NATIONAL

What Really Works For Schools
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, July 6, 2009
WHEN IT comes to time in school, more is not necessarily better, but more of the same is no solution, either (editorial, “24 Minutes to Better Education,” June 26). The evidence overwhelmingly indicates that increasing school options, not seat time, improves student performance.

Lessons for Failing Schools
New York Times, NY, July 5, 2009
The $100 billion education stimulus package gives Education Secretary Arne Duncan unprecedented leverage to energize the languishing school reform effort.

Charters a Theme at the RA
Education Week, MD, July 4, 2009
This morning, delegates approved an item to promote to affiliates NEA’s policy on charter schools so that they can be more effective “in opposing funding for charter schools that do not meet NEA criteria for support.” The criteria include the unionization of teachers in the schools, a phenomenon that’s still relatively rare among the independent public schools.

Education Secretary Treads Where Teachers Unions Don’t Want To Go
Los Angeles Times, CA, July 3, 2009
The country’s top education official challenged teachers unions Thursday to embrace historically controversial ways of promoting teacher effectiveness, including offering merit pay and evaluating instructors based on student test scores.

FROM THE STATES

GEORGIA

Online School Enrollment Soars In Summer
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA, July 6, 2009
While virtual schools are nothing new, online summer school is quickly becoming a favorite among students and parents unwilling to sacrifice summertime pleasures. In fact, in some cases online school enrollment is increasing as brick-and-mortar enrollment decreases.

IDAHO

National Study: Idaho’s Charter Policy Gets A ‘C’ Grade
Twin Falls Times-News, ID, July 6, 2009
For Idaho’s charter school policy, the grade is in: It’s a “C.” That’s the mark that Idaho’s charter school policy received in a national report from the Center for Education Reform, a national non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C.

INDIANA

Cool It With Old School Rhetoric
Indianapolis Star, IN, July 6, 2009
One of the most important things about Indiana’s new two-year budget is something it doesn’t contain: a moratorium on new charter schools

MASSACHUSSETTS

School ‘Reform’ Snubs Students
Boston Herald, MA, July 3, 2009
The most stunning moment of a recent panel on education reform came when state Education Secretary Paul Reville was asked about how to confront an establishment that routinely uses its political clout to block reform. It was like asking the CEO of General Motors how to stem the tide of costly corporate bailouts.

MISSOURI

Geographic Cap Will Restrict Funding
Springfield News-Leader, MO, July 6, 2009
The geographic restriction regarding charter public schools in Missouri may seriously limit the state’s chance to access a portion of the $4 billion Race to the Top Fund set for initial distribution this year. Currently, charter schools are only allowed to operate in the Kansas City Missouri School District and the city of St. Louis.

NEW YORK

Mayoral School Control Less Assured in Senate
New York Times, NY, July 5, 2009
There was a moment in mid-June when Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg seemed confident the State Legislature would leave his power over the New York City school system virtually untouched. The Assembly had just approved a bill that maintained his control of schools, and the Senate, with its legions of Republicans friendly to the mayor, seemed poised to do the same.

A Union Promotion
Wall Street Journal, July 6, 2009
In her weekly “What Matters Most” newspaper column, Randi Weingarten recently bid the Big Apple farewell. Ms. Weingarten has been elevated to president of the national American Federation of Teachers from head of its New York City affiliate, and she had some notable parting words: “One of the most rewarding (and exhausting) things about working in public education in New York City is that it is the best laboratory in the world for trying new things.” Well, it could be, if it weren’t for Ms. Weingarten’s union.

NORTH CAROLINA

Cap on Charter Schools Restricts Opportunities
Greensboro News Record, NC, July 3, 2009
The state legislature should be getting a message about charter schools by now: Lift the cap. North Carolina ’s statutory maximum of 100 charter schools could limit its chances of gaining federal funding through a program called Race to the Top that promotes innovation, U.S. Department of Education officials say.

OREGON

We Want A Future For Online Schools
Albany Democrat Herald, OR, July 4, 2009
Much has been written recently about the passage of SB 767D, which relates to online public charter schools such as the Oregon Connections Academy (ORCA). A recent D-H editorial suggested that legislative Democrats are intent on shutting down or severely restricting such schools. As the chair of the House Education Committee and a member of the Democratic caucus, I disagree with that assertion.

The Power Of Choice In Virtual Charter Schools
Statesman Journal, OR, July 3, 2009
Like Naomi, many families are raving about virtual schools. Yet, some powerful special interest groups would like to close these innovative schools. Their weapon of choice? Senate Bill 767, which has passed Oregon’s legislature.

RHODE ISLAND

New Education Commissioner ‘Ready’ To Tackle Rhode Island’s Problems
Providence Journal, RI, July 4, 2009
Deborah A. Gist didn’t get a lot of sleep during her first week as Rhode Island’s education commissioner, but she didn’t seem to need much rest.

Charters a Worthy Experiment
South County Independent, RI, July 2, 2009
Rhode Island’s moratorium on charter schools expired a year ago. At the same time, our legislature expanded the public charter school law to allow “Mayoral Academies.” The Board of Regents recently approved two new charter schools to open this September. Contrary to your editorial (”An experiment for the few,” June 25), charter schools are not “private schools using public dollars.”

UTAH

Utah to Open Seven New Charter Schools in August
Standard-Examiner, UT, July 4, 2009
As seven new charter schools prepare for August openings in Utah, the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Education Reform ranks the state fourth in the nation for charter school legislation.

VIRGINIA

Charter Schools in Virginia
Washington Post, DC, July 4, 2009
IT MAY BE true, as some pundits have suggested, that Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert F. McDonnell’s full-throated support of charter schools is an attempt to usurp Democrats’ traditional claim on education as an issue. Whatever the reason, Mr. McDonnell is unquestionably on the right side of this debate.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Charter Schools Welcome Special Needs
Washington Post, DC, July 3, 2009
The June 27 Metro story “Special-Ed Problems Continue in District” quoted a federal court monitor as saying that some D.C. public charter schools discourage students with special needs from applying. But the statistic cited later to support this assertion is inaccurate.