Experts Wonder How Education Goals Will Be Met
Wall Street Journal, February 26, 2009
President Barack Obama laid out new national goals Tuesday aimed at boosting high school and college graduation rates, but left education experts wondering on how he intends to reach his targets, and how much he is prepared to spend on them.

House Bill Draws Criticism From GOP
Washington Post, D.C., February 26, 2009
The House yesterday passed a $410 billion bill to fund government operations through September, brushing aside Republican complaints that the measure included too much unnecessary spending and could lead to the end of a school voucher program for Washington.

A Late Pass for the Teacher
New York Times, NY, February 26, 2009
Since 2001, more than 2,000 people have enrolled in one of nine state-approved programs that offer accelerated training and development to help working professionals make the transition into the classroom.

Charter School Opponents, Watch Out
Christian Science Monitor, MA, February 25, 2009
In his address to Congress last night President Obama promised: "We will expand our commitment to charter schools." Today, as the blogosphere buzzes over the speech, education watchers and International Community School teachers alike are taking that commitment seriously.

Obama Gives Failing Schools a Pass
National Review Online, February 26, 2009
This is classic Obama, straddling the Democratic divide on education, just as he did so deftly during the campaign, striving to placate both the reformers within the party and the union bosses.

The Quality Challenge for Charter Schools
Education Week, MD, February 25, 2009
When President Barack Obama pledged on the campaign trail last September to step up federal aid for "successful" charter schools, he was touching on a matter of mounting concern: how to ensure better and more consistent quality across the growing charter sector.

Obama’s School Choice
Wall Street Journal, February 26, 2009
President Obama made education a big part of his speech Tuesday night, complete with a stirring call for reform. So we’ll be curious to see how he handles the dismaying attempt by Democrats in Congress to crush education choice for 1,700 poor kids in the District of Columbia.

Ackerman Cautious on KIPP Plan
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, February 26, 2009
Philadelphia schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has responded cautiously to a nationally recognized education organization’s proposal to open eight charter schools in the city over the next 10 years.

A Signal, But No Turn?
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, February 26, 2009
With the end of the school year in sight, Sanders has to keep his promise. He can’t declare these schools sunk without giving them a fair chance to swim.

Strickland’s Schools Formula Gets Math Check
Columbus Dispatch, OH, February 26, 2009
Gov. Ted Strickland and state lawmakers already are looking at significant changes to his new school-funding formula, including a higher figure needed to pay for teacher salaries and ways to limit poorer districts’ short-term pain.

Chicago Schools Moving Ahead With Closings
Chicago Tribune, IL, February 26, 2009
Chicago Board of Education voted Wednesday to close, consolidate or revamp 16 public schools starting in September after hearing nearly five hours of testimony from dozens of parents, teachers and students who spoke out against the plan.

Private Schools Caught In An Economic Storm
Chicago Tribune, IL, February 26, 2009
Financial aid applications and scholarships are on the rise, and admissions applications are flat to slightly declining, private school officials say.

Candidate A: Topic: School Vouchers
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, February 26, 2009
Georgians can do better by supporting Sen. Eric Johnson’s landmark voucher bill, Senate Bill 90. The bill provides parents with up to $5,000 annually per child to help send the child to a private school.

More Metro Atlanta Parents Choosing Public School
WSBtv, GA, February 25, 2009
As the economic downturn continues, parents are realizing they may have to make tough decisions soon about their children’s education.

Louisiana To Get Over $1B For Education
Shreveport Times, LA, February 26, 2009
During the next two years, that money will be used to help advert budget cuts, give incentive pay to teachers, expand and enhance preschool and special education programs, modernize school campuses, enhance technology and make college more affordable, among other things

2 New Charter Schools Planned for Volusia
Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL, February 26, 2009
Two new charter schools could open in Volusia County in August if they meet enrollment, facilities and financial requirements earlier in the summer.

Diversity Plan for Public Schools, Using Hebrew
New York Times, NY, February 26, 2009
For the district, which is overwhelmingly black and Hispanic, it offered a pathway toward its mandate of diversifying its schools and the potential to heal some of the fractures in a community where social divisions are mirrored in educational ones.

Our View: State Panel Vote Means It’s Time For All To Embrace Charter School
Gloucester Daily Times. MA, February 26, 2009
A charter school is coming to Gloucester.
That’s no longer the hope of charter organizers — and it’s no longer the apparent worst fear of city and school officials. It’s the reality — and it’s one that officials and parents alike should begin to embrace.

Obama’s Charter School Focus Welcomed By Md. Leaders
WBAL TV, MD, February 25, 2009
With President Barack Obama vowing to spend more money on education — and on charter schools in particular — Maryland is hoping to get its share of federal dollars for new charter schools.

A Charter Schools Tax, Paid By The Oakland School District
Oakland Tribune, CA, February 25, 2009
California’s superintendent of public instruction, Jack O’Connell, has ordered the state-run Oakland school district to divert $480,000 of its funds to the city’s independently run, public charter schools — about $60 for every charter school student.

Bill: Troubled School Boards Could Get Booted
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, February 26, 2009
Failing school boards could be removed by the governor before their system loses accreditation, if a bill passed by the state Senate Wednesday is also aprroved by the House.

2 School Accountability Bills Advance
Wyoming Tribune, WY, February 25, 2009
The Senate Education Committee will continue to discuss a bill today intended to bring more accountability to school districts.

Brookings Study Gives Thumbs Down To European Test
Associated Press, February 29, 2009
When it comes to evaluating U.S. students with their counterparts around the world, the National Governors Association and other groups would like states to include a European test used in 57 countries.But after scrutinizing the exam, the Brookings Institution has concluded it’s seriously flawed.