NATIONAL

Obama Outlines Higher Standards For Poor Students
Washington Times, DC, February 23, 2010
President Obama said Monday he will push to revamp federal education law by sending aid for poor students only to states that adopt new standards to prepare high school graduates for college or a career.

U.S. Students Need To Play Catch-Up, Obama Says
Los Angeles Times, CA, February 23, 2010
He tells the National Governors Assn. that states will be required to help students be ‘college- and career-ready.’

Preaching Choice in Obama’s Hometown
Wall Street Journal, February 23, 2010
‘The voucher movement seems to have been born, or seems to have been started as a Republican idea. That’s the way Democrats look at it. That’s the way black lawmakers look at it. This is a Republican idea. This is what the Republicans want to push on us. . . . We don’t seem to see public schools not working in your area.”

FROM THE STATES

Alabama

Riley Seeks Federal Help with Charter Schools Plan
Montgomery Advertiser, AL, February 23, 2010
Gov. Bob Riley wants the nation’s top edu¬cation official to help sell Alaba¬ma lawmakers on a plan to allow charter schools, which he said could help the state compete for federal funding.

Colorado

Colorado Could be Stuck in a Race to the Middle
Denver Post, CO, February 23, 2010
At first glance, Colorado’s wimpy entry in the national “Race for Big Education Bucks” wouldn’t seem to stand much chance in the first round of the competition. But don’t bet that we’ll get shut out when the feds get ready to dole out the grants. Other states aren’t exactly racing toward the top, either.

District of Columbia

More Catholic Schools Reaching Out To Special-Needs Students
Washington Post, DC, February 23, 2010
Federal law requires that public schools offer a free, appropriate education for students with disabilities, and federal and state governments subsidize the higher costs of smaller classes and extra resources. Catholic schools have no such legal mandate, and financial constraints have historically made it difficult for them to offer similar specialized services.

Iowa

Proposed Bill Could Create Charter Schools
Daily Iowan, IA, February 22, 2010
School boards looking to chart a new course may have more options. If passed, a proposed state bill would create a state-sanctioned board to help create charter schools, public institutions with a niche educational focus in curriculum and extracurricular offerings.

Ohio

Revamped Elementary Schools, High School Academies Part Of ‘Bold’ Cleveland Schools Reform Plan
Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, February 22, 2010
At its core is a building-by-building outline for improving Cleveland’s many failing schools and nurturing the successes.

South Carolina

Charters Encourage Innovation
Charleston Post Courier, SC, Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Public charter schools have been on the front page of late, and unfortunately, the reporting contributes to many misunderstandings about them. A recent news article stated that as a result of a court ruling, ‘Millions of dollars would be taken from neighborhood schools and given to charter schools.’

Texas

Special Education Charter Schools Mulled In Texas
Disability Scoop , February 22, 2010
After a failed attempt to institute special school vouchers for students with disabilities, Texas legislators are set to consider creating charter schools especially for these students.

Utah

Bill Would Let Colleges and Universities Initiate Charter Schools
KCPW, UT, February 23, 2010
A Utah House committee voted yesterday to allow Utah colleges and universities to initiate charter schools. Currently, that can only be done by local school districts and the State Charter School Board. Republican Senator Stuart Adams, who is sponsoring the legislation, says a strong connection between K-12 education and colleges and universities will give students a great advantage.