McCain v. Education Bureaucracy (Education Week), Newark’s all-staff meeting (Star-Ledger), Same-sex education in Philly (New York Times) and more in today’s Morning Shots.

Obama Supports Charter Schools. Why Can’t Richmond?
Richmond Times Dispatch, VA, September 5, 2008
Much the same has happened here in River City, where the school administration has fought an attempt to launch the state’s first elementary charter school, in the old Patrick Henry elementary building south of the James.

McCain Calls for School Choice and Shakeup of Education Bureaucracy
Education Week, MD, September 4, 2008
Sen. John McCain called for a shakeup of “entrenched bureaucracies” and greater parental choice in education as he accepted the Republican presidential nomination Thursday night.

Pay to Learn Shortchanges Kids
Los Angeles Times, CA, September 5, 2008
Those who want to improve test scores and motivate students should stop throwing money at the problem so literally. School districts and foundations should invest instead in programs that tap into and build on kids’ intrinsic motivation.

Newark Schools Chief Addresses His Entire Staff
The Star-Ledger, NJ, September 5, 2008
Standing on the stage of the Prudential Center in downtown Newark, Superintendent Clifford Janey unveiled his vision for reforming the state’s largest school system to roughly 7,500 employees during a district first — a convocation where every full-time staff member was gathered in one place to hear the same message, at the same time.

The State Supreme Court Was Right to Toss Out Three Flawed Amendments
Orlando Sentinel, FL, September 5, 2008
In truth, these amendments were either a mess or a brazen attempt to bamboozle the voting public. The court was right to give them the boot.

Charter Schools Left Out Of Bond Proposals
9NEWS, CO, September 4, 2008
The situation with charter schools and district bond issues is not isolated to Douglas County. School districts around the state also leave charter programs out of their proposals.

Some Empirically Proven Value in School Choice
National Ledger, AZ, September 4, 2008
It turns out that the threat of competition and losing students is causing these public schools to improve their academic outcomes.

Missouri Teachers Groups Concerned Over Hulshof’s Bonus Idea
Kansas City Star, MO, September 4, 2008
Missouri teachers groups are expressing some concern about a proposal to entice more teachers into the math and science fields with annual bonuses.

Philly School Rekindles Same - Sex Education Debate
New York Times, NY, September 5, 2008
Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia, one of the city’s newer charter schools, began its second year on Wednesday, aiming to be an educational beacon in the financially and academically troubled district.

Tackle What’s Dragging Kids and Schools Down
Chicago Sun-Times, IL, September 5, 2008
As a charter school, North Lawndale spends its money as it chooses. It put money into social workers and counselors, not security. In Chicago, it’s an exception. It shouldn’t be.

School Studies Charter Status
Charleston Post Courier, SC, September 5, 2008
A high-achieving West Ashley elementary school could become Charleston County’s third neighborhood school to convert to a charter.

The School Choice
Buffalo Business First, NY, September 5, 2008
Parents like Cambria and Hall, who opt against traditional public schools, must choose an educational setting that best suits the needs of their children – and their pocketbooks. Such choices sometimes stoke competition between local private and charter schools.

Locke High to Kick Off New School Year Under Green Dot Control
L.A. Watts Times, CA, September 4, 2008
After a very public battle that pitted parents and some teachers against the Los Angeles Unified School District last year, the school district relented and, by a vote of 5-2, agreed to hand Locke, one of the most troubled schools in the district, over to Green Dot Public Schools, one of the state’s largest charter school organizations.