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August 27, 2007
August 27, 2007
advocating for choice in St. Louis, a grassroots coalition takes lawsuit to trial, cyber charter so popular district labels "burden," ...Grassroots Action in the news ...
STLtoday.com, MO: Head of new education group says it's about dialogue, not vouchers - An advocate for school choice has been quietly leading discussions among civic, educational, corporate and political leaders to find solutions to the crisis in the St. Louis Public Schools and other troubled districts. The organizer of the St. Louis Regional Education Roundtable Partners is Donayle Whitmore-Smith.
Orlando Sentinel, FL: Florida Virtual School is 10 years old: Any anniversary thoughts? - The Orlando Sentinel is soliciting community testimonies of success from Florida Virtual School. Has the school helped your child catch up, get ahead or just take classes on a schedule that worked best for him or her? Are there downsides? If you teach there, was it a big adjustment switching from a classroom full of kids to a computer?
Sharon Herald, PA: Waste Management donates to education scholarships - Waste Management Inc. continues to contribute to the PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program. Because Pennsylvania does not have an education voucher program, the foundation helps low- to moderate-income families benefit from more options when it comes to education.
Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA: Judge sends lawsuit over school spending to trial - Judge Paris Kallas said too many facts were in dispute for her to grant a motion for summary judgment brought by a coalition of teachers, parents, community groups and school districts. The coalition wants to require the state to calculate exactly how much it costs to provide an adequate education for all pupils, then figure out a way to pay for it.
Education Reform Outrage in the news ...
Morning Call, TN: Cyber charter roster shocks district - The Pleasant Valley School Board was shocked to discover that 197 students, including at least 19 special education students, enrolled in cyber charter schools for the 2007-08 school year. "It's a terrible burden," School Director Susan Kresge said.
Columbus Dispatch, OH: School-voucher list to shrink - Columbus City School District will have fewer buildings in 2008 that students can flee with the help of state vouchers. "That's certainly good news for us," said Rhonda Johnson, president of the Columbus teachers union.
Washington Post: The Gifted Children Left Behind - NCLB pushes teachers to ignore high-ability students through its exclusive focus on bringing students to minimum proficiency and destroys high-ability students' interest in learning, as school becomes an endless chain of basic lessons aimed at low-performing students.
BlueRidgeNow.com, NC: Schools Fight for Teachers Because of High Turnover - Superintendents and recruiters across the nation say the challenge of putting a qualified teacher in every classroom is heightened in subjects like math and science and is a particular struggle in high-poverty schools, where the turnover is highest. Thousands of classes in such schools have opened with substitute teachers in recent years.
Valley News Dispatch, PA: Drugs & school choice - Parents must remain vigilant. Yet most have no meaningful say in where their children go off to school -- regardless of whether their kids' schools are relatively "clean" or drug infested.
School Choice in the news ...
Kvue.com, TX: Charter schools offer education alternative - The school year kicks off next week for most public schools. But at many private institutions, including charter schools, the school year is already underway.
Star Telegram, TX: Teacher retesting may encounter serious obstacles - Some advocacy groups say states need to take another look at licensing requirements. The Texas Education Agency says there has been no discussion about retesting teachers. Teachers would strongly oppose such a move, teacher groups say.
Lakeland Ledger, FL: Monday Last Day to Note Transfers to New Schools - Approximately 27,000 students are eligible to switch schools. So far the Polk County School District has verified only 246 transfers.
Christian Science Monitor: A good mark for teacher merit pay - One triumph for this accountability tool is that hundreds of additional teachers have applied to work at the city's worst schools, drawn by new higher pay. The biggest test is yet to come: whether teacher rewards will lead to better student grades and higher test scores.
Chronicle-Tribune, IN: Teachers Receive Grants for Innovation - Marion School Employees Credit Union once again will provide funds for classroom teachers who have innovative, meritorious ideas.
KansasCity.com, MO: In class, at home and online, education choices abound for families - While the vast majority of American parents will send their children to a nearby public school this fall, their choices in 2007 may be more varied than ever: from public and private schools to homeschooling to click-of-the-mouse virtual schools to specialized high school programs.
Vindy.com, OH: Voucher program will see changes - There are 11 area public schools on the state voucher list for the 2008-09 school year, compared with 13 for this academic year — and more than twice that many private schools willing to take some of their pupils.
wis10.com, SC: School choice debate changes - There was a time in South Carolina when anyone who uttered the words school choice was generally talking about tax credits or vouchers. That time has passed, for now. The school choice debate has changed.
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