NATIONAL

Moderate Senate Democrats Embrace Education Reform
American Chronicle, June 25, 2009
Ten moderate Senate Democrats today sent a letter to President Barack Obama voicing support for his key education goals and pledging to “lend our voices to the debate as proponents of education reform.”

FROM THE STATES

CALIFORNIA

Flexibility Key for Local Charter Schools
Bell Gardens Sun, CA, June 25, 2009
With the effects of the ongoing budget cuts still to be determined, local charter schools appear to have weathered the storm that has hit their traditional public school neighbors. Charter schools are public schools that operate independently of larger districts.

FLORIDA

7 South Florida schools on troubled list
Miami Herald, FL, June 26, 2009
Six schools in Miami-Dade and one in Broward must shape up or face dramatic sanctions — including possible closure — after making a new state list of struggling schools released on Thursday.

ILLINOIS

Charter schools charting own course
The Courier News, IL, June 26, 2009
Allowing students to pursue their own interests, creating fluid classroom environments in which they can work at their own pace, integrating technology and learning year-round are all things that make the charter school at 900 Wester Blvd. unique.

KENTUCKY

Charter Schools: A Tale of Two States
WFPL, KY, June 25, 2009
The U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan has been making noise lately about charter schools — and he’s announced he wants to see more of them. Duncan’s enthusiasm is encouraging those in the charter school movement nationwide, but the appeal of these schools in this region is mixed. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer reports.

LOUISIANA

Charter school limited lifted
The Daily Advertiser, LA, June 26, 2009
A limit on the number of charter schools that can operate in Louisiana has been lifted by the state Legislature.

MASSACHUSETTS

Bill would expand charter schools
Enterprise News, MA, June 26, 2009
The state Secretary of Education has announced that Gov. Deval Patrick will soon file legislation to lift the current cap on charter schools.

NEW YORK

Charter Schools: Are They Saving Harlem’s Schools or Just Pockets of Success?
WNYC, NY, June 25, 2009
New York City is well on track toward Mayor Bloomberg’s goal of having 100 charter schools by the fall. Charters are publicly funded but privately managed. Some parents believe they provide competition that can force the rest of the school system to improve. But others believe they’re draining resources.

NY’s top court rejects charter school audits
WCAX , NY, June 25, 2009
York’s top court says lawmakers exceeded their authority when they directed the state comptroller to audit charter schools. The Court of Appeals ruled that the 2005 amendments to state education and municipal law are unconstitutional.

OREGON

Connections Academy excels in special ed
Opinion, Statesman Journal, OR, June 26, 2009
The teacher unions are trying to eliminate competition by outlawing a charter school that really works. This is what worries them so much. What should really concern citizens, however, is how our legislators feel more obliged to serve special interests contributing money to their campaigns than the regular folks they are supposed to represent.

PENNSYLVANIA

24 Minutes to better education?
Editorial, Philadelphia Daily News, PA, June 26, 2009
No, this isn’t an argument for the importance of newspapers. It’s an argument for one of the battles heating up over Philadelphia teacher-contract negotiations. Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman wants to add 24 minutes to the average school day

WASHINGTON, DC

Md., Va. resist charter schools, despite federal push
Washington Examiner, D.C., June 25, 2009
A groundswell of federal support for an expansion of charter schools likely will not be enough to overcome resistance in Maryland and Virginia.

WYOMING

Charter school startup rules under review
Billings Gazette, WY, June 26, 2009
Wyoming education officials and a charter school group are revising state rules to make it easier to open a charter school.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Statement by Secretary Duncan on the Role of Charter Schools in Turnaround Business
U.S. Department of Education, June 25, 2009
Following up on his remarks earlier this week at the National Charter Schools Conference in Washington D.C., U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today issued the following statement urging states to work with charter school operators to turn around struggling schools and provide innovation and choice to students and parents: