Daily Headlines: March 14, 2012
Discipline Is a Fundamental Requirement of Learning
Wall Street Journal, March 14, 2012
Regarding Jason L. Riley’s “What About the Kids Who Behave?” (op-ed, March 10): I have worked or volunteered in Title I schools in four different cities since 1988. There is no question that the disruptive behavior of a small number of students hijacks the progress of everyone else in the classroom.
SEO Scholars Education Program Getting Results
USA Today, March 14, 2012
The privately funded SEO Scholars program — SEO stands for “Sponsors for Educational Opportunity” — uses an unusual approach to school reform: Rather than trying to change the system, it targets a handful of “severely undereducated” students and, through mentoring and Saturday school, all but guarantees they’ll graduate from a four-year college.
Five Minute Primer: Parent Trigger Laws
CNN Blog, March 14, 2012
State proposals and laws vary, but in essence, if a school fails to demonstrate academic achievement among its students according to predetermined benchmarks (for example, test scores), under parent trigger laws, a majority of parents could determine that some or all teachers and administrators should be dismissed and new staff brought in. Under some state proposals, action by a majority of parents could close the school altogether or hand over management of a school to a private corporation or organization and re-establish the school as a charter school.
FROM THE STATES
Alaska School Choice: Should State Money Be Used To Fund Private Schools?
Alaska Dispatch, AK, March 13, 2012
Summer is only months away and the school year is winding down, but talk of education funding in Alaska is just gearing up. House Bill 145 was introduced last year but just recently gained ground in the state House, legislation that if passed will essentially provide parents with state money so they can send their kids to private schools if they wish.
Level Field For Teachers
Santa Maria Times, CA, March 14, 2012
Non-charter school teachers’ employment rights are protected by state law. Charter teachers in the Orcutt Union School District (OUSD) should enjoy these same state law rights since we are one district, with the same employer, and the same school board.
Inglewood Unified At Odds With City’s Top Charter School
Daily Breeze, CA, March 13, 2012
With Inglewood Unified already reeling from the dubious distinction of being the least fiscally solvent school district in California, now is a particularly bad time for district leaders to find themselves at odds with their crown-jewel school.
California’s Endangered Charter Schools
City Journal, March 13, 2012
Try as the California Teachers Association might, the powerful union cannot realistically organize all of California ’s 900-plus charter schools, only about 15 percent of which are currently unionized.
Public Unions Invest in Heavily in Colorado Leaders
Denver Post, CO, March 14, 2012
Public-sector unions, whose members are dependent upon decisions made by elected officials, were the state’s top donors to committees that helped put those officials into office in 2010, according to a Denver Post analysis of state campaign data.
Community Academy Rand Campus Closure Plan Sparks Tensions Between Founder, Charter Board
Washington Post Blog, DC, March 13, 2012
The meeting lasted all of 13 minutes. The lone vote on the agenda was never in doubt. It was all smiles and handshakes after the D.C. Public Charter School Board voted to rescind a proposed closure of Community Academy, which serves more than 1,800 students on six campuses–five brick-and-mortar and one virtual.
Flagler School Board Affirms Decision To Close Failing Charter School
Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL, March 14, 2012
A struggling Bunnell charter school will shut its doors for good this spring, the Flagler County School Board reaffirmed Tuesday.
Palmetto Charter School Vows To Fight Whistleblower Lawsuit
Bradenton Herald, FL, March 14, 2012
Manatee School for the Arts plans to fight a whistleblower lawsuit filed against it by a federal agency, contending the charter school is part of the public school district and is therefore a state entity, its attorney said Tuesday.
First Atlanta Teacher Firing Sought Today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, March 14, 2012
He is the first teacher named in a groundbreaking special investigation into test cheating, and today Damany Lewis could become the first Atlanta teacher to be fired for his role in the scandal.
The Raw Politics Under Way In State Legislature May Give Cherokee School Board A Raw Deal
Atlanta Journal Constitution Blog, GA, March 13, 2012
The Cherokee legislative delegation continues to meddle with the school board, which strikes me as peculiar in a county noted for its public schools. In a phrase, why mess with success?
School Redistricting Bill Passes House
Cherokee Tribune, GA, March 14, 2012
The controversial reapportionment bill that also changes how Cherokee County chooses its school board members sailed through the House yesterday on its way to becoming law.
State Releases List of Lowest-Performing Schools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA, March 13, 2012
The Georgia Department of Education released a list of the state’s 78 lowest performing public schools Tuesday as part of its still-developing accountability system.
Indianapolis To See A Surge In New Charter Schools
Indianapolis Star, IN, March 14, 2012
Indianapolis ranks 11th in the U.S. for how many public school students attend charters. A push by the mayor and others may vault the city higher
Bobby Jindal School Voucher Plan Worries Watchdog Group
Times Picayune, LA, March 14, 2012
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s bid to expand the use of private-school vouchers statewide could damage public education in Louisiana and leave some students in worse schools than those they already attend, warns a new report from the Bureau of Governmental Research, a New Orleans-based nonprofit group.
Louisiana Teachers To Flood Capitol For Debate On Jindal Education Bills
Times Picayune, LA, March 13, 2012
At least four public school systems — none in the New Orleans area — and a group of Baton Rouge charter schools have canceled a day of classes over the next two days because a number of teachers plan to jam the Louisiana Capitol on Wednesday and Thursday as legislative committees take up Gov. Bobby Jindal’s plans to overhaul primary and secondary education.
School Choice Bills Risk Widening Quality Gap
Bangor Daily News, ME, March 13, 2012
Two of the governor’s education bills deserve to be defeated and a third should be amended. The two bills, which would take the “public” out of public education and put schools in the marketplace, have the potential to widen, not bridge the gap between good schools and bad schools. The third, implementing a standardized teacher evaluation system, is sound in theory but needs tweaking.
Maryland Spending Overhaul Would Leave Montgomery County The Poorer
Washington Post, DC, March 13, 2012
As we wrote recently, state lawmakers are in the process of a sweeping and unwise overhaul of the way schools are funded. The intent is sound: to ensure that counties do not slack off as the state boosts its own school funding. But in the case of Montgomery , the state’s largest system, the effects could be extremely damaging.
Grasmick to Overhaul Teacher Training at Towson University
Baltimore Sun, MD, March 13, 2012
Former state superintendent will head project to create a model national program to educate future teachers
Receiver Eyes Eliminating Central Falls Mayor Post
Boston Globe, MA, March 13, 2012
The state-appointed receiver overseeing Central Falls has created a commission to study whether to eliminate the city’s elected mayor in favor of an appointed city manager.
Hundreds of Parents To Attend ‘Live’ Charter School Lotteries Across Boston
Roxbury Transcripts, MA, March 13, 2012
On Wednesday, March 14, hundreds of parents will gather at several charter public schools schools in Boston, including Edward E. Brooke Charter Public School 1 (Roslindale) & 3 (East Boston), hoping that their children’s names are chosen in the schools’ random enrollment lotteries. These events are emotional nights for parents.
State To Take Over 15 Detroit Public Schools
Detroit News, MI, March 14, 2012
Officials with Michigan’s new recovery school district announced Tuesday that 15 Detroit Public Schools will be taken over by the state and become laboratories this fall for a new system for low-performing schools.
‘Scholarship’ Plan Perverts Public Education
Concord Monitor, NH, March 14, 2012
To compare the education of the children of our state to jars of mustard – or to equate them to customers shopping simply for the best price – demeans them, the value of public education and the dedicated professionals who provide the quality education that allows New Hampshire students to succeed.
Council Expresses Support For State Charter School Bill
East Brunswick Sentinel, NJ, March 13, 2012
Local residents and Township Council members are expressing support for a state Assembly bill that would require public approval of new charter schools.
Hoboken Charter School Teacher Wins Top National Award For 9/11 Curriculum
Jersey Journal, NJ, March 13, 2012
A city teacher has been selected as one of the nation’s top 10 educators when it comes to instruction about the lessons of 9/11.
Funding for New Charters Underscores Push to Keep Standards High
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, March 14, 2012
On a day the Christie administration proudly announced it had won a federal grant to help its newest charter schools, top officials were also dealing with the fallout over closing one of its oldest.
Charter School Costs May Hike Teaneck Levy
The Record, NJ, March 14, 2012
The school district’s budget for the upcoming academic year will add at least $49 to the tax bill of a home assessed at the township average, officials said.
Emily Fisher Charter School Vows to Fight Gov. Christie
The Trentonian, NJ, March 14, 2012
Jabre Harmon said he enrolled at Emily Fisher Charter School after getting kicked out of Trenton ’s public schools for fighting and engaging in other acts of misbehavior.
Education Reform Will Help All N.M. Students
Albuquerque Journal, NM, March 14, 2012
Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera is once again the target of criticism, this time by Hispanics who are rightly concerned about the large achievement gap in New Mexico between Anglo and minority students, which has remained static for years.
Archdiocese Alters Course on Schools
Wall Street Journal, March 13, 2012
After closing dozens of schools last year, the Archdiocese of New York now is embarking on the most ambitious phase of a multipronged plan to reshape its Catholic education system.
Test Driving a Pilot Teacher Evaluation System
New York Times Schoolbook, NY, March 14, 2012
Ms. Moloney has been testing a new framework for evaluating teachers this year at the school, which is actually in Brighton Beach, after receiving training over the summer. It was designed by Charlotte Danielson who wrote a common-sense framework to help both teachers and administrators identify good teaching.
Voters Favor The Release Of Teacher Ratings But Q-Poll Finds Voters Consider Controversial Rankings ‘Flawed’
New York Daily News, NY, March 14, 2012
New York City voters favored the release of controversial teacher ratings but also believe the numbers are “flawed,” a new poll finds.
Gov. Cuomo Ad Push Urges Action On Teacher Evaluations
New York Daily News, NY, March 13, 2012
Radio ad asks New Yorkers to pressure schools and unions to get going on grading
With Controversial Leader Gone, Charter Makes Bid to Stay Alive
New York Times, NY, March 13, 2012
The lawyer for a troubled Brooklyn charter school that the city’s Department of Education has flagged for closing made a forceful case at a hearing on Tuesday for keeping the school open.
Charter School Thriving In Syracuse, Wants Another In Utica
Utica Observer Dispatch, NY, March 13, 2012
Chanel Turnquest moved to her neighborhood to be close to the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School.
Cleveland School-Reform Bill Needs Teachers’ Input
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, March 13, 2012
When the usually reserved Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson says he would trade his office for “quality education for our children,” all of the other adults involved in the high-stakes discussion on school reform ought to determine what they would give up as well.
Sponsor Sought For Charter School
Toledo Blade, OH, March 14, 2012
During a special school board meeting last week, Oregon officials tabled a proposal on sponsoring the new charter school. The school board has not scheduled another meeting before Thursday, which is the state’s deadline to secure a sponsor in time to open for the 2012-2013 school year.
Pa. Looks at Partial Bailout of Chester Upland
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, March 13, 2012
The state has proposed to keep Chester Upland schools open until June by releasing $27.7 million to pay expenses but says district management is so dysfunctional that the money should be disbursed directly to creditors.
Tearful Teacher Begs For Early Tenure
Daily Item, PA, March 13, 2012
Despite receiving grim news that more layoffs likely loom over the next several years in the Selinsgrove Area School District, a fired teacher tearfully appealed to the board to bestow tenure on her and five others who would have received the status at the end of this year
Bill Would Help Financially Distressed School Districts
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, March 14, 2012
Legislation proposed Tuesday in Harrisburg would set up an office of financial recovery to monitor school districts that have signs of financial distress and provide technical help.
Metro Nashville Teachers May Start at $40K
The Tennessean, TN, March 14, 2012
Recruiters from Houston have been to Nashville three times this school year, trying to get first dibs at hiring Vanderbilt University and other college education majors.
Assembly Approves MPS Measures
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, March 14, 2012
Milwaukee Public Schools and the Milwaukee teachers union could get an extra window of time to negotiate potential salary or fringe-benefit concessions from employees under a bill the Assembly approved early Wednesday. The Assembly on Tuesday also passed two voucher-related bills – one that would expand the use of taxpayer money for private schools, and one that would curtail it.
School Board OKs Sale of Charter School Building
Sheboygan Press, WI, March 14, 2012
Lake Country Academy will be allowed to buy its building from the Sheboygan Area School District after all.
VIRTUAL LEARNING
Frontier CEO: ‘The Board Runs The School’
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, March 14, 2012
SOME SCHOOLS have board members who are attached to their school in name and title only.
That’s not the case with Frontier Virtual Charter High School ‘s board of trustees.
Cyber-School Kids Truant, Failing, And Teachers Have Been Dumped
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, March 14, 2012
IT ALL SOUNDED so good on paper: a “global high school of the 21st century,” a cyber school that would teach about 300 students two languages and keep them constantly engaged in learning.
District May Start Its Own Cyberschool
Reading Eagle, PA, March 14, 2012
The Boyertown School Board learned more about a online school that could be in place for the district by August.
Iowa House Oks Some Education Reform, Limits Scope Of Online Classes
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA, March 14, 2012
Iowa House rejected online education as proposed by Gov. Terry Branstad in the final vote of a marathon debate on education reform Tuesday night. Instead, House members adopted a plan that limits the number of school children that can enroll in fully online courses to 900 students statewide and restricts outward open enrollment from any single district to 1 percent of its total enrollment.
Attorney General: Online Schools Are Legal
Des Moines Register, IA, March 13, 2012
Online schools are legal in Iowa, Attorney General Tom Miller said Tuesday, but legislators and education officials said they expect greater scrutiny of virtual academies to follow Miller’s formal finding.
Online Education Performs Valuable Service For Students, Public Schools
News Tribune, WA, March 14, 2012
My son Leamon has been enrolled in an online public school for five years, since he started having difficulty articulating, reading with comprehension and writing at an age-appropriate level in third grade.