Risky business (Harvard Crimson), Two views on school spending (New York Times), Alabama choice (Press-Register) and much more in today’s Morning Shots.

Charter Success in L.A.
Wall Street Journal, October 14, 2008
With economic issues sucking up so much political oxygen this year, K-12 education hasn’t received the attention it deserves from either Presidential candidate. The good news is that school reformers at the local level continue to push forward.

The Real Risk Is Not Taking One
Harvard Crimson, MA, October 13, 2008
Whether or not this bold experiment in education will prove successful remains to be seen. But regardless of the outcome, The Equity Project—the brainchild of recent Yale graduate Zeke M. Vanderhoek—represents a sharp rebuke to the culture of complaisance and mediocrity that has paralyzed the American education system.

Where They Stand: McCain, Obama Split On Education
USA Today, October 13, 2008
The USA’s teetering economy and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have all but squeezed out education, a topic important to previous elections.

The Fiscal Reality of School Spending
New York Times, NY, October 13, 2008
What Mr. McCain is saying is that local school leaders have a better understanding of their students’ needs than far-away bureaucrats in national or state capitals.

Assembly Can Build Better School Boards
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, October 14, 2008
If you doubt how important school boards are, consider this: School boards set the schools’ vision, establish policy and hire the superintendent. And in some cases, local school boards are responsible for approving multimillion-dollar budgets.

Lakeland Montessori School Stresses Curiosity, Independence
The Ledger, FL, October 14, 2008
Lakeland’s Montessori school is something of an abnormality. Most Montessori schools are private and parents bear the cost of sending their children there.

Ohio School Board To Select Next Chief
WTTE, OH, October 14, 2008
Anticipation is high that state education leaders are on the verge of naming a new state schools superintendent.

Lakemore Residents Welcome the Idea of Community School
Akron Suburbanite, OH, October 13, 2008
The residents were there to gather information on the project that Nina Rawls has presented to the community and Superintendent William Stauffer. Her goal is to open a charter or magnet school, the Lou Rawls Academy, in the vacant Lakemore Elementary School.

State Denies Parents A Popular School Option
Press-Register, AL, October 14, 2008
A NEW report provides a fresh reminder of Alabama’s failure to offer parents any form of school choice, including the increasingly popular charter school option.

Metro Charter School Application Process Begins With Three Candidates
Nashville City Paper, TN, October 14, 2008
Despite recently passed state legislation allowing more kids to attend charter schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools has only received three charter school applications this year — the same number as last year.