Obama’s Long Education To-Do List Awaits Action
National Public Radio, April 30, 2009
Obama’s education proposals would make any local school board member dizzy, says Jeanne Allen, who heads the Center for Education Reform and is an advocate of charter schools and vouchers. Besides, she says, Obama’s agenda is nothing more than a wish list.

Using "Civil Rights" to Sell Charter Schools
Socialist Worker, April 30, 2009
Before we answer the obvious question–what’s their angle?–we need to acknowledge that the "civil rights/social justice" message has worked brilliantly for the charter school movement. Charter schools are making converts of students and parents all over Harlem, where I am a teacher in a traditional public school.

Education is the Key
The Carolinian, NC, April 29, 2009
Understanding President Obama’s stance on an assortment of policy issues has proven to be quite difficult. In regards to education reform, it is uncertain whether his fascination with big government and big bureaucracy will truly stick.

Charter Schools Offer Solution
Black Star News, NY, April 29, 2009
Nothing has shaken up the national education pot as much as the hotly contested debate over the role of America’s charter schools.

State Wants New Charter Schools to Serve Low Income
Providence Journal, RI, April 30, 2009
As expected, education officials agreed Wednesday to change the way they approve applications to open public charter schools, giving a higher priority to proposals that serve low-income and disadvantaged students in low-performing school districts.

Charter Schools Face New Rules
Orlando Sentinel, FL, April 30, 2009
Florida’s 360-plus charter schools face greater accountability after the state House passed a bill Wednesday that would, among other things, prevent charters from hiring relatives and also cut their business ties with administrators and directors.

3 Local Charter Schools are Honored
Miami Herald, FL, April 30, 2009
Three South Florida charter schools will be the first to be recognized for overall excellence by the state charter school association.

Number of Students Leaving School Early Continues to Increase, Study Says
New York Times, NY, April 30, 2009
Almost six years after a lawsuit forced the city to pledge to keep better track of students who leave public schools without graduating, the number leaving high schools has continued to climb, according to a report to be released Thursday by the public advocate’s office.

A Charter for Reform
The Cornell Daily Sun, NY, April 30, 2009
Charter schools are "laboratories of innovation," according to the Obama Administration. And with the president set to lift limits on charter schools across the country — as part of a necessary overhaul of the national education system — we support the State University of New York Charter School Institute’s decision to grant a charter to the New Roots School here in Ithaca.

Mass. Advocates Urge End To Cap On Charter Schools
Boston Globe, MA, April 29, 2009
Advocates are urging Governor Deval Patrick and state lawmakers to lift a cap on the number of public charter schools.

Charter School Staff Face Dilemma on Benefits
Los Angeles Times, CA, April 29, 2009
Three local charter schools, including two that are widely acclaimed, face a potential exodus of teachers and others who are fearful of losing generous Los Angeles Unified School District health benefits.

Charter School Firm to Open More L.A. Campuses
Los Angeles Times, CA, April 29, 2009
One of the nation’s most highly praised charter-school operators has landed another sizable donation to open campuses in the Los Angeles area.

Californians Want Change in Public Schools
Central Valley Business Times, CA, April 30, 2009
Californians worry that the state’s budget gap will hurt public schools, but they are also increasingly likely to say that spending money more wisely — rather than just spending more — will lead to better quality K-12 education, according to a survey released tonight by the Public Policy Institute of California.

Senate Bill Gains Partial Victory
Charleston Post Courier, SC, April 30, 2009
Sen. Robert Ford lashed out at fellow legislators Wednesday who don’t support his proposal to use tax credits toward private school tuition, accusing them of benefiting from high-quality public schools that play favorites with the rich and powerful

House Committee Rejects Term Limits for School Boards
The Times-Picayune, LA, April 29, 2009
The House Committee on House and Governmental affairs voted 11-6 today against a bill to impose term limits on local school boards.

Mayor Asks Legislature to Expand Charter Schools
Nashville Scene, TN, April 29, 2009
Mayor Karl Dean came to the legislature this morning to plead for expanding the number of children who can attend charter schools. Under present law, failing students or students who attend failing schools are eligible.

Oklahoma’s Senate Gives Final OK to Major School Bill
The Oklahoman, OK, April 30, 2009
The state Senate on Wednesday narrowly approved a bill stripping away regulations placed on public schools by a landmark 1990 reform and tax act known as House Bill 1017.

Ohio House Democrats Push Through Budget
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, April 30, 2009
…Tackled school funding by trying a new approach with all-day kindergarten and a longer school year, as well as a different funding model that had the net effect of helping suburban districts by reducing the local share the state assumes a district can raise by itself. Slashed funding to charter schools and banned for-profit charter schools.

Proposed Bill Would Change Special Education Funding Formula
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, April 30, 2009
In the wake of a study saying most school districts don’t spend enough money on special education, state representatives have proposed a bill that would change the state formula for allotting special education money to try to make it fairer.

Hearing Slated for Proposed Charter School Legislation
Republican Journal, ME, April 30, 2009
The Legislature’s Education Committee has scheduled the public hearing for "An Act to Permit Charter Schools in Maine," for 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, in room 202 of the Cross Office Building.

Colo. Senator Calls For National Teacher Merit Pay
cbs4denver, CO, April 29, 2009
Colorado’s newest senator wants to make pay-for-performance teaching a national standard. Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet said in a speech before the Senate in Washington Wednesday that current teaching pay models are outdated, and that teachers should be paid more when their students do well.

Growing Pains in the Advanced Placement Program: Do Tough Trade-Offs Lie Ahead?
Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, April 29, 2009
In 2002-2003, 1 million students participated in AP by taking at least one exam. Five years later, nearly 1.6 million did—a 50+ percent increase. But is growth all good? Might there be a downside? Are ill prepared students eroding the quality of the program? Perhaps harming the best and brightest? To find out, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute commissioned the Farkas Duffett Research Group to survey AP teachers in public high schools across the country.