School Choice Showdown continues in UT, Parental involvement still not where it should be, Charters grow in CA and more…

Plan to Use Cellphones as a Reward for Good Schoolwork Begins to Emerge
New York Times, NY, November 1, 2007
In New York City public schools, cellphones are considered contraband. But free cellphone airtime could be a reward for high-performing students if the city adopts the newest idea from the Education Department’s chief equality officer.

Wis. Teacher Protests No Child Law
New York Times, NY, November 1, 2007
A middle school teacher is protesting the federal No Child Left Behind law by refusing to administer a standardized test to his eighth-grade students.

Parental Involvement Has Disparities
The Associated Press, National, October 31, 2007
Parents are getting more involved in raising their children, but there are still significant disparities, depending on family income and education levels, the government reported Wednesday.

Forum advises suits to foster school choice
Columbia Tribune, MO, October 31, 2007
If school districts can sue a state in hopes of increasing education funding, parents should be able to sue schools that aren’t providing an adequate education. That was the message a group of school choice advocates …

Slow to Organize, Charters Do Unions Their Own Way
Voice of San Diego.org, CA, November 1, 2007
As dozens of new charter schools sprout in California, teachers’ unions are making halting efforts to bring them into the fold, and to restore their own ranks.

Utah’s Schools Showdown
Washington Post, D.C., November 1, 2007
There, teachers unions, whose idea of progress is preservation of the status quo, are waging an expensive and meretricious campaign to overturn the right of parents to choose among competing schools, public and private, for the best education for their children.

Four Inland charter schools among record 103 opened statewide
The Press-Enterprise, CA, November 1, 2007
A record 103 charter schools, including four in the Inland area, opened this school year across California, according to an announcement Wednesday by the California Charter Schools Association.

Work together for school choice
Charleston Post Courier, SC, November 1, 2007
State Education Superintendent Jim Rex and Gov. Mark Sanford are both strong proponents of expanding school choice.

Providing new options
West Central Tribune, MN, November 1, 2007
People in Clarkfield, population 944, are accustomed to driving to larger towns when they’re looking for competition between retail stores.