Daily Headlines for October 22, 2013
Click here for Newswire, 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
The Federal Takeover of Catholic Education
Crisis Magazine, October 14, 2013
As teachers throughout the country introduced the new Common Core curriculum—the federal standards for mathematics and English Language Arts—in their classrooms this fall, most parents had no idea this radical change in their children’s education was coming.
STATE COVERAGE
ARIZONA
Yuma charter school eyes expansion to Lone Star state
Yuma Sun, AZ, October 21, 2013
Yuma-based charter school Carpe Diem is looking to expand to Texas. Carpe Diem’s charter school application was recently approved to operate a network of charter schools in San Antonio by Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams.
CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles schools’ plan for non-English speakers: Segregation or solution?
Christian Science Monitor, CA, October 21, 2013
Los Angeles schools are moving forward with a plan to separate English language learner students from native speakers in all core elementary school classes. Protests have erupted.
COLORADO
Douglas County School Board races expose deep divisions in community
Denver Post, October 22, 2013
A fractious race for four seats on the Douglas County School Board has showcased deep divisions over how the 64,000-student district is run and lured heavyweight national advocates for each side.
James Irwin seeks to open unique trade school, has backing of Springs businessmen
Colorado Springs Gazette, CO
October 21, 2013
Charter school powerhouse James Irwin wants to open an entrepreneurial trade school for middle and high school students interested in learning construction and manufacturing skills – and have them ready enough to work in the field right after graduating from high school.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
An improving record for D.C. Public Schools
Editorial, Washington Post, DC, October 21, 2013
THE TIMING couldn’t have been more propitious as Kaya Henderson delivered her first formal address since becoming D.C. school chancellor three years ago.
D.C. nonprofits start charter schools to ready adults for the workforce
Elevation DC, October 22, 2013
Two years ago, the leaders of Academy of Hope in Edgewood Terrace looked at how they could better prepare their adult students for a changing workforce, not to mention an entirely new GED test that’s coming in January.
For many young D.C. parents, city schools remain a sticking point
Washington Post, DC, October 21, 2013
De’Andre Anderson and his wife don’t have children yet. But when the couple bought a home in Southeast Washington after years of renting on Capitol Hill, Anderson began mulling what they could do to help the neighborhood schools.
FLORIDA
Brevard breaks class-size law on purpose
Florida Today, FL
October 22, 2013
In a strategic decision to save money, Brevard Public Schools allowed about 30 of its 82 schools to have more students per class than allowed by state law.
Who’s the better “education” governor: Jeb Bush or Rick Scott?
Column, Sun Sentinel, FL, October 21, 2013
It really isn’t any contest. In the battle between Florida’s self-proclaimed “education” governors, former Gov. Jeb Bush leads by a wide margin. At least he got something accomplished.
LOUISIANA
Voucher participation on increase, but at a slower rate than expected
The Advocate, LA, October 21, 2013
As it enters its second year, student participation in Louisiana’s embattled experiment with private school vouchers has grown by 37 percent, a fast pace but slower than state leaders estimated before an adverse court Supreme Court ruling in May.
MASSACHUSETTS
Most Fitchburg students lose with another charter school
Letter, Sentinel & Enterprise, MA, October 22, 2013
I am writing to refute the claim by Marc Kenen, executive director of the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, that Fitchburg city leaders’ concerns over a new charter school are “disingenuous.” If someone told you that you were about to lose millions of dollars to fund the city’s schools — but don’t worry, because the first year you’ll get it back, and then for five years thereafter you’ll only be losing 75 percent of that money — wouldn’t you be concerned?
MICHIGAN
Muskegon’s newest charter school combines Montessori methods with environmental research
Kristy Crocker had explored Muskegon County’s newest charter school for its potential to challenge her sixth-grade daughter, and when they found out it had an environmental theme, the decision was made.
MINNESOTA
MPS: A system built to fail
Opinion, Journal Sentinel, MN, October 21, 2013
Franz Kafka’s statement is especially true if “us” refers to public school students in Milwaukee. An assessment of K4-12 public education in Milwaukee, devoid of sentimentality or attempts to speculate on motivations or to assign blame, offers no reason to expect quality education for the preponderance of urban students in Milwaukee Public Schools or charter schools or voucher schools — ever. The pool of students at risk is too large to not fail. There is no hope.
MISSISSIPPI
Charter schools unlikely to open by fall ’14 in Miss.
Clarion Ledger, MS, October 22, 2013
It’s unlikely that students will attend charter schools in Mississippi in August 2014.
Members of the new charter schools board say there’s not enough time to complete applications, approve them and set up schools by next fall.
MISSOURI
Experts see no easy solutions for struggling Missouri schools
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, October 22, 2013
Consultants hired to give Missouri education officials guidance on how to better support troubled school districts offered a grim assessment Monday about the task that lies ahead.
NEW JERSEY
Facebook gift hits third birthday with new focus on principals
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ
October 22, 2013
Zuckerberg $100 million donation to Newark schools at critical turn as fundraising and spending continue.
Panel to study Montclaif district’s student achievement gap
Montclair Times, OCtober 22, 2013
The Montclair School District could have a special panel in place to study its student achievement gap as early as next month.
NEW YORK
UFT Charter school is opting out of new teacher evaluations
New York Daily News, NY, October 21, 2013
A CHARTER school run by the teachers union is opting out of the new ratings that city public school instructors have to face this year.
NORTH CAROLINA
NC educators oppose law ending job protections
Asheville Citizen-Times, NC, October 22, 2013
Public school teachers and administrators are gearing up to fight a new North Carolina law that eliminates job protections and shifts toward paying teachers based on job performance.
OKLAHOMA
Another challenger joins the state superintendent race
Tulsa World, OK, October 21, 2013
Freda Deskin, founder and chief executive officer of the Advanced Science and Technology Education Charter middle and high schools in Oklahoma City, announced her candidacy Monday.
Charter school founder to seek Barresi’s post
Tulsa World, OK, October 22, 2013
The candidate field for next year’s state superintendent race is becoming more crowded.
OREGON
Portland Association of Teachers supporters rally at Portland School Board meeting
The Oregonian, October 21, 2013
Hundreds of Portland Association of Teachers supporters rallied outside Monday’€™s Portland School Board meeting to protest the district’s recent call to mediation as the two sides negotiate a new contract.
PENNSYLVANIA
Keep focus on students
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, October 22, 2013
There has been an understandable amount of attention recently on the School District of Philadelphia’s budget shortfall, particularly the commonwealth’s role in addressing the current challenges.
Ramos leaves SRC to take care of “recent, unexpected” family matters
Philadelphia Daily News, PA
October 22, 2013
PEDRO RAMOS, who as head of the School Reform Commission oversaw a fiscally distressed district, rounds of layoffs and the closure of 30 schools, resigned yesterday morning after two years in the position.
Unfinished business
Editorial, Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, October 22, 2013
Pedro Ramos’ second tour as the city’s top education policymaker was shorter than it seemed. In just two years, Ramos presided over dramatic reductions in the School District’s spending, operations, and facilities, enduring uproar from parents, employees, and the public as the price of demonstrating the schools’ commitment to reform. Unfortunately, he is leaving a district that still has very little to show for the painful retrenchment of his tenure.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Charter school growth adds more costs for Horry County Schools
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC, October 21, 2013
An increase in students at two charter schools in the Horry County school district will cost the district about $500,000 more this year, based on recent attendance information.
UTAH
Utah needs no new law to protect students’ religious liberty
Editorial, Salt Lake Tribune, UT, October 21, 2013
Convincing people that you have come to rescue them from threats that do not exist is a good way to raise campaign funds or win votes in a neighborhood caucus. But it is a lousy way to govern.
ONLINE LEARNING
College Park Academy charter school, connected to U-Md., is officially opened
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III and University of Maryland President Wallace Loh on Monday cut the ribbon on a new charter school near the university campus that offers a college-preparatory program for hundreds of sixth and seventh graders.
Grant makes charter school dream purchase possible
Republican & Herald, MA, October 22, 2013
While Gillingham Charter School’s historic school building, built in 1895, features large classic windows, hardwood floors and slate chalkboards, its students are using some of the latest technology to supplement their learning.
York cyber school’s drop-in center keeps students focused
York Dispatch, PA, October 21, 2013
The centers allow for students to voluntarily “drop in” for educational support as they take their online classes. Students have combinations of “live” classes they participate in online and independent sessions for homework assignments.