Sotomayor’s Record on Education Scrutinized
Education Week, MD, May 26, 2009
Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama’s choice for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, has ruled on a variety of issues with implications for education during her 17 years on the federal bench, including cases relating to racial matters, students with disabilities, and the strip-search of adolescents.

Why Education is Not the Civil Rights Issue of Our Time
Education Week, MD, May 26, 2009
I cannot take EEP seriously because it does not actually have a civil rights agenda other than raising test scores, and it does not have an educational agenda other than threatening or rewarding teachers and principals. This is a publicity campaign, not a civil rights campaign, nor even a campaign for better education.

Performance Pay Can Help Fix Worst Schools
The Tennessean, TN, May 27, 2009
On March 10, Obama gave a speech to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in which he spoke of the urgency of improving the nation’s educational system. And while he did take Republicans to task for failing to support early childhood education, he caught Democratic loyalists off-guard with a strong call for performance-based pay for teachers.

No Proof To Back Performance Pay
The Tennessean, TN, May 27, 2009
Since collaboration has long been found to be a key indicator of school success, teachers and researchers are concerned that individual performance awards based on test scores may tend to increase the frequency of cheating on standardized tests or destroy the collaborative spirit of effective schools.

Top Researchers to Discuss Voucher Effectiveness
Business Wire, May 26, 2009
As the national battle over the fate of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program continues, America’s leading education researchers are set to reveal key evidence about the effectiveness of school choice. The Black Alliance for Educational Options, the Greater Washington Urban League, and the Alliance for School Choice will host an important briefing on school choice research at the National Press Club (National Press Building, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20045) on May 28, 2009 at 2 pm.

School Panel To Vote On $3.2 Billion Budget Today
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, May 27, 2009
Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission will vote today on a $3.2 billion budget to educate nearly 200,000 public school students next year.

For Minorities, Good Teachers Really Matter
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, May 27, 2009
One good teacher can change a child’s life. In fact, teachers matter more to student success than anything else that schools do. What we know by experience and common sense, the research confirms: Having a high-quality teacher throughout elementary school can offset, or even eliminate, the disadvantage of a low socioeconomic background.

Broward Schools Show ‘A Little Progress’ In Combating Racial Gaps
Miami Herald, FL, May 27, 2009
Broward schools have made modest progress to meet the goals set nine years ago by a historic racial equity lawsuit — though students at some older, predominantly black schools still don’t have the same resources as newer schools with more white students, according to a report presented to the School Board Tuesday.

Bold Reform Needed In Education
Summit Daily News, CO, May 26, 2009
As another school year ends and another class of students is left behind by a well-intentioned but inadequate public education system, it is critical that we redouble our efforts to close the persistent achievement gap among students of different socioeconomic backgrounds. Bold reform is urgently needed to ensure that the learning needs of all children are met.

Shake-up in Schools Coming Soon
Seattle Times, WA, May 27, 2009
Maybe it was brought on by lean times. Or maybe long-simmering angst about the state of Seattle schools is finally boiling over on its own. But the decision this month to lay off 165 of Seattle schools’ newest teachers in a "last hired, first fired" manner has got some of liberal Seattle suddenly sounding more like a conservative red state.

Down Enrollment Forces Wash. Private School Cuts
Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA, May 26, 2009
Private schools in Washington state are cutting spending to make up for dropping enrollment and more requests for financial aid.

Charter School Busing Cut Draws Ire
Boston Globe, MA, May 27, 2009
Hundreds of students are ferried to charter schools across Boston each day in bright yellow buses, courtesy of the very school district that their families have rejected.

Teachers’ Union Flunks Courses
Boston Herald, MA, May 27, 2009
A teacher’s knowledge of a subject correlates most closely with improving student performance, so professional development becomes important. And by taking additional courses, teachers earn points toward certification and recertification. The problem comes with the MTA’s professional development offerings…

Better Teachers, Better Pay
Indianapolis Star, IN, May 27, 2009
State School Superintendent Tony Bennett has the right idea with his plan to give incentive grants to schools that raise graduation rates. The program, which Bennett is funding with cost savings achieved by his office, will award up to $20,000 to educators at high schools with the biggest increase in 2009-10 graduation rates.

Private Schools Take Different Approaches
Indianapolis Star, IN, May 27, 2009
Here is a look at how a cross-section of metro-area private schools is dealing with a weak economy. According to the state’s Department of Education , there are about 200 private schools in the metro area.

Squeals of Joy at CGLA Lottery
WRCB-TV, TN, May 26, 2009
Every few seconds, another number was called and another celebration ensued. The Shelia Jennings Recreation Center was filled with parents on Tuesday night. Their girls were candidates for the inaugural 6th grade and 9th grade classes at Chattanooga’s first charter school.

Let’s Reward Good Teaching
The Tennessean, TN, May 27, 2009
And if we’re going to ask more of our teachers, we need to give them the proper support. We need to have strong professional development tracks for our teachers, and we need to better identify, train and support our principals and others who hold leadership positions in our schools.

"Asking Price of $10.3 Million"
California Catholic Daily, CA, May 27, 2009
The campus of Loretto High School in Sacramento, the Catholic college-prep school for girls that graduated its last class on May 21, has been sold to a firm that operates 21 charter schools in California.

Convincing Argument for Charter School
Tracy Press, CA, May 26, 2009
She said she went to two classes a week at the rural Tracy school, located more than 10 miles from her home, and took the rest of her courses via the Internet. Rhees, 17, said the 329-student charter school and the new way of learning have helped her.

Charter School Bill Revived in Senate
Dallas Morning News, TX, May 26, 2009
A bill that would lift the long-time limit on the number of independent charter schools in Texas - allowing up to 10 new charter schools a year - was revived in the Senate Tuesday as the original legislation expired in the House.