Daily Headlines: May 23, 2012
NATIONAL COVERAGE
Romney Shifting Focus From Economy To Education
Associated Press, May 23, 2012
Mitt Romney is wading into a new policy arena – the nation’s education system – as he broadens his focus to appeal to general election voters still getting to know President Barack Obama’s likely opponent.
Administration Widens Scope of ‘Race to the Top’
Washington Times, DC, May 22, 2012
The Obama administration is taking its signature “Race to the Top” education grant competition to the micro level.
FROM THE STATES
Charter School Expands With Ninth Grade Class
San Diego Union-Times, CA, May 22, 2012
The Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School is adding a ninth grade, making it the first institution in the Chula Vista Elementary School District to step into the high school arena. About 90 students are expected to form the new freshman class when the 2012-13 school year begins July 25.
L.A. Unified Can Apply for Federal Race to the Top Funds
Los Angeles Times, CA, May 23, 2012
For the first time, the U.S. Department of Education will let districts bypass state officials. L.A. Unified wants funds to alter the teacher evaluation process.
The Power of A Teachers Union
Los Angeles Times, CA, May 23, 2012
Troy Senik says that the California Teachers Assn. is the state’s most powerful union. How does he define powerful? With pay? At an average salary of $68,000, teachers are not the best-paid public employees. Plus, starting salaries for beginning teachers average about $35,000.
Nonprofits Say Denver’s Public Schools Still Don’t Make The Grade
Denver Post, CO, May 23, 2012
Despite years of effort, an infusion of resources and some improvement, Denver Public Schools “is far behind and not rapidly making the grade,” a report by a consortium of influential education non-profits and advocates concludes.
Teacher Evaluation Panel Moves Its Work Behind Closed Doors
Connecticut Mirror, CT, May 22, 2012
After a contentious public meeting last week on developing a new teacher and principal evaluation system, the state Department of Education has closed its meetings on the topic to the public and the media.
D.C. Children Left In The Lurch
Washington Post, DC, May 22, 2012
THE NONPROFIT that administers the District’s program of federally funded school vouchers held two open houses to solicit interest from low-income families for the upcoming school year. The response was overwhelming; nearly 1,200 new applications were received. Most applicants are likely to end up disappointed because of a misguided decision by the Obama administration to effectively deny new students access to the successful program.
Cory Booker Has Crossed The Aisle Before — On School Reform
Washington Post Blog, DC, May 23, 2012
Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a Democrat, has been in the news for blasting President Obama’s campaign ads attacking Mitt Romney’s career with a private-equity firm and calling the tone of the presidential campaign “nauseating to me on both sides.”
Parents at Ridge Community High Interested in Conversion To Charter
The Ledger, FL, May 22, 2012
Parents at Ridge Community High School are showing interest in becoming a conversion charter school.
L.W. Schools Seeking Partnership With City
News Chief, FL, May 23, 2012
Robin Gibson wants the city and its schools to reforge the close working relationship they had when the Charter System was formed eight years ago.
Polk School Board to Appeal State Board’s Decision on Charter Schools USA
The Ledger, FL, May 22, 2012
The state Board of Education has overturned a decision by the Polk County School District that denied an application by a nationwide charter organization.
Volusia Schools Cutting College-Prep Program
Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL, May 23, 2012
AVID employs teachers to serve as mentors to middle-school students with promise but not the kinds of advantages that help make students college ready. Students like Lopez are chosen, given tutoring and coaching on the kinds of courses they need to take, and go on college visits that stimulate their thirst for higher education.
Charter High School Proposal Divides Lutz Neighbors
Tampa Bay Tribune, FL, May 23, 2012
A rezoning request to allow a charter high school on 62 heavily wooded acres in Lutz has divided the rural community.
Charter School Amendment Charts Wrong Course
The Citizen Blog, GA, May 22, 2012
The state constitution specifies that every child in Georgia is entitled to free public education. It describes education as a responsibility of the state and function of local school systems. Public school budgets and policy decisions are under the control of locally elected boards of education as long as minimum state requirements are met.
Chicago Teachers Union Staging Downtown Rally Today
Chicago Tribune, IL, May 23, 2012
The Chicago Teachers Union expects thousands of teachers to show up Wednesday for a downtown rally staged to fire up its members and serve as a display of muscle in the midst of protracted contract talks with the school district.
School Voucher Program Expected To Grow This Fall
Fox 59, IN, May 22, 2012
The state of Indiana just wrapped up the first year of school vouchers in the Hoosier State . Parent Shay Mays said charter schools have made a huge difference in her daughter’s life.
Meeting Tuesday On Charter Schools
Monroe News Star, LA, May 23, 2012
The Monroe City School Board will consider charter school applications by the Neville Alumni and Friends Association and Tab N Action, a nonprofit organization that works with at-risk youth, at a special called meeting May 29.
Most Louisiana Schools Accepting Voucher Students Are In New Orleans , Baton Rouge Areas
Times Picayune, LA, May 23, 2012
The newly expanded school voucher program that helped anchor Gov. Bobby Jindal’s legislative agenda will benefit 7,400 students in the coming school year, with the majority of seats concentrated in southeast Louisiana.
4 Cenla Schools Join Voucher Program
Alexandria Town Talk, LA, May 22, 2012
Four Central Louisiana private schools will be among those participating in the state’s Scholarship Program next school year.
Bill Allowing Louisiana School Board Term Limits Heads To Gov. Bobby Jindal
Times Picayune, LA, May 22, 2012
With no votes to spare, the Louisiana Senate sent to Gov. Bobby Jindal on Tuesday a bill that would allow voters to impose a three-term limit on school board members on a district-by-district basis starting in 2014. Senators voted 20-16 for House Bill 292 by Rep. Steve Pugh, R-Ponchatoula, that would place on the Nov. 6 ballot in each school district a proposition to determine whether voters want to limit their school board members to no more than 12 consecutive years in office.
Choosing Against School Choice
The Somerville News, MA, May 23, 2012
The doors of Somerville’s public schools will remain closed to students from other school districts.
Misplaced Priorities
Battle Creek Enquirer, MI, May 22, 2012
The promise of choice in public education was that competition would lead to reform and improved results. The reality is that it’s tearing our schools apart.
Newark Weighs Options To Cut Bloated Teacher Ranks
Asbury Park Press, NJ, May 22, 2012
Newark leaders, searching for the best way to reduce the number of teachers in a shrinking school system, have raised the possibility of using some of the $100 million donation from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for teacher buyouts.
Kids’ Charter Crush Hits Record High
New York Post, NY, May 23, 2012
City parents desperate to give their children the best education available are storming the doors of charter schools — but nearly 53,000 heartbroken kids will be left out in the cold.
Parents Know Best
New York Post, NY, May 23, 2012
The votes are in — and it’s a landslide win for charter schools, and for students. A record number of students last month applied for the far-too-few open seats available by lottery at local charter schools.
Quiz Making Parents Testy
Wall Street Journal, May 23, 2012
But amid growing unease with the exams, the plan to administer a stand-alone “field test” to children at more than 4,000 public, charter and private elementary and middle schools next month has led some parents and educators to call for a sharp response: a boycott.
Cheating Inquiry Under Way at 2 Top-Rated City Schools
New York Times, NY, May 23, 2012
Two of the highest-ranking public elementary schools in New York City are under investigation for possible irregularities on state examinations, officials said on Tuesday.
Judge Rebukes City’s Press to Reassign Williamsburg Charter Students
New York Times Schoolbook, NY, May 22, 2012
A Brooklyn high school that the city has been trying to close for months survived another day, as a state Supreme Court judge denied a request by the city’s lawyer to start registering the charter school’s students in other schools for the fast-approaching fall semester.
Bill Would Let Corporations Direct Taxes To Private Schools For Low-Income Students
Winston-Salem Journal, NC, May 23, 2012
North Carolina lawmakers this week will introduce legislation that would let corporations send up to $40 million of their state taxes next year to a program that would give low-income children up to $4,000 to attend private or religious schools.
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s Schools Plan Slows Down In Ohio Legislature Amid Concerns Over Charter Schools
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, May 22, 2012
Negotiations to pass Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s education reform plan have reached a critical stage, as state lawmakers continue to wrestle with provisions that deal with charter schools.
Ohio House Adds Gifted Schools To Education Bill
Columbus Dispatch, OH, May 23, 2012
Ohioans could see charter schools set up for gifted students in 16 regions of the state under a still-evolving education plan in the legislature.
Cleveland School Plan Matters Here
Columbus Dispatch, OH, May 23, 2012
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and an unlikely coalition of business, community, charter-school, philanthropic and teachers-union leaders have proposed a comprehensive set of reforms to improve Ohio ’s second-largest public school district. Their proposal — House Bill 525 — is gaining bipartisan support in the Ohio legislature. Yet, some wonder why Columbus should care about what happens in Cleveland schools.
Philadelphia Charters Get Results
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, May 23, 2012
Mastery Charter Schools has earned bragging rights for taking over several of the Philadelphia public schools’ most violent and low-performing schools and turning them around, sometimes in just a year’s time. And it has done so with the blessing and cooperation of the school district.
Oklahoma Lawmaker Tries New Way To Weaken Graduation Law
The Oklahoman, OK, May 23, 2012
Another day, another effort to gut Oklahoma’s graduation standards. This time it’s Broken Arrow Republican Rep. David Brumbaugh leading the charge for mediocrity.
Bill Would Mean State Takeover For York City Schools
York Dispatch, PA, May 23, 2012
The York City School District may face a state takeover because of its dire financial straits.The district was one of just a few “financially distressed” districts statewide that would be immediately affected by a bill that passed out of the Senate Education committee on Tuesday and awaits a full Senate vote.
Pa. Senate Panel Offers Recovery Plan For Troubled School Districts
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, May 23, 2012
Duquesne City and other financially distressed school districts could see charter schools opened, students sent to other districts and collective bargaining agreements revamped under a proposal approved by a Senate panel on Tuesday.
How Should State Reward Its Teachers?
The Herald, SC, May 23, 2012
The influx of an extra $1.4 billion into the state’s budget next year has prompted a debate over the best way to pay S.C. teachers.
Soulsville Sends Entire Class to College
My Fox Memphis, TN, May 23, 2012
Founded in 2005, the Soulsville Charter School, a tuition-free public charter school, is doing exactly what they set out to do, send every graduating senior to college.
Wash. Education Groups File Charter Initiative
News Tribune, WA, May 22, 2012
A coalition of Washington education groups on Tuesday filed a citizen initiative asking voters to allow 40 public charter schools in the state over the next five years.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Prominent Lawmaker Seeks to Slow Down NJ’s Virtual Charters
New Jersey Spotlight, NJ, May 22, 2012
As students continue to sign up for New Jersey’s first experiments with online charter schools, one leading legislator is asking the state to slow down.
North Hills School Directors To Ask State For Charter-School Reimbursements
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, May 22, 2012
The North Hills School Board voted unanimously Monday to petition state legislators to restore district reimbursement for charter and cyber-school education fees.
Moon Area to Offer Cyber Program
Beaver times, PA, May 22, 2012
After losing a number of students to cyber and charter schools in the past few years, Moon Area officials hope the school’s new cyber education program will keep students in the district.
Free Online Summer Classes For High School Students
Yuma Sun, AZ, May 22, 2012
Classes on Yuma Union High School District’s online academy are now open for summer enrollment for freshman through senior students.
Online High School Students Learn Self Motivation
San Gabriel Valley Tribune, CA, May 22, 2012
After regularly “attending” school in their pajamas, the 2012 graduates of the California Virtual Academies donned heels and suits to walk across the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse stage and accept their diplomas.