In a recent editorial board meeting with the Milwaukee Journal, Democratic Presidential frontrunner Barack Obama reiterated his support of charter schools but offered skepticism over the value of school vouchers - but “if [vouchers work], whatever my preconception, you do what’s best for kids.” Vouchers do work, as Dan Lips points out. Ultimately, Obama concludes, “I will not allow my predispositions to stand in the way of making sure that our kids can learn. We’re losing several generations of kids and something has to be done.”

Whitney Tilson offers coverage of the back-peddling follow-up response from Obama’s campaign (as well as links to the video and transcript of the Journal’s original interview with Obama). Even the United Federation of Teachers, although it’s thrown its hat in the ring for Hillary, is trying to recant Obama’s words by proxy, even as they denounce his support of merit pay. But based on editorials in the New York Sun and Washington Post this past weekend, they won’t be unringing that bell any time soon.

In a recent editorial board meeting with the Milwaukee Journal, Democratic Presidential frontrunner Barack Obama reiterated his support of charter schools but offered skepticism over the value of school vouchers - but "if [vouchers work], whatever my preconception, you do what’s best for kids." Vouchers do work, as Dan Lips points out. Ultimately, Obama concludes, "I will not allow my predispositions to stand in the way of making sure that our kids can learn. We’re losing several generations of kids and something has to be done."

Whitney Tilson offers coverage of the back-peddling follow-up response from Obama’s campaign (as well as links to the video and transcript of the Journal’s original interview with Obama). Even the United Federation of Teachers, although it’s thrown its hat in the ring for Hillary, is trying to recant Obama’s words by proxy, even as they denounce his support of merit pay. But based on editorials in the New York Sun and Washington Post this past weekend, they won’t be unringing that bell any time soon.

In a recent editorial board meeting with the Milwaukee Journal, Democratic Presidential frontrunner Barack Obama reiterated his support of charter schools but offered skepticism over the value of school vouchers - but "if [vouchers work], whatever my preconception, you do what’s best for kids." Vouchers do work, as Dan Lips points out. Ultimately, Obama concludes, "I will not allow my predispositions to stand in the way of making sure that our kids can learn. We’re losing several generations of kids and something has to be done."

Whitney Tilson offers coverage of the back-peddling follow-up response from Obama’s campaign (as well as links to the video and transcript of the Journal’s original interview with Obama). Even the United Federation of Teachers, although it’s thrown its hat in the ring for Hillary, is trying to recant Obama’s words by proxy, even as they denounce his support of merit pay. But based on editorials in the New York Sun and Washington Post this past weekend, they won’t be unringing that bell any time soon.

Hawaii Education Law Earns D Grade
Hawaii Reporter, HI, February 21, 2008
Hawaii’s charter school law earned a D grade and ranks 35th out of the 41 laws across the country, according to an annual analysis of state charter school laws issued by the Washington D.C.-based Center for Education Reform (CER).

Ed Secretary Says Nontraditional Methods Can Help Fill Teacher Vacancies
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, February 22, 2008
Filling teacher vacancies will require using nontraditional methods, U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings told members of the Missouri State Board of Education on Thursday.

Class-Size Reduction of Limited Value on Achievement Gap, Study Finds
Education Week, February 21, 2008
But while shrinking the number of students in a class can lead to higher test scores overall, it might not necessarily reduce the achievement gaps that exist between students in a given classroom, a new study suggests.

School-Freedom Bill Gains Support
Denver Post, CO, February 22, 2008
A panel of Colorado lawmakers Thursday unanimously backed what is perhaps the most-watched education legislation of the year, a bill that would let clusters of schools break from district rules and state law to form "innovation zones."

Mayor To Charters: Relax, ‘You’re Safe’
Indianapolis Star, IN, February 22, 2008
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on Thursday voiced his strongest support yet for the charter school system advanced by his predecessor.

Funding Equity For Charters
Charleston Post Courier, SC, February 22, 2008
Charter schools have become an important component of public education in South Carolina, but getting a charter under way can be daunting, in part, because of funding inequities.

A Charter Lifeline: Education Committee Throws A Rope
The Union Leader, NH, February 22, 2008
Thanks in part to persuasive arguments from parents who have children in the state’s 10 charter schools, the House Education Committee voted 12-2 on Wednesday to give charters more money to keep them from closing.

State Officials Ponder Charter Schools’ Future
Las Vegas Review - Journal, NV, February 22, 2008
As legislators examine ways to cope with the state’s 22 charter schools and facilitate the opening of new ones, they may consider creating a new entity to oversee what essentially has become Nevada’s 18th system of public schools.

Spellings: Naming Dangerous Schools under NCLB ‘Not Very Successful’
NTV, NE, February 20, 2008
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings says efforts to identify dangerous schools under the federal No Child Left Behind law have not been successful

More Time for Math and Reading Equals Less for Other Subjects, Study Finds
Education Week, February 20, 2008
Most of the nation's elementary schools have added at least 75 minutes of instruction time in reading and mathematics each week - and often twice that amount - in the five years since the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act, but many did so…

Charter Students Outperform Their DCPS Peers
D.C. Examiner, February 21, 2008
Re: "Study gives D.C. charter system poor marks for at-risk students," Feb. 14. I was disappointed and disheartened by this story, which did a disservice to Examiner readers.

Smart Options
Columbus Dispatch, OH, February 21, 2008
Skipping some of high school to take college courses isn't for every teenager, and Gov. Ted Strickland's proposed Seniors to Sophomores initiative won't change that. But for those who are ready, the program could provide a higher-ed head start, as well as a golden financial opportunity.

Lawmaker Wants To Limit Charter Schools Expansion
MyFox Saint Louis, MO, February 20, 2008
Efforts to expand the number of charter schools in St. Louis city could hit a brick wall this summer. A local lawmaker wants to limit the expansion.

Charter Schools Eye State Funds
Portsmouth Herald News, NH, February 21, 2008
The state's free-standing public charter schools cleared a big hurdle Wednesday in their fight for enough state funding to stay in business come fall.

Save Charter Schools
Concord Monitor, NH, February 21, 2008
All children in this state deserve an appropriate education within the public school system.

Education Reform Attacked
Louisville Courier-Journal, KY, February 21, 2008
It has been state Senate Majority Leader Dan Kelly's long-term mission to sabotage the nationally praised education reform program that emerged from the 1990 General Assembly and remains one of the state legislature's historic achievements.

Charter-School Bill Filed: Regaining The 'Promised Land'
Bluegrass Institute, KY, February 20, 2008
A school-choice bill filed Tuesday by Rep. Stan Lee would add Kentucky to a growing list of states with charter schools.

When 'Unequal' Is Fair Treatment
Education Week, February 20, 2008
By dividing the Montgomery County, Md., district into two zones, and addressing needs in both, its leaders are conquering achievement gaps.