NATIONAL

Conflict of Interest Arises as Concern in Standards Push
Education Week, MD, November 2, 2009
A respected literacy-research organization is asking that a process be put in place to make more transparent potential conflicts of interest that writers of the common national academic standards might have, and to address them.

Faith Schools Could Prove Virtuous For Black Students
Detroit News, MI, November 3, 2009
Americans cannot afford, financially or morally, to trap black males in criminal cultivators masquerading as schools. Even though charter schools, vouchers and tax-credit programs reflect some progress, black parents need radical new options that empower them to choose the best schools.

FROM THE STATES

Arizona

Arizona Supreme Court: State School Choice Program Is Constitutional
Reuters, November 2, 2009
Arizona’s Corporate School Tuition Organization Tax Credit Program is
constitutional, the Arizona Supreme Court indicated in a decision yesterday. The Alliance for School Choice and Advocates for School Choice applauded the Arizona Supreme Court’s action,….

Kentucky

Education Official: Charter-like Schools Might Be Required For New Federal Funding
Lexington Herald-Leader, KY, November 3, 2009
Kentucky might have to find new ways of turning around badly failing schools - including the option of converting them into charter-like schools - to get all the federal money it hopes to receive under the $4.35 billion “Race To The Top” program, a state education official said Monday.

Massachusetts

Ed Reform Bill to Go Before Senate Dems This Week
Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA, November 2, 2009
Democratic senators will likely hear a colleague’s closed-door explanation this week of education legislation enjoying buy-in from both House and Senate leaders and containing some of the elements of Gov. Deval Patrick’s charter-school plan - a bill that could come to a vote this month.

New York

Hoyt Bill Would Remove Charter School Cap
Legislative Gazette, NY, November 2, 2009
Assemblyman Sam Hoyt announced Oct. 19 his plan to introduce legislation to increase New York’s chances of winning part of the $4.4 billion being made available through President Barack Obama’s “Race to the Top” education contest.

Ohio

DeRolph Joins State School Funding Advisory Council
Columbus Dispatch, OH, November 3, 2009
Every two years starting Dec. 1, 2010, the council will analyze the new “evidence-based” school-funding plan and recommend changes. It also will examine areas such as teacher compensation and charter-school reporting standards.

Oklahoma

Ballard’s Teacher Pay Plan Has Lawmakers’ Attention
The Oklahoman, OK, November 3, 2009
ASIDE from consolidation, perhaps nothing gets the education establishment riled up like talk of merit pay. Still, the issue gets lip service from time to time at the state Capitol, especially when teachers want a pay raise and some salty lawmaker has the audacity to suggest that there ought to be some accountability attached.

Pennsylvania

Pa. to See More Stimulus Money for Education
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, November 3, 2009
Now additional federal dollars are ready to flow.
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Education announced it has approved Pennsylvania’s application for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, making Pennsylvania the last state to win approval.

The Junk Bond of Education
Philadelphia Daily News, PA, November 3, 2009
The problem involves a dirty little secret that many educrats refuse to acknowledge: The state’s schools are clearly graduating tens of thousands of students every year who don’t have the skills we should expect of someone graduating from high school.

Rhode Island

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan Visits R.I. on Tour to Encourage School Reform
Providence Journal, RI, November 3, 2009
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan made a rare visit to Rhode Island Monday morning, his first as the federal education chief, and indicated he is well aware of school-reform efforts under way in the state, changes that could help it win millions of dollars in competitive federal grants.

Petition to Reward Teachers on Merit
Providence Eyewitness News, RI, November 2, 2009
Parents and students make their voices heard in a teacher contract controversy. They want to make sure teachers are assigned to classrooms based on merit and not time served.

Wisconsin

Obama’s Upcoming Visit Intensifies Mayoral Takeover Debate
WISN, WI, November 2, 2009
It’s a do-or-die week for Milwaukee public schools. A decision over who will control the state’s largest school system could be made in the next several days.