Daily Headlines for October 30, 2012
School Reform on the Ballot
Wall Street Journal, October 30, 2012
The education reform movement has been gaining speed across the country, and a pair of important ballot initiatives next week in Washington and Idaho will either extend or retard that progress.
FROM THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
S.F., Oakland Drop Bid For U.S. School Funds
San Francisco Chronicle, CA, October 29, 2012
Stuck in a standoff with teachers unions, the San Francisco and Oakland school districts have abandoned efforts to bring in up to $15 million each to develop high-quality math classes for upper-elementary and middle school students.
Natomas Charter School One Of Six Opening This Year In Sacramento Area
Modesto Bee, CA, October 30, 2012
Leroy Greene Academy in Natomas was among 109 charter schools that opened in California this school year, pushing the number to more than 1,000 charters, according to the California Charter Schools Association.
New Charter School Proposed In Yreka
Ridgecrest Daily Independent, CA
October 29, 2012
The Yreka Union School District Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing tomorrow at 5 p.m. in the Jackson Street School library to consider a petition for the establishment of a new charter school in Yreka.
San Bernardino County School Districts Experiment With ‘Span’ Schools
San Bernardino Sun, CA, October 29, 2012
Middle school is tough. In addition to all of the hormone- driven physical and emotional changes students deal with, they also transition from elementary school, where they spend almost all day with one or two teachers to a new schedule where they’re responsible for moving from class to class and teacher to teacher.
State Budget Woes Halt Santa Rosa Charter School Expansion
Press Democrat, CA, October 29, 2012
Plans to expand and remodel the campus of Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts have hit a funding snag that is likely to delay the project at least a year.
L.A. Schools Fail To Gain Union Backing For Grant Application
Los Angeles Times, CA, October 30, 2012
The L.A. teachers union declined to sign LAUSD’s bid for a $40-million grant, a condition for the competition imposed by the federal education department.
Why Is Teachers Union Leaving Money On The Table?
Sacramento Bee, CA, October 30, 2012
At a time when California has cut funding dramatically for K-12 education – and may have to cut more after next week’s election – it makes no sense for school districts to leave millions in federal education dollars on the table.
COLORADO
Greeley’s Charters: Who Are They? What Are They? Why Are They?
Greeley Tribune, CO, October 29, 2012
When former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer, R-Colo., gave the interim superintendent of Poudre R-1 her first tour of Liberty Common High School, it was one of the most enjoyable moments of his career.
FLORIDA
Florida’s Shameful Situation On Charter Schools
Bradenton Herald, FL, October 30, 2012
Plaudits are raining down on Gov. Rick Scott over his new education agenda, unveiled just last week. One of his top priorities is the expansion of charter schools in the name of parental choice.
GEORGIA
Georgia Get’s A’s For Monitoring Charter Schools
WSB Radio, GA, October 30, 2012
A newly released audit from the U.S. Department of Education finds Georgia is doing a good job monitoring the money its start-up charter schools are getting from the federal government.
Lawmaker, County Super Square Off On Charter Amendment
Marietta Journal, GA, October 30, 2012
A little more than 40 people, including some Cobb County school board members, attended a charter school amendment forum last night to hear both sides of the argument on the Nov. 6 ballot issue.
Unlikely Allies Rally To Oppose Charter School Amendment
CBS Atlanta , GA, October 29, 2012
An unlikely coalition of critics has joined forces to urge voters to say no to the controversial charter-school amendment.
Ten Reasons To Vote ‘No’ On The Charter School Amendment
Macon Telegraph, GA, October 30, 2012
The charter school amendment will be decided on Nov. 6. If it doesn’t pass, it will be the greatest upset since David conked Goliath with a rock. Give me the money that has been made available to the pro-charter amendment forces (over $2 million, almost all of it out-of-state) and let me quash the opposition’s right of free speech and I could get the little dweeb that runs Iran elected Pope.
ILLINOIS
82 Chicago Principals Get Up To $20,000 In Merit Bonuses
Chicago Sun Times, IL, October 29, 2012
Merit pay bonuses ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 apiece were awarded Monday to 82 Chicago Public School principals whose schools demonstrated “exceptional growth” in four key measurements of student success.
School Report Cards To Change
Chicago Tribune, IL, October 30, 2012
In an advanced algebra class for seventh- and eighth-graders, teacher Breann Cooper reviews a dizzying array of linear equations while students jot down a jumble of x and y formulas.
Why Some CPS Schools Must Close
Chicago Tribune, IL, October 30, 2012
By Dec. 1, Chicago Public Schools officials must deliver to state lawmakers a list of schools slated to close at the end of this school year. The district will release its criteria for making those decisions this week.
Charter Schools
Chicago Tribune, IL, October 29, 2012
Having just read the Tribune article, “Cleveland ‘s charter school growth a cautionary tale for Chicago ” (News, Oct. 24), I am reminded once again of the false narrative of “charters as saviors.” It is instructive to consider two common claims of charter schools as Chicago Public Schools embarks on a plan to close many more public schools and open more charters.
INDIANA
Outsiders’ Charter Presentation Falls Flat
Evansville Courier & Press, IN, October 29, 2012
“Grassroots” charters differ from charters run by management organizations in that they are startup or conversion schools that the community has “built” for specific needs and purposes. They are generally sponsored and run by local educators, and they are public schools that cannot charge tuition.
Ind. Superintendent Race A Showdown Over Ed Policy
Post-Tribune, IN, October 30, 2012
A traditionally sleepy race for Indiana’s top elected school position has turned into a referendum on education policies that are endorsed by conservatives across the country.
LOUISIANA
Report: La. Teacher Unions Weak At Influencing Policy
The Advocate, LA, October 30, 2012
Louisiana’s two teacher unions are among the weakest in the nation, according to a report issued Monday.
MICHIGAN
YMCA Charter School Stresses Leadership And Innovation
Detroit News, MI, October 30, 2012
Jataya is among the first students at a new K-5 charter school, Detroit Innovation Academy , opened last month by the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit through its Y Education Services charter management organization.
EMU Board Of Regents To Decide Whether To Authorize 3 New Charter Schools
Ypsilanti Reporter, MI, October 30, 2012
The Charter Schools Office at Eastern Michigan University is seeking the approval of three new charter schools that would be established in southeast Michigan if approved, according to a university official.
NEW JERSEY
NJ Spotlight Roundtable: NJ Schools Aren’t Making the Grade
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, October 30, 2012
The problem facing Jersey’s high schools was easier to agree upon. Agreeing on a solution was more elusive.
NEW YORK
At an Overcrowded School in Park Slope, No One Wants to Leave
New York Times, NY, October 30, 2012
They are beneficiaries of a longstanding regulation in New York City that says that once children are registered at a public school, they can remain until they graduate, regardless of where in the city they live after registration day.
Federal Grants To Help Uptown Charter Schools Expand
The Uptowner, NY, October 29, 2012
The Democracy Prep charter schools in Harlem will more than double their current enrollment of 2,000 students over the next five years, thanks to a $9.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education announced last month.
City School District Has Plan To Reform Schools
Democrat and Chronicle, NY, October 29, 2012
In its latest effort to turn around one of the lowest-performing school systems in the state, the City School District is laying out a new plan that focuses on leadership, data and early childhood programs.
NORTH CAROLINA
New Charter School Set To Open In Wilmore Neighborhood Of Charlotte
News 14 Carolina, NC, October 29, 2012
A new charter school is set to open next summer in the up and coming Wilmore neighborhood in Charlotte.
OHIO
VALLEY SCHOOLS Treasurers: Charters, Vouchers Cost Us Lots
Youngstown Vindicator, OH, October 30, 2012
A large amount of taxpayer money meant for public education is being siphoned off by charter schools and vouchers, local school treasurers say.
Reynoldsburg Schools Attracting Rave Reviews
Columbus Dispatch, OH, October 30, 2012
“There’s a great narrative in Reynoldsburg,” said Deb Delisle, U.S. assistant secretary of education, who visited the district last week to learn how it personalizes students’ learning.
No Local Charter School Is Top Rated
Dayton Daily News, OH, October 29, 2012
Eleven Miami Valley charter schools improved their ratings on the 2011-12 state report cards, while 10 slipped and 16 others stayed the same, according to the preliminary data released by the Ohio Department of Education.
OKLAHOMA
Barresi Predicts ‘C’ Rating for Oklahoma Department of Education
Tulsa World, OK, October 30, 2012
Oklahoma’s state superintendent is estimating that the state Department of Education will receive a grade of C when grades are tallied for how well the administration is doing, she told Bartlesville High School students Monday.
OREGON
School’s New Home Is Just Divine
Register-Guard, OR, October 30, 2012
On the outside, it may have looked like a simple business transaction: Eugene Christian School purchases the former IP Koke Industrial Printing Co. at 2895 Chad Drive .
SOUTH DAKOTA
Teachers Pour Cash Into Two Measures
Argus Leader, SD, October 30, 2012
The largest teachers’ union in the country is plowing money into two South Dakota ballot issues that voters will decide next week, teaming up with the state’s three hospital systems on one of them.
UTAH
Park City Private School For Winter Athletes Looking To Become Public
Salt Lake Tribune, UT, October 30, 2012
For nearly two decades, skiers, snowboarders and lugers have sought out the private Winter Sports School, tucked in the mountains of Park City , for a chance to polish their athletic skills and chase dreams of Olympic glory while attending high school.
WASHINGTON
Apprentice Program To Train New Seattle Teachers
Seattle Times, WA, October 29, 2012
Some teachers in Seattle will soon be trained like medical residents, with substantial on-the-job training under the supervision of a trained mentor. Four organizations, including the Seattle teachers union, are together designing the new program, which will start next summer.
School Ads Group Can’t Hide
Spokesman Review, WA, October 30, 2012
A secretive group that underwrote more than $200,000 in TV campaign commercials in favor of three Idaho school reform ballot measures must disclose its donors by Wednesday, a 4th District judge ruled Monday afternoon.
Closer Look At Charter School Initiative 1240
KNDO, WA, October 29, 2012
If passed.. Initiative 1240 would authorize up to 40 publicly funded charter schools to open across Washington over a five year period.
WISCONSIN
Open Enrollment Benefits Some And Hurts Others
Janesville Gazette, WI, October 29, 2012
Area school districts winning the battle of school choice generally have continued to gain students while districts losing students continue to lose more, according to data from districts in Rock and Walworth counties.
ONLINE SCHOOLS
School District’s Online Offerings Now Open To Elementary Students
Ocala Star Banner, FL, October 29, 2012
The Marion County School District opened its first online elementary school last week, the first phase in its quest to create its own K-12 virtual school network.