of Education has approved Millennium Charter Academy’s application to expand its charter to include grades 9-12. A little more than three months ago, MCA’s Board of Directors approved the application to expand the academy to teach grades K-12.

OHIO

Teachers’ Pay Might Be Linked To Quality, Kasich Says
Columbus Dispatch, OH, January 15, 2013
Schools could tie teachers’ pay incentives to their performance as part of Gov. John Kasich’s yet-to-be-unveiled funding formula, the Republican governor said yesterday.

Law Allows Principals To Skip Being Teachers
Cincinnati Enquirer, OH, January 14, 2013
When Gilbert A. Dater High School teacher Terri Wessel heard the school’s new assistant principal didn’t have a traditional license, she was nervous.

PENNSYLVANIA

Bethlehem Area School District Facing $8.19 Million Preliminary Budget Deficit In 2013-14
Lehigh Express Times, PA, January 14, 2013
Faccinetto emphasized that charter schools are offering services the district itself cannot afford, such as full-day kindergarten for all, and using tax dollars to advertise on televisions and billboards.

Pain For Gain In School Plan
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 15, 2013
After hearing from students, parents, teachers, and community leaders during an extensive listening tour, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. released a detailed plan for the future of Philadelphia’s schools last week. The plan sets out the goal of improving academic results for all students while emphasizing that making the district financially stable is a necessary step on the path to accomplishing that goal.

SOUTH CAROLINA

SC Charter School District Seeking More Money
The State, SC, January 15, 2013
The superintendent of the statewide charter school district says he needs at least $12 million just to keep up with the system’s growing student population.

TENNESSEE

Charter Schools Face Backlash In Inner Cities For Trying To Change Culture
Commercial Appeal, TN, January 14, 2013
Cornerstone Preparatory School, a startup charter school chosen to turn around low-performing Lester School, a semester later sits in an uneasy alliance with the Binghamton families it serves.

Gov. Haslam Will Push Education Vouchers For Tennessee
Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN, January 14, 2013
Gov. Bill Haslam said today he plans to push a limited education voucher bill this year that would apply to the state’s poorest children in Tennessee’s worst-performing schools.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush In Nashville To Push School Choice
The Tennessean, TN, January 15, 2013
Former Florida governor speaks at education forum in Nashville; Gov. Haslam promises change on teacher pay, voucher plan

VIRGINIA

Virginia Superintendents Want More Say In Education
Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA, January 15, 2013
Virginia’s school superintendents have issued a challenge to state politicians and educational leaders that they promise will lead to better-educated students: Ask them what works.

WEST VIRGINIA

School Reform Is a Necessity
The Intelligencer, WV, January 15, 2013
But on another pressing issue, education reform, money is not the challenge. We’re already spending plenty on public schools.

Tomblin Targets Education In Address
Charleston Daily Mail, WV, January 15, 2013
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin made public his thoughts on education reform during his Monday inaugural address. The address – otherwise thin on policy – hit several themes that could form the core of an education package the governor is expected to present to the Legislature next month.

WYOMING

Wyoming Senate Passes Education Reform Bill
WNCT, WY, January 14, 2013
The full Wyoming Senate on Monday gave preliminary approval to a sweeping education reform bill that would drastically reduce the administrative role of state’s top public schools official.

ONLINE LEARNING

DV Board Concerned With Cyber School
News Eagle, PA, January 14, 2013
The Delaware Valley School District held their board meeting on Thursday January 10th in the Administrative Offices. One of the topics discussed, funding the PA Cyber Charter School and other for-profit organizations, became well heated as Jack Fisher, along with a few other board members, shared their concerns.

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.

Michelle Rhee, the Education Celebrity Who Rocketed From Obscurity to Oprah
Washington Post, DC, January 12, 2013
Rhee has created a political organization, StudentsFirst, that gives her a national platform. In just six years, she has rocketed from obscurity to the kind of fame that turns heads at the airport.

Can the Catholic Schools Be Saved?
New York Times, NY, January 14, 2013
Re “Catholic Education, in Need of Salvation” (Op-Ed, Jan. 7): Patrick J. McCloskey and Joseph Claude Harris are of course right that finances and personnel are two troubling challenges that confront Catholic education today.

No Child Left Behind, Act II
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, January 14, 2013
ELEVEN YEARS have passed since the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 – popularly known as NCLB – was signed into law. NCLB mandates increased accountability for school performance, gives states and communities freedom in the use of Title I funding, targets federal funds to proven education programs and methods, and provides options to parents when schools do not meet standards.

FROM THE STATES

CALIFORNIA

Grading Teachers: Accountability Needed
San Diego Union Tribune, CA, January 12, 2013
Year after year, San Diego’s students are failing to learn and San Diego’s teachers are not being held accountable.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Charter Schools And Their Expulsion Policies
Washington Post, DC, January 11, 2013
Regarding the Jan. 6 front-page article “Expulsion rate higher for charter students”: Discipline policies must be reexamined and overhauled. Charter schools don’t expel too many students; public schools expel too few.

FLORIDA

Ease Charter-School Push
Palm Beach Post, FL, January 12, 2013
After making a big deal of lending his ears to a “listening tour” on education Gov. Rick Scott is giving lip service to seeking more money next year for Florida’s public schools. Doing so will be even more important — and more expensive. As The Post’s John Kennedy reported, public school enrollment is up nearly 30,000 and is projected to rise more than 20,000 next year.

GEORGIA

If The Numbers Really Could Be This Good …
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA, January 13, 2013
Good teachers are probably the most valuable public asset in any culture, especially this one. We insist on believing that for the most part, our pool of public school educators consists of dedicated, hard-working professionals.

Race To Top Education Funds Used To Give Teachers Easier Access To Student Data
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, January 13, 2013
Georgia is using part of its federal Race to the Top education grant to expand a statewide computer system that gives teachers years worth of information about their students at the click of a button.

State Board Considers Fate Of School Board Thursday
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, January 13, 2013
The state Board of Education will hold a hearing Thursday on the fate of the fractious DeKalb school board, which was the subject of a devastating critique by the district’s accreditation agency.

HAWAII

Teachers To Rally For Bill Their Union Doesn’t Support
Hawaii News Now, HI, January 13, 2013
Teachers who organized the so-called “work to the rule” protests that spread to schools statewide are planning a rally at the State Capitol this week for legislation that the teachers’ union says it does not support.

IDAHO

A Framework At Last For Collaboration For Education Reform
Idaho Statesman, ID, January 13, 2013
Gov. Butch Otter set the stage for a new-and-improved process for education reform in his State of the State address last week. But there’s something that he didn’t mention: Tom Luna’s name — the person who is supposed to be the guiding light for public education in Idaho.

ILLINOIS

No More Don’ts
Chicago Tribune, IL, January 14, 2013
The blue ribbon commission that’s supposed to help Chicago Public Schools decide how and where to close underused schools produced a long list of “don’ts” last week.

INDIANA

Ball State Reviews Charter Schools, Some Could Close
Northwest Times, IN, January 14, 2013
As Ball State University reviews the charters of 20 schools across the state, including eight local charter schools, some are concerned how many of them might close.

Bill On Teachers’ Union Dues Another Attack
Journal Gazette, IN, January 14, 2013
After the results of the November election, teachers across the state came to me to express their hope that members of the General Assembly would move forward and focus on bringing jobs to our state and improving our economy.

IOWA

Groups Looking At Iowa’s Education System Are Tasked With Change
Muscatine Journal, IA, January 13, 2013
Gov. Terry Branstad will again attempt to push a wide-ranging education reform package through a politically divided Statehouse, this time offering higher pay and different career paths for teachers.

KANSAS

Wasserstrom Award Honors Founder of Alta Vista Charter School
Kansas City Star, KS, January 13, 2013
Surgery kept Gilbert Guerrero from personally receiving the 23rd Evelyn Wasserstrom Award on Sunday afternoon. It did not stop others from praising his work.

LOUISIANA

BESE To Look At Changes For Evaluating Teachers
The Advocate, LA, January 14, 2013
Louisiana’s top school board is about to consider several changes in the state’s new method for evaluating public school teachers, including one that would make it easier for new teachers to land job security.

MAINE

Lepage’s Anti-Public School Bias Is Showing
Press Herald, ME, January 14, 2013
The governor continues to berate work done in Maine’s schools, but claims he’s pro-student.

MICHIGAN

Discussions for Charter School That Would Give High School Diploma and Associates Degree
Fox 47, MI, January 13, 2013
A school that would put others to shame; the Jackson Community College is discussing starting a charter school that would increase the quality of education in the area. Students would graduate with not only a high school diploma, but an associates degree as well.

MISSISSIPPI

Is Florida The Model? Mississippi’s Leaders Take A Cue From The Sunshine State
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, MS, January 13, 2013
Today’s stories examine education reform in Florida, which Mississippi political leaders are citing as a model for this state to emulate. Next month’s installment will look at efforts to improve literacy in Mississippi.

NEBRASKA

Teacher Candidates In Nebraska Face New Test
Omaha World-Herald, NE, January 12, 2013
The Omaha North High School graduate will attempt to pass a test of basic skills this month to enter the teacher preparation program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

NEW JERSEY

Kids Should Grade Teachers As Part Of Evaluations
Star Ledger, NJ, January 13, 2013
Nobody knows a teacher better than the students in his class. They see him every day. But should their opinions be included as part of his evaluation?

NEW MEXICO

Call for School Reform Gets Louder, Broader
Albuquerque Journal, NM, January 12, 2013
That dismal prognosis comes from someone who might be expected to defend the status quo of our education system — the woman in charge of the state’s largest institution of higher learning, the more than 30,000-student Central New Mexico Community College.

NEW YORK

New Success Academy Charter School Headed By Eva Moskowitz To Open In The Bronx With Little Parent Say
New York Daily News, NY, January 14, 2013
A controversial charter school network aggressively expanding under founder Eva Moskowitz is slated to add a third school in the Bronx this September with little parent feedback.

Gifted, Talented and Separated
New York Times, NY, January 13, 2013
IT is just a metal door with three windows, the kind meant to keep the clamor of an elementary school hallway from piercing a classroom’s quiet. Other than paint the color of bubble gum, it is unremarkable.

Most Local Districts Get OK On Teacher-Evaluation Plan
Times Herald Record, NY, January 14, 2013
Only two mid-Hudson school districts have yet to get state approval of their teacher evaluation system before the deadline Thursday.

NORTH CAROLINA

Charter School Not Needed For Tech Training
Daily Advance, NC, January 13, 2013
Not everyone can or wants to attend a four-year university. In addition, business and industry have changing needs that increasingly are not being met by the graduates of four-year colleges and universities. For those reasons, it’s critical that state policymakers ensure strong educational opportunities are available for students pursuing careers requiring a trade or skill.

OHIO

Students Lost To Charters Cost Canton Schools $7.25 Million A Year
Canton Repository, OH, January 13, 2013
As cuts in state education funds and lower property taxes result in less money for school budgets, Canton City Schools administrators would like to see fewer dollars leaving with students from their schools and ending up in the hands of private charter schools.

Ohio Students Brace For Perfect Storm Of Reform
Cincinnati Enquirer, OH, January 14, 2013
This year marks the beginning of sweeping changes in the way Ohio students learn.

Kasich’s Turn For School Reform
Columbus Dispatch, OH, January 13, 2013
Gov. John Kasich soon will become the fourth-straight Ohio governor to propose sweeping changes for financing public schools and improving student performance.

Teacher Evaluations To Be More Detailed Under New Standards
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, January 12, 2013
It’s a dramatic departure for the state from a culture of having virtually all teachers receiving a good rating almost by default and with little commentary. By next school year, each teacher will be rated based on students’ academic growth, usually measured on standardized tests, and on how teachers do in the classroom observations.

OKLAHOMA

School Seeks To Save Cherokee Language
Muskogee Daily Phoenix, OK, January 14, 2013
Cherokee is spoken, heard, written and read in each classroom of this school which goes from pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade. Charts show South American countries, planets, parts of the body and the Pledge of Allegiance in letters from the Cherokee syllabary.

Oklahoma City School District Should Consider Union Head’s Critique
The Oklahoman, OK, January 14, 2013
FOR the past several years, state policymakers have made education a major focus. In Oklahoma City, officials have worked to improve the local district for far longer, including initiatives such as MAPS For Kids.

PENNSYLVANIA

Catasauqua Board Says Medical Academy Doesn’t Deliver, But Charter School Says Give Us Time
Allentown Morning Call, PA, January 12, 2013
Now, Catasauqua Area School District, which granted the charter in February, is worried the school that opened in the fall is more placebo than miracle pill.

TENNESSEE

State, Not School Boards May Soon Approve Charter Schools In Tennessee
The Commercial Appeal, TN, January 14, 2013
Local school boards in Tennessee decide which charter schools will open and close. That could all change this year with an effort taking shape in Nashville to give the power to an independent group, with state jurisdiction.

Vouchers Will Hurt Public Schools
The Tennessean, TN, January 13, 2013
The Tennessee legislature opened a new session this past week amid intense speculation over possible legislative initiatives. Many challenges are facing our legislators in this coming session, but none is more important than continuing to improve our children’s education by supporting our local public schools.

TEXAS

Lawmaker Seeks Charter School Reform
Reporter News, TX, January 14, 2013
The new head of the Texas Senate’s education committee said it’s too difficult for the state to close down poorly performing charter schools, but more charter schools should be allowed to open.

Educators Propose New ‘School Choice’ Plan
Longview News Journal, TX, January 14, 2013
The idea of school choice, wrapped up as it is in debate over a plan for private-school vouchers and a trial over how Texas finances its public schools, has become an emotional one in the months leading up to the 83rd Legislature that convened a week ago.

Waco Charter School To Expand Programs, Enrollment With Federal Award
Waco Tribune, TX, January 14, 2013
Harmony Science Academy-Waco is poised to grow in programs and enrollment because of a federal award and general support from the community.

Wall Street Gang Now Offer Education Choices
Austin American-Statesman, TX, January 13, 2013
About a quarter of the kids in the San Antonio Independent School District attend charter schools. Most are the low-income, minority students we think about when we imagine providing innovative opportunities for kids stuck in failing public schools in bad neighborhoods. For a long time, school reform has targeted only kids from poor families. You know, the lucky ones who get those free lunches.

VIRGINIA

Teach for Virginia
Washington Post, DC, January 13, 2013
MORE THAN 300 of Virginia’s best and brightest college graduates are on today’s front lines of bringing quality education to disadvantaged students, teaching in hard-to-staff schools as part of the innovative Teach for America (TFA) program.

Charter Schools Are Not The Answer
News Leader, VA, January 12, 2013
Gov. Bob McDonnell needs to go back to school. His ever-present partiality for pushing charter schools is in overdrive in his last year in office, and his plans to improve Virginia schools actually stand a very good chance of pushing them even further back.

Educators Struggle To Combat Dropout Rate Disparities
Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA, January 14, 2013
Black students account for a disproportionate percentage of dropouts in the Henrico County school system.

WASHINGTON

Let Charter Schools Start Without Court Fights
Spokesman Review, WA, January 12, 2013
Charter school proponents were turned back by voters in 1996, 2000 and 2004, but they finally reached the summit in November. Initiative 1240 clears the way for up to 40 charter schools to be established in the next five years.

Washington State Teachers Union Should Not Sue Over New Charter-School Law
Seattle Times, WA, January 11, 2013
Contrary to The Seattle Times editorial [“Union should drop suit to block charters,” Opinion, Jan. 9], I support the Washington Education Association and any organization that challenges the constitutionality of the charter-school initiative recently adopted by Washington citizens.

WEST VIRGINIA

Statehouse Beat: Education Reform May Take Shape
Charleston Gazette, WV, January 13, 2013
If there was any doubt about Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin pursuing significant public education reform during the upcoming regular session — which we should hear a good bit about in his inaugural address Monday — House Speaker Rick Thompson’s reference to public education being “on the brink of an overhaul” should have removed all doubt.

WISCONSIN

Performance, Competition Driving Factors In Future Teacher Pay
The Oshkosh Northwestern, WI, January 12, 2013
Emerging performance-based pay scales and competition for skilled teachers could drive educators’ salaries upward, especially for those in highly specialized programs.

ONLINE LEARNING

Backer Of Virtual Charter Schools Defends Independence
Portland Press Herald, ME, January 12, 2013
But the leader of the Charter School Commission says doubts about oversight led to rejections of two applications this week.

Virtual School Principal Logs In
The Recorder, MA, January 14, 2013
From his desk at the Massachusetts Virtual Academy office on Davis Street, Carl Tillona looked out across the large room at four teachers, each of whom wore headphones and spread out at tables with laptops, communicating lesson plans virtually with students and parents.

Parents Choose Cyber Schools Because They Are Filling Needs
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, January 13, 2013
The Jan. 8 Perspectives piece by Adam Schott (“Time Out on Cyber Charters”) highlights an important issue in public education but is an incomplete and misleading summary of Pennsylvania cyber education.

Families Try Out ‘Virtual’ Public Schools
San Antonio Express, TX, January 11, 2013
Worried about exposure to foul language, immodest dress, peer pressure and other inappropriate behavior, Susan Brown didn’t want her two daughters attending public schools — even though she’s a substitute teacher in a public school in Minnesota.

@School, @Home: Waterloo Students Go Online To Get An Education At Home
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA, January 13, 2013
Katlyn Lawless has a dedicated space in her bedroom for school work.
The 17-year-old sits at a desk in a corner, working through online lessons on a computer. The self-paced curriculum allows Lawless to decide when and how long to study — as well as the environment in which she works. “Sometimes I’ll have the TV on, or I’ll play music on my iPad, or I’ll lay on my bed,” she said.

Springfield’s Online Course Offerings Win Back Students
Register-Guard, OR, January 14, 2013
Mason, who is a quick study, gets to set his own pace because he’s studying online, taking advantage of the opportunity for virtual education, thanks to a new program offered by the Springfield School District.

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

Op-Ed: To Close The Achievement Gap, Don’t Lower The Bar
NPR, January 11, 2013
Florida and Virginia adopted new academic standards for students based on race and ability — refocusing attention on the U.S. achievement gap. In a piece in the Miami Herald, syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts argues that lowering the bar is not the way to fix the education system.

Who Teaches Matters
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, January 11, 2013
A new study by the Gates Foundation merely confirms what was already known: Good teachers make a difference.

Teacher Test
Chicago Tribune, IL, January 11, 2013
For years, educators have argued about the best ways to grade teachers’ performance in the classroom. Some skeptics doubted it was possible to fairly evaluate teachers, partly because some teachers had brighter students while others faced classes filled with struggling kids.

Researcher Tears Apart Gates Foundation Teacher Evaluation Study
StateImpact Florida, FL, January 10, 2013
Greene says the foundation’s conclusions were based on the politics of convincing teachers and school districts of the merits of evaluations, and not data. He takes particular aim at classroom observations, which he says the Gates data shows do not improve evaluations:

Taking Stock on the Anniversary of ‘No Child Left Behind’
Huffington Post, January 10, 2013
This week marks the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2001 — the “No Child Left Behind” Act. The legislation is due to be reauthorized, although there is little movement on Capitol Hill toward making this happen any time soon.

The Case for a Teacher Bar Exam
The Atlantic, January 10, 2013
Like law and medical schools, education schools shouldn’t be able to survive if fewer than half their students can pass a rigorous professional exam.

FROM THE STATES

ARIZONA

More Regulations On Purchasing Opposed By State Charter Schools
Arizona Daily Star, AZ, January 11, 2013
Arizona charter school officials say they don’t want the state to impose more regulations on how the mostly privately operated schools buy goods and services with taxpayer dollars, and the state board says no changes are in the works.

East Valley Families Seek School Options Through Open Enrollment
East Valley Tribune, AZ, January 10, 2013
Rachel Cesta spent part of this week turning in charter school applications for her children.

CALIFORNIA

Gov. Brown Joins School Reform Debate – Finally
San Diego Union Tribune, CA, January 11, 2013
For two years, Gov. Jerry Brown has ducked the school reform debate. Yes, in 2011, he got headlines after mocking the trendiness of some reformers. But even as President Barack Obama urged Democratic governors to adopt policies that focused on teacher quality, Brown has stayed mum beyond espousing a vague belief that local control is better than dictates handed down from afar.

FLORIDA

Lee County Is The No. 1 Place In The State For Charter Schools
News Press, FL, January 11, 2013
That’s according to the Washington D.C.-based Center for School Options, which rated Lee County as the top school district for charter school access compared to the state’s 10 largest counties in 2011.

District Audit Panel Suggests Tighter Controls On Charter Schools’ Student Attendance Reporting
Palm Beach Post, FL, January 10, 2013
The Palm Beach County School District needs to develop better controls over how charter schools take and report student attendance, district audit committee members said Thursday.

Hofman Leaves University To Help Start Miami Charter School
Miami Herald, FL, January 11, 2013
Rich Hofman, the first baseball coach in Florida prep history to win 1,000 games, said Thursday he has left Broward County’s University School to help start a new co-educational charter school in Miami.

Pines To Hold Charter School Town Hall
Sun Sentinel, FL, January 11, 2013
Stakeholders in the city’s charter school system are rallying together Monday to beg the state Legislature for money.

INDIANA

Proposed Bill Cuts Wait To Buy Vacant Schools
The Journal Gazette, IN, January 10, 2013
Legislators on Wednesday considered lessening the effect of a law that has stymied the sale of several area school buildings.

KENTUCKY

Lawmakers Not Optimistic About Charter School Bill
Tri State, KY, January 10, 2013
A scaled-down version of a controversial bill to allow charter schools in Kentucky is returning to the General Assembly this year, but supporters and opponents say it has little chance of winning approval.

LOUISIANA

Study Gives State F For Achievement
The Advocate, LA, January 11, 2013
Louisiana got an F for public education achievement Thursday for the third consecutive year in an annual study done by Education Week magazine.

MAINE

LePage’s Charges On Charters Off The Charts
Portland Press Herald, ME, January 11, 2013
He loves to rant and rant and rant about what’s wrong with Maine schools.
If only Gov. Paul LePage would put the same energy into doing his homework.

MARYLAND

City Recommends Severing Ties With Operators Of Six Schools
The Baltimore Sun, MD, January 10, 2013
Baltimore school officials recommended Thursday severing ties with independent operators of six schools after a months-long review of more than two dozen diverse programs.

MASSACHUSETTS

South Boston Charter School Proud Of Its Record
Boston Globe, MA, January 11, 2013
A MORE accurate headline for the Jan. 3 Metro article “Departures at South Boston charter school raise concerns” would have been “Former Gavin Middle School students excel at new in-district charter school.”

MICHIGAN

Judge To Decide If 7 DPS At-Large Members Should Be Removed
Detroit News, MI, January 11, 2013
A judge said Thursday he will issue a decision by mail on whether seven members of the Detroit school board are holding office illegally and should be removed.

Michigan Scores Sixth In Studentsfirst Report Cards
Detroit News, MI, January 11, 2013
StudentsFirst released our inaugural state policy report cards this week that provide a snapshot of where each state stands on important education reform issues that put the needs of students first.

MISSOURI

New Missouri System Raises The Bar For School District Performance
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, January 11, 2013
A new rating system for Missouri’s school districts will intensify pressure on low-performing school districts to improve, while exposing even the best schools to new scrutiny from parents and the public.

NEW MEXICO

Candidates Debate Achievement Gap
Albuquerque Journal, NM, January 11, 2013
The achievement gap and charter schools were flash points Thursday at a forum for candidates running for the school board.

NEW YORK

Report Links Poor Schools, Teachers
Wall Street Journal, January 11, 2013
Poor and minority students in New York City are more likely to be taught by failing teachers than other students, an analysis by an education advocacy group found.

Cuomo’s School Reforms Lauded, But Funding Source Questioned
Journal News, NY, January 11, 2013
Few education officials and advocates object to the sweeping schools agenda Gov. Andrew Cuomo presented Wednesday in his State of the State address — but many wonder how he’ll pay for it.

NORTH CAROLINA

Wake Schools Criticize State GOP Education Measures
News & Observer, NC, January 10, 2013
Education reforms passed last year by the Republican-led state legislature that would issue a letter grade to every school and end social promotion are drawing complaints from the state’s largest school system.

OHIO

Ohio’s Public Schools Rate 12th In U.S. With B- Grade
Columbus Dispatch, OH, January 11, 2013
Ohio’s public school system earned a better grade on the nation’s report card this year, but the state’s rank — fifth in the nation three years ago — fell to 12th.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Fair Evaluation Of Teachers A Clear And Present Educational Need
Charleston Post Courier, SC, January 11, 2013
You don’t need an education degree to know that the better a teacher, the better the classroom results. And you don’t need to be an avid observer of modern educational controversies to know that the ongoing push for broader “teacher evaluation” is generating resistance from many of those who would be judged — and possibly fired — on that basis.

TENNESSEE

Vouchers Don’t Get To Root Of Problem
Daily News Journal, TN, January 10, 2013
The concept of education vouchers in Tennessee seems quite simple on the face. Take children out of failing schools and send them somewhere else, either to a private school or better public school.

Rose Park Rises As Popular School Choice Heading Into Lottery
The Tennessean, TN, January 10, 2013
Almost every part of the Metro Nashville school choice lottery is different this year, including the addition of a new magnet school to the list of students’ favorites.

VIRGINIA

Superintendent Hopes Charter Schools Wouldn’t Take Funding from Public Schools
WHSV, VA, January 10, 2013
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said he’d like to bring more charter schools to the state and those schools would help educate low-income children.

WISCONSIN

Invest in MPS, Not Voucher and Charter
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, January 10, 2013
In his Jan. 6 column, Alan J. Borsuk says that a new vision for education in Milwaukee is needed to get beyond the stale and failed answers of the past. He is right.

Ex-Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald To Lobby For School Choice Group
Journal Sentinel Blog, WI, January 10, 2013
Then-Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald was coy about his plans when asked last summer what he would do if he lost his bid for the U.S. Senate.

ONLINE LEARNING

‘Facebook Meets The Classroom’
Cincinnati Enquirer, OH, January 11, 2013
North College Hill, a district of mostly low-income students, is wading into a national educational trend called blended learning, which marries traditional classroom instruction with online learning and assignments.

Lakeview Learning Goes Virtual
Battle Creek Enquirer, MI, January 10, 2013
That somewhat annoying little tool is but one feature of edmodo, a website some Lakeview High School teachers have integrated into their classrooms to better engage students, allow students to do more work from home, do a little college prep, encourage more collaboration and maybe even save the school some money .

Oklahoma Mid-Year Aid Allocations At For-Profit Online Schools Questioned
Tulsa World, OK, January 11, 2013
The annual process of adjusting schools’ state aid allocations mid-year has brought more disappointment than relief, even in Tulsa’s fastest-growing suburbs.