In the latest chapter of the Washington paycheck protection case, we have a brand-new example of the lengths to which the union will go to cling to dues cash. 

Susan Wiggs, a Vancouver school teacher, has been attempting since August 2005 to divert her union dues to a charity that fights sex trafficking. Under state and federal law, teachers and other workers can opt out of union membership by claiming religious exemption, and can send their union dues to a charitable organization. Susan Wiggs’ local union, however, has refused to send her dues to the charity of her choice.

Wiggs’ case against the Vancouver Education Association (VEA) was heard before the Public Employment Relations Commission on February 26, 2007, in Olympia. While the Vancouver Education Association agrees that she qualifies for religious objector status, it has refused to accommodate her charity selection. Wiggs would like her dues to go to Shared Hope International, which works "to prevent and eradicate sex trafficking and slavery through education and public awareness," according to its website.

VEA Executive Director Roy Maier refused, saying the organization was "not acceptable" to the VEA. Although Susan provided the union with documentation of Shared Hope’s non-profit, non-sectarian status, it has continued to block her from sending her union dues to Shared Hope.

That’s right, folks: an organization fighting sex trafficking and slavery is deemed unacceptable.  While I do enjoy watching a teachers’ union publicly shoot itself in the foot, withholding aid to such a universally worthy organization really is a bit much.  Aside from the union itself (and, of course, assorted allies), are there any charities acceptable to the VEA?  I wish I could say I’m surprised, but given that the state union is trying to do an end-run around SCOTUS, I’m really not.  

This week the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test got underway.  As seems to be customary these days when teachers really want to wring some extra performance out of students, teachers were armed and ready with all sorts of incentives (although I think this is screaming out for a caption contest). 

What is most disappointing is that one of the proven methods for raising test scores–namely, the state’s A+ Opportunity Scholarship Program–is no longer a reality.  While in existence, it helped improve test scores for students in public schools already facing voucher competition and those threatened by vouchers.  Most of all, disadvantaged children stood to benefit the most: for third-graders in 2001, 70 percent of whites, 46 percent of Hispanics, and 36 percent of blacks scored at or above grade level in reading on the FCAT.  By 2005, that had improved to 78 percent of whites, 61 percent of Hispanics, and 52 percent of blacks. 

With A+ now shut down by an upside-down court decision, I don’t think the next round of FCAT scores–especially for schools which desperately need to improve–will be anything to write home about.

Eduwonk mentioned this a few weeks ago, and it’s finally come to fruition: Diane Ravitch and Deborah Meier are blogging together on Bridging Differences, hosted at Education Week next door to Alexander Russo, who offers "congrats and condolences."  I think a long-term discussion between opposing viewpoints would probably do the edudebate some good.  

Cincinnati Enquirer: CPS hindering vouchers, state says

More than 11,500 Cincinnati Public School students are eligible to receive state-paid vouchers to attend private schools next year, but state officials say that Cincinnati Public officials are hindering them from getting the word out.

The district is the only one in the state that has refused to provide to the state the addresses of students who are eligible for tuition vouchers.

This Saturday and next, the Ohio Department of Education is conducting free parent information sessions in Cincinnati to describe how students attending 27 Cincinnati schools that are in “academic watch” or “academic emergency” are eligible to receive Ohio EdChoice Scholarships to attend private schools.

State officials say they were prevented from sending out postcards with that information because Cincinnati Public Schools officials refuse to provide addresses of families of students in the eligible schools.

Boston Herald: City, teachers union agree on contract, avert strike

The city and the Boston Teachers Union agreed to a new contract yesterday, possibly averting a legal crisis for the union as it faced hefty court fines over its planned strike vote.

“Now that we’ve reached an agreement with the School Committee, a discussion of a strike would be a moot point,” said BTU spokesman Steve Crawford.

A Suffolk Superior Court judge found the union in contempt of court for voting two weeks ago to postpone its strike vote. The union had planned to vote on a strike today. Associate Justice Bruce R. Henry fined the BTU $30,000 for refusing to rescind its last vote by 2 p.m. yesterday, and ordered the union to pay the state $10,000 for each additional day it refuses to do so.

While he said the issue is “moot,” Crawford would not say how the union will respond to the judge’s order.

Washington Post: Most on Council Back Fenty’s Takeover Plan

At the last of seven public hearings yesterday on Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s plan to take over the D.C. public schools, a majority of D.C. Council members voiced approval for the proposal, but several also indicated support for giving the Board of Education more power than Fenty (D) intended.

Several council members suggested that they favor amendments that could allow the board, instead of the mayor, to appoint a chief state education officer and a school ombudsman.

Fenty’s testimony brought a series of exhaustive public hearings to a close. "I must say that I’m glad that it’s about to be over," said council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1). "It’s time. It really is time to act. No need for further studies. . . . Now, it’s up to the council. Let’s go."

La. Officials Selective in Granting 9 More Charters for New Orleans (Edweek.org registration required) - Louisiana officials were pretty picky this month in approving new charter schools to help accommodate the fast-growing student population in New Orleans, analysts say. They gave a conditional OK to just nine charters to open for the coming academic year, out of 17 formal applications for 28 schools.

Charter school bill overhauled - Colorado Senate Republicans gutted a bill Tuesday that they feared would curtail the growth of charter schools, teaming with inner-city Democrats to turn it into a measure that, instead, could enable creation of more charter schools.

Flap Over UEA’s ‘Monopolistic’ Ways Fuels Utah Bill (Edweek.org registration required) - An affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and a nonunion teachers’ group are waging a fight in the Utah legislature against what they say is the Utah Education Association’s “monopolistic” hold over schools that is keeping other groups from reaching out to potential members.

CPS hindering vouchers, state says - More than 11,500 Cincinnati Public School students are eligible to receive state-paid vouchers to attend private schools next year, but state officials say that Cincinnati Public officials are hindering them from getting the word out.

House decides to stick with No Child Left Behind - The No Child Left Behind Act may not be popular, but the money attached to it trumped plans to reject the federal program in Montana.

City, teachers union agree on contract, avert strike - The city and the Boston Teachers Union agreed to a new contract yesterday, possibly averting a legal crisis for the union as it faced hefty court fines over its planned strike vote.

Choice measures - Letter to the editor from Morgan Brown, USDOE deputy secretary: Any way you measure it, George W. Bush has done more for school choice than any other president.

Task force to vote on ways to improve science education - A Kentucky statewide task force will vote today on seven proposals to improve math and science education.

More oversight for schools? - Concerned about the Philadelphia School District’s financial problems, City Controller Alan Butkovitz said yesterday he would seek legislation to give his office greater authority to audit school finances.

Voucher changes get preliminary OK from Senate - The Utah Senate Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would make some minor changes to the Parents for Choice in Education Act, the education voucher law that passed earlier this session.

Autistic children would receive school vouchers under proposal - Texas would create a school voucher program for more than 17,000 autistic children under legislation the chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee is expected to offer today.

Senate backs Indian education office - A bill to set in law South Dakota’s Office of Indian Education won a unanimous vote in a Senate committee Tuesday.

Multiple-choice opinions on schools’ for-profit future - Officials from the School District of Philadelphia wanted to know how Edison Schools Inc. is doing at the 21 public schools it manages. For the 200 parents, grandparents, teachers and local activists who attended a community meeting last night at Huey School in West Philadelphia, there were many different answers to that question.

Big changes seen under No Child Left Behind - The federal No Child Left Behind law has prompted huge changes at schools in Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, reforms that are emblematic of how President Bush’s landmark education policy will influence schools across the country in the years to come.

Most on Council Back Fenty’s Takeover Plan - At the last of seven public hearings yesterday on Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s plan to take over the D.C. public schools, a majority of D.C. Council members voiced approval for the proposal, but several also indicated support for giving the Board of Education more power than Fenty (D) intended.

L.A. Board of Education adopts discipline policy aimed at reducing suspensions - The Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday adopted a new, districtwide discipline policy aimed at decreasing the number of students suspended and kept after school for misbehaving.

Justices Hear Arguments on Autism-Case Dispute - The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard an appeal that will clarify the situation for the parents of millions of children with disabilities and for the public school districts that are obliged to serve them under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.

UPDATE:

Officials expect few changes in school choice - A bill that has been submitted to the [South Carolina] Senate education committee for review would make it easier for students to transfer among public schools and would save parents thousands of dollars in tuition they pay to send their children to other school districts.

New prep academy offers school choice - In August, a non-profit organization known for its academic excellence will open its third charter school in Mesa.  

District withholding info out of privacy concerns - The district’s refusal has hindered efforts to contact the more than 11,500 Cincinnati students who could receive the state-funded vouchers next year, education department spokesman J.C. Benton said. 

New policy will give small S.F. schools flexibility - Supporters said the new policy was a significant achievement that will open the doors for school choice in communities across the city. 

Parents Pull Children Out Of School, Protest TAKS - Angela Biddle got fed up. Her son came home from school one day with a note that said if he didn’t attend state-mandated tutorial sessions for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test, charges would be filed. 

Board okays Hammond boundaries - Over the objections of parents worried about neighborhood cohesiveness and dangerous commutes, the Hillsborough County School Board unanimously approved attendance boundaries Tuesday for an elementary scheduled to open in the northwest part of the county. 

Ga. Teacher Rules the Old School Way - Sometimes finding the key to unlock a child’s mind takes a special type of person. And, when their minds open, it’s like night turning into day, as Peggy Shivers knows all too well.  

School Board OKs Merit Pay Plan - Marianne Capoziello, president of the Polk Education Association, called the board’s decision to go with a plan based on student achievement, ‘disrespectful.’

Principal Gets Flak for Holding Ethnically Separate Assemblies - An East Bay High School principal is taking some heat for holding separate assemblies for ethnic minorities to announce state test score results.

Teacher Ratio Proposal Pulled From Education Reform Bill - The Baldacci administration is withdrawing a proposal to change the student teacher ratio in Maine’s school funding formula.

Schoolchildren Left Behind - Opinion: You think you hate your job? Imagine working for the National Assessment of Educational Progress at the U.S. Department of Education, which releases periodic reports on the state of education in America.

Government `solutions’ in education just make things worse - Opinion: As if public education weren’t heinous enough with the useless standardized testing of all students, now the federal Commission on No Child Left Behind is urging the use of these test results to evaluate teacher performance.

Study: School staffing shifts too drastic - For many teachers and principals at Oakland’s most struggling schools, school reform has meant looking for a new job.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Grades States On Education - (Edweek.org subscription required) With a new and highly critical report card offering a business perspective on the effectiveness of state education systems, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today weighed in with a prescription for more innovative, efficient, and better-performing schools.

Randi’s Rent-A-Rally - Editorial: Scores of elected officials, many of whom know better, will be on hand, along with a bought-and-paid-for chorus of false reformers - all to dance to the tunes of Randi Weingarten of the teachers’ union, who has been trying to derail real reform since Mayor Mike wrested control of the schools from the educrats some five years ago.

IU Study: Students Are Bored in High School; Seek Attention - A study released by Indiana University shows that two out of every 3 students in high school say they are bored in class.

Dramatic rise in California schools falling behind on ‘No Child’ goals - A new study released today shows that only 10 out of hundreds of low-scoring California schools facing severe consequences under No Child Left Behind have improved enough to get off of a state watch list this year.

House votes to stick with No Child Left Behind - The No Child Left Behind Act may not be popular, but the money attached to it trumped plans to reject the federal program [in Montana].

A Bad Report Card - New York Times Editorial: The news from American high schools is not good.

Firing staff isn’t best solution for ‘failing’ schools, study finds - Schools forced to reorganize because of poor performance under the U.S. No Child Left Behind law are more likely to improve if they change teaching practices rather than firing staff, according to a study in California.

Teachers, School Employees Found With Criminal Records - Pennsylvania requires a criminal check on teachers before they are hired, but once they’re on the payroll, they never get checked.

Admission rules are clarified for German-immersion school - A San Diego charter school that offers a rare German language immersion program can continue to give preference to German-speaking students who apply to the campus, the school board decided yesterday.

Some Immigrant High Schoolers Receive a Lesson in Disappointment - Some immigrant families in New York City are expressing a sense of being betrayed after high school locations abruptly changed and students couldn’t apply elsewhere.