On March 22 the Missouri State Board of Education voted to remove the Saint Louis Public Schools’ provisional accreditation. The decision hands control of the district to a transitional panel consisting of three members appointed separately by Gov. Matt Blunt, Saint Louis Mayor Francis Slay, and the president of the Board of Aldermen. The takeover will be effective at least through 2013; the elected school board will remain in place, but it will no longer have any control over the district’s operations.

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Edupundits have chosen very complex subject matter for their investigations and reports. They study and write about dropouts, vouchers, textbooks, teacher selection and training, school governance, budgets, curricula in all subjects, union contracts, school management issues, and many many more.

More “Edupundit Myopia (Will Fitzhugh)”

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.

Vocational education can keep students hooked on school - Sen. Jack Scott, a career educator, remembers when his daughter broke the news that she was going to marry a commercial fisherman. "This guy was not too happy," the Altadena Democrat says, referring to himself.

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.

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.

Charter school closes the gap - To do well at at Amistad Academy — where students clad in navy and khaki uniforms walk in single file, college pennants hang in rows above lockers, and the hallways abound with inspirational slogans reading “whatever it takes” and “success starts here and now” — you must learn to “sweat the small stuff.”

Give all students an equal chance - Editorial: The state’s highest court earlier this month heard arguments about whether charter schools in Baltimore City should receive the same funding per student as traditional public schools. We would like to ask the court a different question: Should parents who send their children to charter schools — which are public schools — pay the same taxes as those who go to traditional public schools?

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.

Charter school plans hit snag - The group trying to start a charter school in downtown Charleston hit another speed bump in its quest to use space at the former Rivers Middle School building. Organizers of the Charleston Charter High School for Math and Science asked the district to sign an agreement that would have let them use the gym, cafeteria and land behind the school to set up trailers.

Nevada lawmakers consider changes to charter schools - As the popularity of charter schools increases, the state needs to make sure the schools are well-run and held accountable, lawmakers were told Wednesday. The Senate Human Resources and Education Committee voted unanimously to pass AB334, sponsored by Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, which tightens several regulations regarding charter schools.

Schools to Hire Accountants To Help With Fiscal Problems - District officials announced yesterday that they will hire an accounting firm to help the public school system fix financial problems that threaten the city’s overall fiscal health. After a private meeting with D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi that lasted about 30 minutes, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) and Board of Education President Robert C. Bobb said the school system had agreed to bring in a firm as soon as today.

Charter schools get the word out - Charter school supporters are taking their information metrowide. About 40,000 Twin Cities families with school-age children are getting booklets in the mail with information about area charter schools. The booklets represent a new collaboration of 54 metro charter schools and the Center for School Change. Last year separate booklets were sent to families in the east and west metro areas.

Speak up for charters, Mr. Mayor - Editorial: Mayor Adrian Fenty is scheduled to announce tomorrow more details on his education plan, which, approved last week by the D.C. Council, would effectively change every aspect of school governance since LBJ was in the White House. We hope the mayor voices support for charter schools.

Girls school founders plan public meeting - Founders of a charter school for girls being planned for the Norcross area in 2008 will share their ideas with parents and educators Friday. The community seminar on Ivy Preparatory Academy will be at 7 p.m. in the main auditorium at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Gwinnett Drive, in Lawrenceville.

No Child Left Behind foes fear $600M loss - Lawmakers agreed Wednesday that while it might be a good idea for Arizona to opt out of mandates required by the No Child Left Behind act, giving up more than half a billion dollars in federal funding is not a good idea.

Schools are meeting Husted’s challenge on charters - The city school district will offer its vacant school buildings to charter schools, board President Yvonne Isaacs said. In fact, she said Tuesday, the district already has done so as required by Ohio law.

More CPS graduates going on to college - The number of Chicago public school graduates going on to college is on a steady uptick, rising from 44 percent to 46 percent to 48 percent over the last three years, CPS officials revealed Wednesday. Even so, the college enrollment rate of CPS grads is still well below the national average of 64 percent.

Board denies renewal of E. Liberty charter school - The Pittsburgh school board voted last night to shut down an East Liberty charter school.  Officials cited financial concerns, a lack of criminal background checks on employees and other problems with Renaissance Academy of Pittsburgh Alternative of Hope, an elementary school.

Vicki Phillips to step down as Portland school superintendent - Fighting back tears and praising the community’s commitment to education, Portland Schools Superintendent Vicki Phillips announced Wednesday afternoon that she has accepted a job heading up U.S. education grants for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the most powerful education jobs in the nation.

Charter school for at-risk youth announces layoffs - An Austin charter school for at-risk youth recently laid off nearly 15 percent of its staff because of lower than expected student attendance rates that affected the amount of money it received from the state, school officials said.

South Australian teachers are outraged by the website RateMyTeachers.com.

The site asks students to anonymously rate the performance of teachers in categories titled: Easiness, Helpfulness, Clarity, Popularity and Overall Quality. So, why are teachers outraged? What is the problem with sites that rate performance?

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