City’s Leaders Celebrate Independence Charter School At New Lombard Location
Philadelphia Center City Weekly Press, PA, November 12, 2008
What could have become a twenty-story luxury condo at the defunct Durham School at 16th and Lombard had the Philadelphia School District, under the leadership of former CEO Paul Vallas, sold the building to the Miles & Generali Corporation, now houses the Independence Charter School (ICS), grades K-8.

Give Public Schools A Chance
USA Today, November 12, 2008
Barack Obama made history as America’s first African-American president. He now has a chance to shatter another historic White House convention — as the first chief executive in three decades to send his children to a local public school.

First Family Dilemma: Which School For The Kids?
Chicago Tribune, IL, November 12, 2008
The education world is waiting to see whether Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, will be sent to a private school while their father continues to oppose tax-supported voucher programs to less-fortunate parents who also would like their children to attend a quality private school.

School Districts Caught In A Squeeze
USA Today, November 11, 2008
School superintendents nationwide say the struggling economy threatens to reverse progress they have made in closing historic achievement gaps as schools face trimmed budgets now — and possibly worse ones next fall.

New York Prof Says KIPP Isn’t a Magic Bullet; KIPP Founder Says, Hey You’re Right
Houston Press, TX, November 11, 2008
A just-released report from a New York City prof warns that while KIPP – the Knowledge Is Power Program operated in non-profit charter schools in cities across the country including Houston — does many good things, it should not be adopted as a role model for changes in public schools.

More ‘Blue’ Congress to Tackle Education
Education Week, MD, November 11, 2008
President-elect Obama can look forward to working with a beefed-up Democratic majority in Congress when he seeks to enact his education agenda after taking office in January.

State Electoral Victors Face K-12 Hurdles
Education Week, MD, November 11, 2008
The new class of governors, state legislators, and chief state school officers elected last week will face formidable challenges in dealing with the squeeze the nation’s sagging economy—and ballooning state budget deficits—is putting on K-12 education.

Gates Foundation Plans To Spend More On Education
D.C. Examiner, D.C., November 11, 2008
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is going to increase its education giving, with more money for teacher training, support for better testing and creation of national standards.

Charter Schools Still Get No Respect
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, November 12, 2008
A lot of folks who see the need for innovation in urban public schooling are wondering whether and where that innovation is happening. It is happening, and where may be a surprise to you.

Phila. SRC to Get Details On Charter School Costs
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, November 12, 2008
Michael J. Masch, the chief business officer of the Philadelphia School District, will brief the School Reform Commission today on charter school costs.

Proposed Charter High Schools Named After Miami Heat Star Dwayne Wade Fail To Impress Broward School District Staff
Sun-Sentinel, FL, November 12, 2008
Mavericks High D. Wade’s Schools are among 11 charter schools going before the School Board on Wednesday seeking approval for the 2009-10 school year. The D. Wade’s Schools are the only ones recommended for denial. Nine others withdrew their applications.

Should Private School Kids Get A Free Ride?
WLWT, OH, November 11, 2008
Every day across the Tri-State, public school buses are used to take kids to private schools. It’s costing taxpayers millions of dollars every year and some people want it to stop.

Charters Lead State’s Traditional Schools In Achievement For Poor Children, Survey Finds
Los Angeles Times, CA, November 12, 2008
The burgeoning charter school movement in California has largely made its mark as an alternative to low-performing inner-city schools. An analysis being issued today suggests that, at their best, charters are doing that job well, outperforming most traditional public schools that serve children in poverty.

Metro May Lose Charter School Fees
The Tennessean, TN, November 12, 2008
Metro school officials won’t say whether they will stop charging the district’s charter schools thousands annually in administrative fees — a practice Tennessee’s attorney general called illegal.

Sanford Wants Parents To Get Charter School Information
Greenville News, SC, November 12, 2008
Gov. Mark Sanford, distressed over news that Greenville County Schools barred charter schools from recruiting in district schools, has asked state Superintendent Jim Rex to "use your position in whatever way you can" to help parents get information.

Groff, Carroll Selections Give Hope to School Choice Supporters
Face The State, CO, November 11, 2008
This year’s newly minted state House and Senate Democrat leaders have given school choice supporters a reason to be cautiously optimistic, as the two men slated to lead their respective chambers have often split with their union-backed party to support school choice.