FL Supreme Court weighs down on vouchers (New York Times), What if Ohio treated charters and traditional public schools equally? (Columbus Dispatch), GA wants more State oversight of public schools (Atlanta Journal Constitution), and more in today’s Morning Shots.

Another Lost Opportunity For Education Reform?
Muncie Star Press, IN, September 4, 2008
The public schools will continue to suffer mediocrity until state and federal policymakers understand that American public education is over-regulated and over-politicized.

Teachers Association Wades Gingerly Into Republican Waters
National Journal, DC, September 3, 2008
While not quite the political equivalent of entering the lion’s den, the National Education Association has a notable presence at this week’s Republican National Convention in an attempt to burnish its bipartisan credentials and show members it is not an unofficial arm of the Democratic Party.

Court Blocks Florida Ballot Measures Intended to Help School Vouchers
New York Times, NY, September 4, 2008
Two constitutional amendments intended to help Florida’s school voucher programs withstand legal challenges cannot appear on the November ballot, the State Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

Ga. Wants Power To Fix Schools
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, September 4, 2008
Upset about his lack of authority in Clayton County, Gov. Sonny Perdue is looking at a possible change to the state constitution to allow Georgia to intervene more with troubled school systems.

Education Reform Program Stops at YSU
Youngstown Vindicator, OH, September 4, 2008
The Rev. Gary Johnston of Youngstown Christian School asked that any reform plan for public education not leave out the charter, nonpublic schools which represent 213,000 children in Ohio.

What if…
Columbus Dispatch, OH, September 3, 2008
Two Ohio charter schools will shut their doors for good next spring, the first casualties of a new law targeting chronically failing schools…. What if traditional public schools had to meet the same requirements?

Panel Backs Leaving Schools Under the Mayor
New York Times, NY, September 4, 2008
A commission appointed by the city’s public advocate recommends in a report scheduled for release on Thursday that the state law giving the mayor control over New York’s public schools be renewed, but amended to place more limits on City Hall’s power.

Delaware Should Give Its Own Conduit Bonds to Our Charter Schools
The News Journal, DE, September 4, 2008
Conduit bond financing is an Internal Revenue Code program that allows nonprofits, particularly charter schools, to use government interest rates to raise capital through the sale of bonds.

New Charter School The Pride of Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, September 4, 2008
Indeed, charter schools are gaining popularity in Camden, one of the country’s poorest cities that also has low-performing schools.

Local School Choice: Who Wins?
Cape Cod Times, MA, September 4, 2008
As classes get under way this week, at least 600 Cape public school students will not attend in their own districts. They will instead opt for a neighboring, or more distant public school at no cost to their families.

More Students In Private Schools, Fewer In Public
Jackson Sun, TN, September 4, 2008
Four private schools in Jackson and Madison County have increased enrollment this year, while enrollment in the public school system is down slightly.

Student Boycott Wrong Approach To Better Schools
Rockford Register Star, IL, September 3, 2008
If Chicago schools were grossly underfunded, I could see making a fuss. But they are not. The fact is, except for a handful of showplace charter schools, most regular public schools in that city don’t work very well.