Greedheads’ Christmas: The Seedy Side of Entrepreneurial Education Reform
The American, December 17, 2009
In K-12 education, we submit, greed can be good, albeit ugly; but ensuring that children and taxpayers eke real benefits from the education market demands that consumers be at least as discerning as the suppliers are ardent. Today, that is too rarely the case.

FROM THE STATES

Colorado

Putting Teachers First
Denver Post, CO, December 17, 2009
The Colorado Education Association advocates for the interests of education employees and promotes quality public education.” That’s the official mission statement of the CEA, more accurately known as “the teachers union.” (The American Federation of Teachers-Colorado is the other, smaller teachers union in our state.)

District of Columbia

Who Knows Best On Charter Schools?
Washington Post, DC, December 17, 2009
Regarding Jay Mathews’s Dec. 14 column, “When is it time to close a charter?”:
Mr. Mathews is usually right on the money, but this time he was off base in several ways. First, the very nature of charter schools forces poorly performing ones to shut on their own.

Florida

Pay for Performance
Orlando Sentinel, FL, December 17, 2009
Florida Education Commissioner Eric Smith informed superintendents last week that the state remains a strong contender for up to $700 million in federal money that could fund much-needed reforms.

Rule May Eliminate School Choices For Kids
WFtv , FL, December 16, 2009
The Seminole County school district is trying to cut busing expenses and just proposed a rule to keep kids from attending schools far away from their homes.

Schools Bid To Join Race to the Top
Tampa Tribune, FL, December 17, 2009
If the federal government sends any Race to the Top education funding to Florida schools, the Pasco County school board wants to grab a share. The union that represents school district employees, though, is not enthused with the idea, saying the federal dollars come with too many strings attached.

Kentucky

Schools Join Race To Top
State-Journal, KY, December 16, 2009
Frankfort educators have signaled their agreement with the state’s plan to seek millions in federal funding for innovative school reform. The U.S. Department of Education will give states a total of $4.35 billion in competitive grants through its Race to the Top Fund next year.

Maryland

Why Not Vouchers Instead of Charter Schools?
Baltimore Sun, MD, December 17, 2009
What he described shows that charter schools are modeling themselves after the independent school model as best they can. The charter schools are finding the same kind of success that private and parochial schools have been demonstrating for years. But these successful non-public schools are threatened, some even closing, because empty seats are unfilled as parents, both from middle-class and lower income families, cannot afford tuition.

Michigan

Reform Badly Needed To Improve State’s Education System
Royal Oak Daily Tribune, MI, December 17, 2009
The Michigan Legislature is coming down to the wire on some major educational reforms. The changes are badly needed and if approved, they could bring in some additional federal education funds.

Nevada

State Lawmakers to Draft Bill to Qualify for Federal Grant
Las Vegas Sun, NV, December 16, 2009
The Legislative Committee on Education will meet Thursday to discuss how to get the Silver State back in the “Race to the Top,” the competitive grant program offering $4.35 billion for innovation and reform. Nevada’s potential share was estimated at between $60 and $175 million.

New York

Charter War Heats Up
New York Daily News Blog, NY, December 16, 2009
Officials from the New York State Teachers Union and state School Boards Association today pushed back against Gov. David Paterson’s change of heart on lifting the charter school cap.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Educators Discuss Reform
The Oklahoman, OK, December 17, 2009
State officials Wednesday encouraged education leaders and stakeholders to get creative as they brainstormed ways Oklahoma school districts could make reforms by seeking up to $175 million of funding through Race to the Top, a national grant competition.

Virginia

Charter Schools, When Explained, Get Support
Augusta Free Press, VA, December 16, 2009
Virginia residents are not well informed about charter schools but a majority support them when charter school programs are explained, according to a new statewide survey conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University.

Wyoming

Cody Charter School Could Open Next Year
Billings Gazette, WY, December 16, 2009
A former charter school principal now working as an instructional facilitator in Meeteetse plans to establish a new school in Cody that could be open in time for the 2010 fall semester.