December 21, 2007
December 21, 2007
Tis the season ... Virtual program gives the gift of science (PR Newswire), Students' wish list at one CA charter is straight from the heart (San Diego Union Tribune), OH gives parents the gift of knowledge (Cleveland Plain Dealer). Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Edspresso! Morning Shots will resume in January.
Did the Dog Eat Mills's Homework?
New York Sun, December 21, 2007
The alarm comes from the growing gap between the results on the fourth and eighth grade math and English language arts tests administered by state and similar tests administered by the federal government.
K12 Presents Gift to Families and Schools Across the World
PR Newswire, December 20, 2007
Free web-based science lessons demonstrate how the amazing K12 curriculum enables mastery and makes learning come alive!
With Little Time Left, Trenton Lawmakers Weigh New Formula for School Financing
New York Times, December 21, 2007
Less than three weeks before the end of the legislative session, state lawmakers began circulating a bill on Thursday that would overhaul the formula New Jersey uses to finance its public schools.
Value-Added Education Data Becomes Available To Ohio Parents
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio, December 20, 2007
These new Ohio Department of Education data provide a microscopic view of the classroom that should help teachers and principals figure out what's working and what's not.
Third-Graders' Holiday Wishes Come Straight From The Heart
San Diego Union Tribune, California, December 21, 2007
The children attend Darnall Charter School near College and University avenues, where 85 percent of the students qualify for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program.
Charter Schools
Winston-Salem Journal, North Carolina, December 21, 2007
The Blue Ribbon Charter School Study Commission has come out with a pair of recommendations that the General Assembly should adopt, even if the state’s educational establishment doesn’t like them.
Charter Schools Could Be Community Opportunity
Bloomington Pantagraph, Illinois, December 21, 2007
While I fully support the proposed expansion and related expenditures, I urge our community to consider future options that include progressive educational alternatives.
Sac High Keeps Charter
Sacramento Bee, California, December 21, 2007
Kevin Johnson's St. HOPE Corp. received permission Thursday night to run Sacramento Charter High School for another five years when the Sacramento City Unified school board voted 6-1 to renew the school's charter.
Jordan High Won't Join Villaraigosa's School Partnership
Los Angeles Times, California, December 21, 2007
But under an agreement between the district and the teachers union, the mayor's plan needed a majority of a school's entire bargaining-unit, regardless of how many voted.
December 20, 2007
December 20, 2007
Charter Schools Hit Snag After A Decade
Las Vegas Review, Nevada, December 17, 2007
Moratoriums have been used historically to slow or stop education reforms such as charter schools when they are on the verge of becoming successful and plentiful, she said. "It is very clear the state board's reaction is owing entirely to the fact that charter schools are necessary and in demand and are likely to grow with changes in the law," Allen said.
Schools Of Education: Academic Slums
D.C. Examiner, December 20, 2007
American education will never be improved until we address one of the problems seen as too delicate to discuss. That problem is the overall quality of people teaching our children.
Options Are Needed In Education
St. Cloud Times, Minnesota, December 20, 2007
Public schools seem to have an insatiable appetite for money. Even when they get a funding increase via local levies or state aid, they still seem to come right back and ask for more.
A Reading Program's Powerful Patron
Washington Post, D.C., December 20, 2007
Landrieu's earmark illustrates the unusual role that Congress has played in shaping the District's troubled school system.
Indiana Will Be Test Site Of New Teacher Prep Program
D.C. Examiner, December 20, 2007
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, which oversees several other education initiatives, plans to use Indiana as a model as it expands the program to other states.
Ellington's Alma Mater to Become Charter School
D.C. Examiner, December 20, 2007
The former Armstrong Manual Training School, where jazz great Duke Ellington studied, will undergo an overhaul starting early next year so it can become a charter school by the fall, a school representative said Wednesday.
Charter Schools Outshine Others as They Receive Their First Report Cards
New York Times, December 20, 2007
Education officials, acting under the city's new system of accountability, released report cards on Wednesday for several charter schools, with the majority receiving A's and B's, but one school in Queens getting an F.
Charter Fight: Can't Beat 'Em? Sue 'Em
The Oklahoman, Oklahoma, December 20, 2007
We don't buy the idea that Tulsa school officials were thinking about Oklahoma children when they decided this week to sue over the state's charter school law. As with many lawsuits, this one's about money and power.
More Charter Schools Sought
News & Observer, North Carolina, December 20, 2007
A state commission wants to significantly increase the number of charter schools while also closing charter schools that are failing academically.
The BLOB-Grinches Who Thought They Could Stop Reform From Coming
All the parents and teachers they wanted reform.
They looked for solutions to break from the norm.
They wanted things better, that's why they were fighting,
To make sure their kids would learn reading and writing
And science and math and history too
For everyone's children, not just a few.
But the Blob and its grinches, they hated reform.
"Imagine," they sniffed " trying to break from the norm."
Standards, and charters, and school choice and such
This ed-reform business is much, much too much.
Who are they, these people, this reform-minded crew
Who think they know better than us what to do?
We'll fix them,
We'll teach them,
We'll show them who's boss.
We'll make doubly sure that they suffer a loss.
We'll stop all their harping and carping and cries
We'll tell all the people their numbers are lies.
We'll say that they're wrong And without hesitation,
We'll say that they're out
To destroy education.
Oh, we'll offer solutions - the people will buy it,
All we will need say is, " It won't hurt to try it."
Whole language, new math,
And lots of things pending
(Which, of course, will require more billions in spending.)
And for those who ask questions or say it's a waste,
With great condescension, they'll be put in their place.
We'll stop the reformers, we'll stop them, we will,
Because after all,
We're the kings of the Hill.
So the Blob and it's grinches
Embarked on their task
To make sure that all things reform finished last.
But the parents and teachers and grandparents too,
Went on with their work, they knew what to do.
The Blob might have money and power and might.
But that didn't mean that they knew what was right.
And no matter the odds, or how long it might take,
The reformers were steadfast… a difference they'd make.
They wouldn't be quiet
And they wouldn't give in
And whenever they lost, they would just start again.
They offered suggestions and wrote legislation
And some ran for office, (to the Blob's consternation).
We'll stop these reformers the Blob-grinches blustered
And what we can't stop we will just filibuster.
We'll do all we can, oh we've got a few tricks,
After all it's our business to play politics.
Against our opponents we'll spend, spend galore.
And for those who are with us, we'll spend even more.
And when it was over the Blob danced with glee
Their efforts had let to a great victory.
They'd shown the reformers, and now they could say
"Just take your reforms, now take them away."
But the parents and teachers and grandparents too,
Just smiled at the Blob, because everyone knew:
That for all of its millions and for all of its might,
The Blob had not managed to carry the fight.
No matter the money and time overspent
No matter how much their support they had lent
In state after state they had failed to defeat
The education reformers they said they would beat.
And when it was over the fact remained still,
That they couldn't be really the King of the hill.
And for all of their ranting and raving and storm
They've really done nothing to stop ed-reform.
Our thanks to the CER alum who penned this ed-reform anthem for all the families and activists out in Whoville fighting the good fight to make schools work better for all children.
Posted by edspresso at 06:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)December 18, 2007
December 18, 2007
Combining Middle, High Schools Catches On Across U.S.
D.C. Examiner, December 18, 2007
Educators from New York City to Pittsburgh to Sacramento are praising combination middle-high schools as a way of preventing students from dropping out.
No Child Left Alone
USA Today, December 18, 2007
And yet as we earnestly try to fix what's broken, we are, in the process, turning an entire generation of children into a giant flock of canaries in the coal mine.
Governors Cite Education Records
Education Week, December 17, 2007
The three current presidential hopefuls with experience as state governors have records on education that offer voters an unusually detailed preview of what the nation's schools might expect if any of the three should win the White House next year.
Two Predominantly Hispanic Charter Schools Named Among 'America's Best High Schools' by U.S. News and World Report
Hispanic PR Wire, Florida, December 17, 2007
Academica, one of the largest, high-performing charter school service and support organizations in the country, announced that two of its Miami-Dade County charter schools....
Orange County Teachers Vote Down Merit Pay
Orlando Sentinel, Florida, December 18, 2007
The results of a September survey by the district's teacher's union is finally in. It might seem like old news at this point...but Orange's teachers appear to really dislike merit-pay proposals.
Rhee's Plans Likely to Pass, Lawmakers Say
Washington Post, D.C., December 18, 2007
The D.C. Council will probably approve two bills today that would give Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee the authority to fire nonunion central office employees and the funds to carry out the proposed closings of 23 public schools, several lawmakers said.
DC Parents Protest Plan to Convert Catholic Schools To Charter Schools
Catholic World News, December 17, 2007
More than 800 people in Washington, DC, have signed a petition urging the Washington archdiocese to abandon plans to turn 7 parochial schools into charter schools working with the public school system.
No Doubt It's Cliché, But It's Also Heartfelt
Los Angeles Times, California, December 18, 2007
The line of families waiting for food handouts wound down the block and around the corner on a busy stretch of Jefferson Boulevard outside the Celerity Nascent Charter School on Monday.
December 14, 2007
December 14, 2007
Schools Accused of Pushing Mainstreaming to Cut Costs
Wall Street Journal, December 14, 2007
Now, some experts and parents complain that mainstreaming has increasingly taken on a new role in American education: a pretext for cost-cutting, hurting the children it was supposed to help.
Bush Signs Head Start Renewal, With Reservations
Education Week, December 13, 2007
President Bush has signed into law a long-awaited bill reauthorizing Head Start for five years, but he criticized the measure for…
Class Size Matters
Daily Planet, Minnesota, December 13, 2007
He concluded that smaller class sizes at the earliest grades had substantial benefits especially for minority students.
Vouchers Are The Obvious Choice
Star-Ledger, New Jersey, December 14, 2007
We need more school choice. We need to break the monopoly of the public school system. We need to build on this success by at least experimenting with vouchers in the K-12 system.
Listen To Schools, Not Union Whines
Denver Post, Colorado, December 14, 2007
It's a given that Colorado teachers unions continually fight against parental school choice. We know they whine about accountability. We know they're not crazy about charter schools, either.
Police, Teachers, Government Workers Form Group To Fight Tax Cut Plan
Sun-Sentinel, Florida, December 14, 2007
Teachers, firefighters and police - the frontline workers who could feel the biggest pinch from a property tax cut plan on the Jan. 29 ballot - joined together Thursday to launch a campaign to defeat it.
It's Virtual War
New York Sun, December 14, 2007
The Wisconsin Virtual Academy has grown in its four years to about 850 students, all there by choice.
Charter School Debate Heats Up
Alameda Sun, California, December 14, 2007
The school's innovative program, based in part on self-directed education, has won wide praise from charter school supporters who are quick to say you can't argue with results.
Parents Wait For Fallout From Online School Ruling
Green Bay Press-Gazette, Wisconsin, December 14, 2007
Some area parents are worried about their children's future education after a state appellate court ruled last week that an online state charter school was illegal.
House Bill Will Hurt Cyber Charter Schools
Allentown Morning Call, Pennsylvania, December 14, 2007
Proponents of an anti-cyber school bill (House Bill 446) claim the legislation will strengthen public cyber schools. You don't strengthen schools by cutting funding and imposing new restrictions.
December 13, 2007
December 13, 2007
D.C. Teachers Make Nearly $9K More Than U.S. Average
D.C. Examiner, December 13, 2007
Teachers in the nation's capital are pulling in nearly $9,000 more a year than the national average, putting them toward the top of the salary list when compared to other states…
GOP Candidates Avoid Rancor In Last Debate Before Iowa Vote
Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania, December 13, 2007
Most of the other candidates voiced support for giving parents more choices among public schools, private schools, charter schools, religious schools and home schooling.
Increases in Education Aid Range From 2 to 20 Percent Under Corzine Plan
New York Times, December 13, 2007
Each of New Jersey's 615 school districts would receive 2 percent to 20 percent more in state aid next year under a new financing formula officially unveiled by Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Wednesday,
Firing the District of Columbia's Central Office - Or Turning it Into a Political Fiefdom?
Education Week, December 12, 2007
It would not be surprising for a new Chancellor like Michelle Rhee to decide that some central office staff should be removed - fired - because they don't do their jobs, don't buy into the new program, or are in some way corrupt.
Volusia Pushing 2 Charter School Issues In Court
Daytona Beach News-Journal, Florida, December 13, 2007
At issue are two state decisions -- one denying Volusia's request to retain exclusive authority to approve charter schools in the county and the other overturning Volusia's denial of a charter school application.
Groff Proposes More Autonomy For Top, Lowest Schools
Rocky Mountain News, Colorado, December 13, 2007
Some of the state's highest- and lowest-performing schools would get to control their budgets, hire their own faculty and staff and design their own curriculum under a bill proposed by a top Democratic lawmaker.
Program Allows Students To Transfer From 831 Deficient Schools
D.C. Examiner, December 13, 2007
Students at 831 Texas public schools will be allowed to transfer to other campuses next school year because their schools were among the lowest rated in the state, the Texas Education Agency said.
SRC Keeps Charter Policy On Track
Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania, December 13, 2007
The Philadelphia School Reform Commission's chairwoman expects a vote next week on a new policy to increase oversight of charter schools, even though some charter operators have asked for a 90-day delay to help craft an alternative.
Longer School Day Bears Fruit
Boston Globe, Massachusetts, December 13, 2007
One of the reasons charter schools were created more than a decade ago was to implement reforms that could be adopted in district schools.
School Programs Prevent Dropouts With Flexible Hours
Houston Chronicle, Texas, December 13, 2007
The young mom is enrolled in a special program at Houston's Furr High School, which allows her to attend class in the morning and work in the afternoon.
Charter Accord Rejected
San Gabriel Valley Tribune, California, December 13, 2007
Negotiations are expected to continue now that school board members rejected a proposed management contract 3-2 Tuesday night for the district's top performing school, San Jose-Edison Academy.
Judge Rules Race-based Admissions in L.A. School District OK
Education Week, December 12, 2007
The Los Angeles Unified School District's practice of using race as a factor in enrolling students for its popular magnet programs doesn't violate an anti-discrimination law, a judge has ruled.
Millions Headed For N.O. Schools
The Times-Picayune, Louisiana, December 12, 2007
Three national philanthropic organizations will announce a $17.5 million investment today to bolster public education in New Orleans, the largest private donations yet aimed at improving the city's post-Katrina public school system.
December 12, 2007
December 12, 2007
Report Finds Better Scores in New Crop of Teachers
New York Times, December 12, 2007
Teaching is attracting better-qualified people than it did just a few years ago, according to a report released Tuesday by the Educational Testing Service.
D.C. Charter Schools Gain 2,000 Students
D.C. Examiner, December 12, 2007
Enrollment in D.C.'s public charter schools is believed to be 2,000 higher than last year's, with almost half the schools registering more than their projected number of students and the other half below projections, based on preliminary reports from the charter system's board.
17th charter school gets closer to approval
Indianapolis Star, Indiana, December 12, 2007
An advisory board voted Tuesday to recommend that a Near-Northside charter school be approved by Mayor Bart Peterson.
Budget, Council Put Snags in Fenty's Plans
Washington Post, D.C., December 12, 2007
Fenty (D) and Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee announced at a morning news conference that they would delay a planned expansion of art, music and foreign language classes to help close a budget gap of more than $100 million.
One School Shows Prevention Requires More Than a Health Class
Washington Post, D.C., December 12, 2007
While students at the public charter elementary are learning basic skills, they are also being inoculated with heavy doses of self-respect, integrity, discipline, responsibility and teamwork.
Get It Together On Graduation Rates
TC Palm, Florida, December 12, 2007
Wildly different figures make it impossible to tell exactly how Florida high schools are performing.
Poll: Private Education Preferred
Peoria Journal Star, Illinois, December 12, 2007
A poll released Tuesday found that most Illinoisans would send their children to private, parochial or charter schools if they had the choice, according to an education think tank.
Charter Enrollment Up
The Detroit News, Michigan, December 12, 2007
Public districts feel the impact as more of Michigan's children transfer to alternative schools.
December 11, 2007
December 11, 1007
Got Bus? Transportation Is A Big Issue For Utah's Charter Schools
Deseret Morning News, Utah, December 11, 2007
The Center for Education Reform, a pro-charter school nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., gave Utah a C grade for its laws and policies regarding charter schools.
More Time In Class Equals Better Math Skills
USA Today, December 11, 2007
The idea that more time in school produces better results could get a small boost today with the release of international data from the Brookings Institution.
School Tests: Testing Has Value, But 'No Child' Should Be Kept In Perspective
Lansing State Journal, Michigan, December 11, 2007
The real concern with NCLB isn't with the concept of testing, but with how school districts are labeled and dealt with.
Charter Schools Not A Cure-All, Just An Option
Atlanta Journal Constitution, Georgia, December 11, 2007
In a second editorial expressing skepticism about the growth of charter schools in Georgia, the AJC editorial board continues to beat a dead horse with the proclamation that "Charter schools are not a panacea." (Dec. 9).
Living the ABCs of Running a School
Washington Post, D.C., December 11, 2007
The New Leaders for New Schools program is built on the idea that leadership like Nicholson's is essential to improving achievement at urban schools.
Charter Schools Safer, Quieter, Report Says
San Mateo Times, California, December 11, 2007
Charters are "quieter and less disruptive than traditional public schools" that serve students of similar backgrounds and have the same population size, according to the report by the National Charter School Research Project …
Online Education Vital For Wisconsin
Badger Herald, Wisconsin, December 11, 2007
In the state of Wisconsin, parents are allowed a great many options on how to educate their children from kindergarten through 12th grade.=
December 10, 2007
December 10, 2007
The battles over accountability, autonomy, fiscal equity and academic excellence continue in the weekend news roundup in today's Morning Shots. Oh, and mandating instruction on collective bargaining and the history of unions for Wisconsin's k-12 school children. There oughta be a law...
Closed Charters Revived Inside Public Schools
Voice of San Diego, California, December 10, 2007
San Diego schools have capitalized on charter closures, importing fizzled charters and one private school into public schools as special programs this year.
Getting Past 'No Child'
Washington Post, D.C., December 9, 2007
No Child Left Behind, supposedly an antidote to the "soft bigotry of low expectations," has instead spawned lowered standards.
In Gaps at School, Weighing Family Life
New York Times, December 9, 2007
The study, "The Family: America's Smallest School," suggests that a lot of the failure has to do with what takes place in the home...
Feds to Give States Slack on Education
Washington Post, D.C., December 8, 2007
The Bush administration on Friday granted new flexibility to states on how they track student progress under the No Child Left Behind education law.
Dropout-Prevention Program Sees to The Basics of Life
Washington Post, D.C., December 10, 2007
In the struggle to improve schools in the poorest neighborhoods, experts say no problem is more challenging than the high dropout rate.
Parents On Prowl For The Best High School
Columbus Dispatch, Ohio, December 10, 2007
In Franklin County, parents can choose from 31 private, religious and charter high schools, not to mention traditional public schools.
Charter Argues For Tax Funds
St. Petersburg Times, Florida, December 10, 2007
Dayspring Academy joins other charter schools across Florida that are taking a hard stance that as public schools, they are entitled to all aspects of public education funding including money for capital improvements.
Proposed School Funding Plan To Draw From State Taxes
D.C. Examiner, December 9, 2007
A proposed constitutional amendment that would dedicate a portion of state taxes and proceeds to fund Ohio schools is drawing praise from statewide education groups and open ears from lawmakers.
The Regulation Of The State's Charter Schools Is Way Too Loose
Orlando Sentinel, Florida, December 9, 2007
When parents turn to a Florida charter school to find a niche for their child, they might just as well be rolling the dice in a Vegas crap game.
Charter Schools Not A Panacea
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia, December 9, 2007
At the end of Harvey's impassioned speech, lawmakers were sitting up straight and declaring that the solution to Georgia's education woes were more inspired charter schools like Path.
A School Where Autistic Kids Aren't Alone
Star Tribune, Minnesota, December 10, 2007
A charter school that will serve students with autism-spectrum disorders in grades 6 to 10 is being hailed as a haven for teens with special needs -- and their families.
Charter Funding May Get Shake-Up
Desert Morning News, Utah, December 10, 2007
Charter schools and traditional district schools alike may not be pleased with draft legislation that would shake up how charters are funded, but lawmakers say it's a necessary change.
Villaraigosa Pushes School Partnership As Vote Nears
Los Angeles Times, California, December 10, 2007
Teachers and parents at seven low-performing middle and high schools will decide Tuesday whether to join Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in his effort to dramatically remake their schools.
A School Gets an F, and Parents Worry About What Comes Next
New York Times, December 9, 2007
The city's Department of Education had announced the previous day that P.S. 79 and four other institutions that had received an F on the Bloomberg administration's new school report cards would be closed.
Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmatic And Labor? Bill Would Require It
D.C. Examiner., December 9, 2007
The bill, by Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, would require every school board to incorporate the history of organized labor and the collective bargaining process into its curriculum.
Unions In Charters
Chicago Tribune, Illinois, December 9, 2007
Union schools create stability among staff reducing costs, keeping quality teachers while improving student scores.
Charter Schools Should Be Separate From Public Schools
Sheboygan Press, Wisconsin, December 9, 2007
The inclusion of public charter schools under the direct control of the Sheboygan Area School District detracts from the original intent of publicly supported schools in Wisconsin.
Unleash Online Schools
Wisconsin State Journal, December 8, 2007
The state Court of Appeals just handed the Legislature an important assignment: Update state laws governing public education to take advantage of the opportunities presented by online learning in virtual schools.
December 07, 2007
December 7, 2007
Principals’ Pay, Performance Gaining New Policy Attention
Education Week, Maryland, December 6, 2007
The spotlight that has focused on ways of measuring and rewarding teacher effectiveness may now be turning to school principals.
Charter School Moratorium
Review Journal, Nevada, December 7, 2007
State board decides not to handle its obligations Charter schools -- alternative schools run under government auspices -- are a baby step toward true education reform. They're not nearly as dramatic a break with the status quo as, say, tax credits that help parents afford to home-school or send their kids to private schools, instead of forcing them to subsidize a one-size-fits-all public school system they choose not to use.
Some Say No Child Left Behind Has Gone Too Far
Southeast Missourian, Missouri, December 7, 2007
Attempts to reauthorize No Child Left Behind have come to a near standstill, delayed by fervent opponents seeking a loosening of requirements and supporters trying to salvage the no-excuses backbone.
Archdiocese Forms Nonprofit To Help Catholic Schools Convert To Charters
D.C. Examiner, December 7, 2007
The Archdiocese of Washington on Thursday announced that a newly formed nonprofit agency will help seven D.C. Catholic schools apply to become public charter schools, a conversion parents and members of the local religious community have been fighting for months.
Teachers, Supporters To Protest City’s Proposed School Closures
D.C. Examiner, December 7, 2007
Teachers, social workers and parents from across the District will be rallying this morning to signal their displeasure with city leaders’ proposed closings of nearly two dozen elementary and middle schools next fall.
School Districts Gird For Charter Fight
St. Petersburg Times, Florida, December 7, 2007
School district officials around Florida believe local school boards - and only local school boards - should have the right to decide what charter schools operate in their counties.
Concerns Expressed Over Academy Building
Wyoming Tribune, Wyoming, December 7, 2007
Wyoming would have its fourth charter school if the Cheyenne Classical Academy is approved.
Best Charter In Pasadena
Pasadena Star-News, California, December 7, 2007
I am so delighted to be teaching at a school that is designed to truly meet the needs of students as individuals and not as numbers. Rhythms of the Village Charter High School is like no other school I have ever known.
Virtual Schools Offer Flexible Education
Duluth News Tribune, Minnesota, December 7, 2007
Operating as a charter school in partnership with Minnesota Transition School in Minneapolis, the academy opened in 2005 with two grade levels and an enrollment of eight students statewide, including one from Duluth.
A Blow To Innovation
Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin, December 6, 2007
Wisconsin kids may be locked out of the virtual schoolhouse after a state Court of Appeals decision Wednesday that threatens the future of online learning for public schoolchildren.
Too Much of a Good Thing? Depends on Whom You’re Asking.
U.S. News and World Report's Best High Schools 2008 list is out, and charter schools fill 11 of the top 100 slots . Charters represent 2 percent of the nation's public schools, but 4 percent of all high schools on USN&WR's list. Clearly, this sort of opportunity for excellence must be stopped - at least that's what the 'overworked' folks at the Nevada Board of Education are crying, citing an expected increase in charter applicants (because some local school boards have also balked at facilitating such expansion of education choices). It's a head-scratching spin on the concept of supply and demand: Increased demand? Cut off supply. Fortunately, Louisiana seems to operate under a more conventional algorithm - a state board of education committee there has recommended approval of 8 more charters for New Orleans, which, for the 2008-2009 school year, will make more than 50% of the city's public schools charter schools.
Posted by edspresso at 09:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)December 06, 2007
December 6, 2007
Charter Schools Make Strong Showing on America's Best High Schools List
Earthtimes, UK, December 6, 2007
Despite making up only two percent of the nation's public schools, charter schools made a statistically impressive showing on U.S. News & World Report's list of America's Best High Schools, on newsstands this week.
Usual Efforts to Raise Scores Have Weak Effect, Study Says
Washington Post, D.C., December 6, 2007
Common methods used to improve test scores in Maryland's chronically underperforming schools have had little effect, according to a report scheduled to be released today, but Prince George's County and other school systems have shown a willingness to try other approaches that could lead to a reversal of the downward trend.
No Child Should Ever Be Left Behind
Barre Montpelier Times Argus, Vermont, December 6, 2007
But in its zeal to place a one-size-fits-all system of measuring student achievement ….the No Child Left Behind Act as currently written does a grave disservice to teachers, parents, taxpayers and, most of all, our public school students.
Unions Launch Ad To Fight School Plan
Washington Post, D.C., December 6, 2007
The unions representing employees of D.C. Public Schools will launch a $20,000 radio advertising campaign today against legislation that would give schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee the authority to fire nonunion workers in the central office.
Blaine Haunts Plan For A Charter School In Harlem
Chicago Tribune, Illinois, December 6, 2007
Now he wants to create a charter school—a public school enjoying considerable autonomy from, among other burdens, teachers unions. It would be affiliated with his New Horizon Church. But New York's Constitution has a Blaine Amendment.
Detente In Denver
Rocky Mountain News, Colorado, December 6, 2007
Appearing before the board of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, the principal and other representatives of Bruce Randolph School asked for something that's apparently never before been formally sought in Denver Public Schools: freedom.
Statewide School Tests Still Getting Mixed Grades A Decade Later
D.C. Examiner, December 5, 2007
More than a decade after Colorado took a pioneering step to set up statewide school tests, the process is getting mixed grades from parents and lawmakers who aren't convinced exams are the best way to improve education.
Soothing The Magnet Panic
Los Angeles Times, California, December 6, 2007
For L.A. parents who want their children to go to a magnet school or want a permit to send them to a school other than their home school, December can be full of angst.
Charters Support Accountability
2TheAdvocate, Louisiana, December 6, 2007
The Louisiana Charter School Association and other charter movement supporters applaud your call for accountability for the academic performance and the operational practices of charter schools as well as for any school that accepts public funding.
BESE Panel Backs 8 New Charters
The Times-Picayune, Louisiana, December 6, 2007
A state board of education committee recommended the approval Wednesday of eight charter schools to open in New Orleans next year, including the state's first single-sex charters.
Looking For A Good High School? Charter Ranks With Best In U.S.
News Journal, Delaware, December 6, 2007
The Charter School of Wilmington has another national accolade -- among the 10 best charter high schools in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report magazine.
Bill Would Limit Cybercharter Schools
Intelligencer Journal, Pennsylvania, December 6, 2007
A state House committee has approved legislation that would establish a statewide cybercharter school tuition and impose new restrictions on how the online schools operate.
Ruling Could Shut Down State's Virtual Schools
Appleton Post Crescent, Wisconsin, December 6, 2007
Online education programs for thousands of Wisconsin students, including one in Appleton, could be shut down after a court ordered the state Wednesday to stop funding a virtual school, an advocacy group warned.
Center To Help Struggling Schools
D.C. Examiner., December 6, 2007
Baltimore- Principals at schools struggling to boost test scores can soon call one center that will help them revamp curriculum and evaluate teachers instead of having to call several state offices looking for help.
Teaching Kids Whole-Life Skills
Washington Post, D.C., December 6, 2007
Using a holistic approach to sex education, the program, known as the Carrera model, has been shown to cut in half the rate of teen pregnancy among participants.
December 05, 2007
December 5, 2007
Putting A Curious Eye On A High School Ranking System
New York Times, December 5, 2007
Whatever this list represents in terms of journalism or public service, it must be understood also as an exercise in business…..
Principal Compensation: More Research Needed On A Promising Reform
Center For American Progress, DC, December 4, 2007
School reforms and improvements depend crucially on the implementation of strategies at the school level…… the successful implementation of these strategies in turn depends largely on principal leadership.
State Superintendent Praised On Agency’s Reform
D.C. Examiner, December 5, 2007
The state agency’s transition, on track to cost about $9 million, began on Oct. 1 and included the transfer of employees from D.C. Public Schools and other agencies into the state office, along with responsibilities previously handled by those offices.
Public Offers Its View On Charter School
Wyoming Tribune, December 5, 2007
Most of those who spoke to the school board Tuesday night gave a thumbs up to starting a charter school here.
Letter Targets Role Of Charter Agency
Florida Today, December 5, 2007
Brevard County School Board member Larry Hughes wants a new state agency to know that it can't just unilaterally approve new charter schools -- and then expect school districts around the state to step in and provide essentials such as lunches and transportation for the charters' students.
Graduation Rates: Little To Celebrate
Miami Herald, Florida, December 5, 2007
Accepting the state's figures, we're supposed to be pleased that roughly one-fourth of Florida high school students aren't getting diplomas.
An Uneven Field For State Charter Schools
Daily Herald, Illinois, December 5, 2007
Charter public schools have been among the brightest lights on the state's educational landscape for the last decade.
Charter Schools Offer Alternatives
Sheboygan Press, Wisconsin, December 5, 2007
Keaton, 17, is one-third of a senior class of three at Face to Face, a charter high school of two dozen students that blends online and small-group learning and was launched with a $150,000 grant from the state Department of Public Instruction.
Special Ed Kids Attending Charter Schools in Higher Numbers
WNYC, New York, December 5, 2007
New York City has opened about 200 small new schools since Mayor Bloomberg took office. Many education advocates believe these smaller and more personalized schools are good environments for special education students,
December 04, 2007
December 4, 2007
U.S. Students Fall Short In Math and Science
Education Week, Maryland, December 4, 2007
Teenagers in a majority of industrialized nations taking part in a leading international exam showed greater scientific understanding than students in the United States
State Researchers Look At Teacher Pay And Education Progress
D.C. Examiner, December 4, 2007
Teacher experience, and not advanced degrees, has a greater effect on how well students succeed, a new state report says.
Effort For Education As Campaign Issue Fights For Traction
Education Week, Maryland, December 3, 2007
The campaign, dubbed Ed in '08 and announced last spring, was billed as an attempt to make K-12 education a top issue in the presidential election, and to help shape that debate.
Angry Parents Question School Closings
Washington Post, D.C., December 4, 2007
D.C. education leaders encountered a hostile crowd of parents and community leaders in Ward 5 last night as they tried for the first time to explain to residents Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee's proposal to close 23 schools.
Catholic Charters A Good Idea
Washington Times, D.C., December 4, 2007
The holidays are here just in time, because seven of the District's inner-city Catholic schools are in need of a Christmas miracle.
State Senators Hear Advice On School Debt And Takeovers
Alameda Times-Star, California, December 4, 2007
While the state department of education was charged with fixing Oakland Unified's fiscal problems, several speakers told the committee that the department seems to have set its sights on education reform instead.
Eight New Charters Endorsed For N.O.
The Times-Picayune, Louisiana, December 4, 2007
State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek will recommend to the state board of education that it grant eight new charters for schools in New Orleans, according to nonprofit groups that received a confirmation e-mail Friday.
December 03, 2007
December 3, 2007
Last Charter School Defends Its Performance
Baltimore Sun, Maryland, December 2, 2007
Jeanne Allen of the Center for Education Reform said school districts - especially those in states like Maryland that she considers to have weak charter school laws - have a pattern of "nitpicking" and "beating down" charter school administrators.
Effort To Limit Junk Food In Schools Faces Hurdles
New York Times, December 2, 2007
Federal lawmakers are considering the broadest effort ever to limit what children eat: a national ban on selling candy, sugary soda and salty, fatty food in school snack bars, vending machines and cafeteria lines.
Closing The Achievement Gap
Los Angeles Times, California, December 2, 2007
Indeed, the achievement gap is at least in part the result of an "instruction gap," and closing it will require re-imagining the ways we evaluate, reward and deploy teachers.
Charter, Public Schools In Funding Dispute
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, December 3, 2007
The Missouri department of education is investigating whether millions of dollars are owed to area charter schools — and whether that money ended up, instead, in the coffers of the St. Louis Public Schools.
Let The Chancellor Lead
Washington Post, D.C., December 2, 2007
For those who believe that children in the nation's capital are entitled to more than the illusion of an education, the best hope lies in her success.
New Hope For Urban Students
Indianapolis Star, December 2, 2007
I've heard the arguments for and against charter schools. These are alternative public schools that operate under a "charter" separate from a local school board.
Teachers Draft Reform Plan
Los Angeles Times, Louisiana, December 3, 2007
Teachers and parents would hire and fire principals. No supervisors from downtown would tell anyone -- neither teachers nor students -- what to wear.
St. Hope Deserves Extension Of Charter
Sacramento Bee, California, December 2, 2007
Students and their parents love Sacramento High School, which St. Hope runs under a special agreement with the school district. But the district's administrators, its board and, especially, its teachers union, seem to want St. Hope to go away.
Persuasive School-Choice Voice
Charleston Post and Courier, South Carolina, December 2, 2007
Rep. Clyburn and Dr. Rex have more in common than a strong belief in public-school choice. They're both Democrats.
Moratorium On Approval Of New Nevada Charter Schools Imposed
Las Vegas Sun, Nevada, December 1, 2007
A state panel has imposed a temporary freeze on the approval of new charter schools in Nevada, citing inadequate staff to monitor a growing number of such schools.
