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April 26, 2007

Morning Shots

The battle over school choice in Ohio continues as urban school chiefs back Gov. Strickland's call for a moratorium on charter schools in the state.  But for all the canvassing of the defenders of the status quo, the charter students are making their message clear with rallies across the state.

Cleveland Plain Dealer:  Urban school chiefs lobby on charter proposals

Leaders of Ohio's eight big-city school districts are lobbying lawmakers this week to support Gov. Ted Strickland's proposal to ban for-profit charter schools and ax a statewide school-voucher program.

"We strongly support his position that for-profit entities not operate in our state," said Cleveland schools CEO Eugene Sanders, co-chairman of the Ohio 8, a coalition of superintendents and teachers union presidents from the state's largest districts.

The door-to-door canvassing of legislators, which will peak today, represents the most visible foray into politics for the 5-year-old organization.

The school leaders want legislators to know they are weary of watching students, as well as tens of millions of tax dollars, fly out of their coffers and into the hands of charter schools.

Washington Post:  Panel urges schools to replace junk foods

A prestigious scientific panel urged the government yesterday to ban soft drinks, sugary snacks and other junk food from schools, saying the typical fare available in vending machines, at snack bars and at class birthday parties is contributing to the growing obesity of America's children.

Federal officials recently proposed raising the nutritional standards for school lunches or breakfasts, but the recommendations issued yesterday are the first national attempt to address the healthfulness of "competitive" school foods

"Children eat 30 to 50 percent of their calories at schools on school days," Wootan said. "When parents send their kids to school with lunch money, they don't want to worry that it will be spent on Cheetos and Gatorade."

New York Times:  Higher graduation rates in city, but 'more work to do'

Half of New York City’s high school students graduated on time in June 2006, up from 47 percent the year before, according to figures released yesterday by the New York State Education Department.

The figures also showed that statewide, the four-year high school graduation rate barely budged, rising to 67 percent from 66 percent.

The news for the rest of the state was somewhat less optimistic. The numbers showed some of the same vast disparities — between poor cities and rich suburbs, and also between white students and their black and Hispanic counterparts — that have persisted for years, with rich children and white children more likely to graduate on time.

The numbers also highlighted the enduring challenges for students with disabilities; only 37 percent statewide graduated on time, and only 48 percent did so after six years.

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