NATIONAL

Silencing Voices for School Choice
The Weekly Standard, DC, October 27, 2009
President Obama isn’t taking kindly to a television ad that criticizes his opposition to a popular scholarship program for poor children, and his administration wants the ad pulled. Former D.C. Councilmember Kevin Chavous of D.C. Children First said October 16 that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder had recently approached him and told him to kill the ad.

Education Issues Bidding for Voters’ Attention
Education Week, MD, October 26, 2009
In a relatively quiet electoral season, education is making some noise in a number of campaigns around the country, from the New York City mayoral race and New Jersey governor’s contest to ballot measures in Washington state and Maine.

The Effect of Charter Schools on Transportation Services
School Transportation News, November 2009
In the November magazine issue of School Transportation News, contributor Lisa J. Hudson talks about how an increase in charter schools nationwide could bring with it challenges for these charters to find transportation services.

Contrary to Conventional Wisdom, States Are Leading the Way in Education Reform
Huffington Post, NY, October 26, 2009
The truth is exactly the opposite. While the federal government is a relative newcomer to education reform, states have been demanding and driving change for decades.

Joel Klein: Lessons Learned in NYC
Denver Times, CO, October 27, 2009
Joel Klein led the government’s antitrust prosecution of Microsoft before he took over the nation’s largest school district. Fighting Bill Gates, he said in Denver on Monday, was easier than trying to move public education.

FROM THE STATES

California

LAUSD Plan To Have Outsiders Run 36 Of Its Schools Nears Reality
Daily Breeze, CA, October 27, 2009
Pushing aside the threat of lawsuits and complaints about the process, Los Angeles Unified officials today will begin finalizing a controversial reform plan that allows the outside operation of three dozen schools.

Colorado

DPS Sizes Up Fixes
Denver Post, CO, October 27, 2009
Denver Public Schools is the first district in Colorado set to deploy stern academic reforms pushed by a White House education-stimulus program to fix the nation’s worst schools. DPS also is the first to feel the heat.

Connecticut

City Teachers Contract Hailed as Model
New Haven Register, CT, October 27, 2009
The New Haven Federation of Teachers contract was hailed Monday as a national model for reform by U.S. Department of Education leaders and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.

District of Columbia

Rhee: Not All Laid Off Teachers “Poor Educators”
Washington Post, DC, October 26, 2009
When Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee first announced plans for teacher layoffs last month, she made clear that she was using what she described as a $43.9 million budget shortfall as an opportunity to rid the system of ineffective teachers.

Kentucky

Group Launches Events for Charter School Legislation
89.3 WFPL, KY, October 26, 2009
An event next week will be the first of many planned to build support to establish charter schools in Kentucky. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer has more.

Michigan

Detroit Teachers Union Should Embrace Changes
The Detroit News, MI, October 27, 2009
The Detroit Federation of Teachers’ contract is set to expire later this week as talks between the union and school district Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb remain stalled over reforms to improve district finances and student achievement. Detroit’s teachers ironically could help break the impasse by adopting policies that its national union supports.

Missouri

Debate Over Missouri Education Policy Rages On
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO, October 27, 2009
A snippy exchange between two Missouri state senators tells you everything you need to know about the clash between those who defend the public schools and those who want to change them.

New York

Gov’s Charter Shock
New York Post, NY, October 27, 2009
In a surprise move, Gov. Paterson said yesterday he doesn’t plan to push for changes to state laws that experts have warned could jeopardize New York’s chances of raking in hundreds of millions of dollars in federal education aid.

Consider Education Reforms
Buffalo News, NY, October 27, 2009
Assemblyman Sam Hoyt’s call for a complete overhaul of education is, on the face of it, a worthwhile idea. But that’s exactly what his reform bill will remain without a realistic chance of getting out of committee in the Assembly or of finding of a sponsor in the Senate.

Ohio

Raise the Bar
Columbus Dispatch, OH, October 27, 2009
Ohio should adopt the national curriculum standards being developed by 48 states, even if doing so requires changing the in-state deadline for new standards set by the budget bill passed in July.

Rhode Island

School Superintendents Told To Abolish Teacher Seniority
Providence Journal, RI, October 24, 2009
Dropping a bombshell on the teachers’ unions, state Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist ordered school superintendents to abolish the practice of assigning teachers based on how many years they have in the school system.

Tennessee

Tying Teacher Pay To Student Learning Gains Support
The Tennessean, TN, October 27, 2009
A new report says that teachers should be paid, and given job security, based partly on how much the students in their classroom actually learned. This is an idea that has been fraught with tension and union protests dating back decades.

School Reform The Gates Way
Memphis Commercial Appeal, TN, October 27, 2009
Memphis City Schools administrators haven’t spent the money, but they’re counting on nearly $100 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve the effectiveness of the district’s teachers.