(originally posted on Politico’s The Arena blog)

Unpopular positions? Tough love? The teachers unions want you to believe they are being punished by the president’s policies. It makes for great copy and provides cover for both the unions and the Education Department as they manipulate Capitol Hill for a second multi-billion dollar bailout. But the truth is, it’s all in the family.

The administration’s education policy, including the “Race to the Top” initiative, has been easy on unions and their members. States have received money for saying they are going to factor performance into evaluations, when in reality to make meaningful performance pay work, you must either require performance to trump local union contract provisions or change the contract itself. Additionally, districts have been paid money for saying they will turn around failing schools. No one in the status quo is hurting or being forced to change very much because of what the president is saying. The talk is good and strengthens reformers’ hands, but the teachers unions won’t feel any discomfort until someone or something cuts into the lock they have on how schools operate and how policy is crafted.

Read the entire post over at The Arena…

Obama Defends Teacher Policy
Wall Street Journal, July 30, 2010
President Barack Obama on Thursday delivered a fresh call to hold teachers accountable for student achievement, defending his administration against complaints from unions, civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers.

Civil Rights Groups are Picking the Wrong Fight with President Obama
Washington Post, DC, July 30, 2010
There is, it turns out, something more galling than teachers unions fighting against proposals that would improve education for students in the worst-performing schools. At least the teachers unions are, presumably, acting in the economic self-interest of their members.

FROM THE STATES

Florida

Polk County District Sued By Charter School Association Over Cuts in Services
The Ledger, FL, July 30, 2010
The Polk County Charter School Association filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Polk County School District , asking a Circuit Court judge to stop the district’s plans to cut certain services to charter schools.

Georgia

The School They Dreamed Of
WALB-TV, GA, July 30, 2010
Some south Georgia education activists and parents who wanted more school choice are getting what they dreamed of.

Kentucky

Louisville Businessman Running for Governor
Lexington Herald Leader, KY, July 30, 2010
Hoping to win support within the Tea Party movement, a Louisville businessman who advocates for charter schools and a state lawmaker are forming a Republican slate to run for governor and lieutenant governor next year.

Louisiana

The State of N.O. Schools Outlined
Times Picayune, LA, July 30, 2010
Five years after Hurricane Katrina, Tulane University’s Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives has issued a report praising the New Orleans public schools for academic improvements but cautioning that many problems must be addressed if progress is to continue.

Orleans Parish School Board Holds Property Auction Over Mayor’s Objections
Times Picayune, LA, July 30, 2010
Over the objections of Mayor Mitch Landrieu, the Orleans Parish School Board went forward with a surplus property auction Thursday, netting almost $2.8 million.

Maryland

City School Board Fought Against Charter Schools
Baltimore Sun, MD, July 29, 2010
In “City school system ready to take the next step” (Commentary, July 22), Jim Campbell points out the successful opening of charter schools in the city, but prior to Mr. Alonso’s arrival, the city school board, including Mr. Campbell, right after the state charter law was passed in 2003, strenuously fought new charter school applications and, most importantly, their full funding as required by state law.

New Hampshire

Gubernatorial Candidate Stephen Says He Can Control Spending, Lead
Foster’s Daily Democrat, NH, July 30, 2010
Stephen also spoke against health care reform and said education should become a local issue and a local decision. He expressed his favor of a school voucher system and an increase in home schooling and charter schools.

New York

School Tenure Crackdown
Wall Street Journal, July 30, 2010
New York City principals are getting tougher: They denied tenure or continued the probation of a record 11% of teachers in the school year just ended, according to Department of Education data released Thursday.

Pennsylvania

Neumann Parents To Form New School
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA, July 30, 2010
St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School in Lawrenceville closed last month, but some parents are still hoping to send their children to a faith-based elementary school in the neighborhood this fall.

Vermont

Can’t Afford to Drop Out of Education Race
Burlington Free Press, VT, July 30, 2010
The state Education Department’s decision to stay out of the federal Race to the Top competition can be seen as one more consequence of Vermont’s worrisome resistance to big change when it comes to anything to do with our local schools.

West Virginia

Education Reforms
The Register-Herald, WV, July 30, 2010
In all of the hub-bub that was created by the death of U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, the state sadly fell behind again when it comes to the issue of education reform.

VIRTUAL EDUCATION

Calvert Virtual Academy Introduces Next Generation in Homeschooling
PR Newswire, July 29, 2010
Calvert School is delighted to introduce Calvert Virtual Academy (CVA), a virtual school option for middle school students. Calvert Virtual Academy students will learn at home in a robust online learning environment that includes assignments, self-paced assessments, threaded discussions and multimedia activities, video and audio exercises, and evaluations.

Finalists Announced for K-12 Online Teaching Award
Miami Herald, FL, July 30, 2010
Teachers from Florida , Georgia and Virginia have been named finalists for a new online teaching award. The winners of the national competition - created by the Southern Regional Education Board and the International Association for K-12 Online Learning - will be announced in September at a meeting in New Orleans .

Obama to Defend Education Policies to Critics
Associated Press, July 29, 2010
President Barack Obama is defending his administration’s education policies, responding to criticism that so far they have not substantially helped minority students

Education Reform and Stimulus Spending
Daily Caller, DC, July 28, 2010
One of the heated debates taking place in Washington D.C. is whether the federal government should give states $10 billion to save teacher jobs as part of an additional stimulus package.

The Obama Education Revolution
National Review Online, July 28, 2010
Duncan’s remarks yesterday were centered on the notion that the Obama administration is leading a “quiet revolution” in education. But the requirement for states to garner union support to be eligible for a Race to the Top grant has blunted the potential for meaningful reform.

FROM THE STATES

Florida

Carrollwood Public Charter School Teaches New Tools
Tampa Tribune, FL, July 28, 2010
He hopes to bolster math, science and technology skills with a new charter school in his name, opening in August in Carrollwood. The A.T. Jones Math, Science and Technology Academy is a public school for children in kindergarten through fifth grade that also emphasizes languages and global thinking.

Illinois

When Kids Can’t Wait
Chicago Tribune, IL, July 28, 2010
We don’t know if Washington’s system is the best, or the best-executed. We do suspect that if every U.S. district took this much care to eliminate its weakest employees, more students would emerge from public schools with educations that qualify them to compete successfully in the 21st century.

New Hampshire

GOP’s Kimball Would Cut as Governor
Nashua Telegraph, NH, July 29, 2010
On education, Kimball wants to make legal across the state local property tax vouchers that parents can take and use to send their children to any school, public, private or parochial.

New York

‘Hard Truth’ on Education
Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2010
Erasing years of academic progress, state education officials on Wednesday acknowledged that hundreds of thousands of children had been misled into believing they were proficient in English and math, when in fact they were not.

Charter School Takes ‘Progressive’ Approach
Riverdale Press, NY, July 28, 2010
District 10 parents can now add a new charter school to their list of options.

How One Public Charter School Beat the Odds: Harlem Success Students Continue Strong Performance, Even After State Adjusts Scoring
PR Newswire, July 28, 2010
Even after New York State dramatically raised the “cut scores” needed to pass key math and reading exams, one public charter school in Harlem continued to show strong academic results due to the combination of hard work, effective teacher-parent partnerships, innovative school design and a top-to-bottom commitment to quality classroom instruction.

Oklahoma

Race to the Top Bypasses State
The Edmond Sun, OK, July 28, 2010
Nineteen finalists were recently announced in the second round of the $4 billion Race to the Top competition, but once again Oklahoma was left out.

Pennsylvania

Philly School Reorganization Continues
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, July 29, 2010
In the latest shakeup of her administration, Philadelphia School Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has dismantled the long-held regional division of schools, redeployed top administrators, and hired a new chief public information officer.

Washington

Lesson Needs to Be Learned from Consensus Race to the Top Bill
News Tribune, WA, July 29, 2010
A wise man who bore many scars from his battles over school reform gently disagreed. I had suggested to him in March that the state was better off with no Race to the Top bill than with the tepid version presented to the state House and Senate.

Race to the Top: a Halfhearted Attempt by Washington State
Seattle Times, WA, July 29, 2010
In the Race to the Top federal education competition, Washington state started out behind and offered less. It doesn’t take an athlete to know that’s not the way to win, or even stay in the game.

West Virginia

West Virginia Punts on Education Reform
Charleston Daily Mail, WV, July 29, 2010
THE federal government named 18 states and the District of Columbia as finalists Tuesday in the second round of competition for $3.4 billion in Race to the Top funding for effective educational experiments.

VIRTUAL EDUCATION

Parents Choose Cyberschool Over Merged School
WJAC Johnstown, PA, July 28, 2010
After the merger of two Westmoreland County schools some parents decide to cyberschool the children.

States Setting Pace on School Change; Obama Agenda Stalled in Congress
Washington Post, DC, July 28, 2010
But those breakthroughs have come as election-year divisions have emerged in Washington over federal education policy. Efforts to rewrite the No Child Left Behind law have failed to yield a bipartisan bill.

High Standards vs. Local Control
National Review Online, July 28, 2010
During the past week, conservative educational icons have been sparring over whether the Right ought to embrace the new “Common Core” standards developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The debate has gained urgency as more than 25 states have signed on in the past two months.

FROM THE STATES

California

Race to the Top, Not So Much
Orange County Register, CA, July 27, 2010
President Obama’s Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced the 19 finalists for so-called “Race to the Top” funds today but some of the states named are serious about education reform, while some just kowtow to union powers and other special interests. Race to the Top looks to be more of the same politicizing education.

California Clears Hurdle for Federal Funding
Los Angeles Times, CA, July 28, 2010
The state, which lost out on its first try for Race to the Top grants, is a finalist in its second effort. Winners will share $3.4 billion in federal educational funding.

Connecticut

Connecticut Fails To Win Race to the Top Educational Funding
Hartford Courant, CT, July 27, 2010
“It’s obvious if the economy doesn’t turn around and we continue to have dire fiscal straits in Connecticut , we will have to push back various reforms,” said State Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, D-West Hartford, co-chairman of the legislature’s education committee.

District of Columbia

D.C. Charters to Split $10 Million for Teacher Pay
Washington Examiner, DC, July 28, 2010
D.C. charter schools will share nearly $10 million to use during the 2010-11 school year for “innovative compensation strategies” for their teachers, according to an announcement Tuesday by District officials.

The Impact of the D.C. Teacher Firings
Washington Post, DC, July 28, 2010
Regarding the July 24 front-page article “Rhee dismisses 241 teachers in the District”: I can only applaud the leadership and courage that D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee has displayed during her tenure.

Florida

Florida a Finalist for Federal Education Grant
Florida Times Union, FL, July 28, 2010
Florida is one of the 19 finalists for the second round of the Race to the Top education reform grants, officials said Tuesday.

Fla. Finalist for Race to the Top
St. Augustine Record, FL, July 28, 2010
Federal officials named Florida one of the 19 finalists for the second round of Race to the Top funding Tuesday, a critical early bar in the competition for federal education reform grants.

Mississippi

State Misses Out On Education Funding 
Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS, July 28, 2010
Mississippi lost out at a chance to receive $175 million in a national education reform competition, but the changes that money was going to underwrite will go on at a slower pace, said Lynn House, deputy state superintendent of education.

New Jersey

Board of Education Gets First Lesson on Charter Schools
Glen Ridge Voice, NJ, July 27, 2010
The borough has gotten its first taste of what converting the Glen Ridge schools into a charter district might entail.

N.J. is Among 19 Finalists for Federal Race to the Top Education Funding
Star-Ledger, NJ, July 28, 2010
New Jersey learned today it is in the running for up to $400 million in federal Race to the Top funds for education reform, after an 11th hour change to the state’s application and a political scuffle between Gov. Chris Christie and his own education commissioner last month.

N.J. a Finalist for Race to the Top Education Grant 
The Record, NJ, July 28, 2010
New Jersey was tapped as one of 19 finalists in the federal “Race to the Top” competition for school reform grants Tuesday, despite bitter public conflicts between Governor Christie and the state’s biggest teacher’s union.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Elections: Paddack, Barresi Easily Carry Primaries
The Oklahoman, OK, July 28, 2010
A lifelong classroom teacher will make the race for state superintendent of schools a three party election in November.

South Carolina

Education Reform Prize Could Boost Spending $225 Per Student
Greenville News, SC, July 28, 2010
South Carolina has survived the cut in a second round of judging and has been named a finalist in the federal Race to the Top initiative. A prize of $175 million hangs in the balance.

Texas

Texas Should Help Charter Schools With Facility Costs
Dallas Morning News, TX, July 27, 2010
Social conservatives on the State Board of Education have gotten banged around considerably - justifiably, in our view - in recent years for their questionable decisions about Texas ‘ history standards, science goals and student textbooks.

West Virginia

Thumbs Down: Education Reform Makes No Headway In Special Session
The Herald-Dispatch, WV, July 27, 2010
The burst of interest last spring in West Virginia for education reform has all but dried up now, with little to show for it.

VIRTUAL EDUCATION

Summer School Goes Online
Fortune, July 27, 2010
With education budgets under fire, school districts are turning to e-learning to help little Johnny graduate on time.

Day 11: Put Virtue in Virtual School Regulations
Boston Globe Blog , MA, July 27, 2010
Virtual learning, whether online supplements for traditional learning styles or outright “virtual schools”, is increasingly a way to ensure much more time on task, a flexible schedule, and new capacity without hiring an unsustainable number of teachers.

Conestoga Valley School District May Boost Its Virtual Academy
Lancaster Newspapers, PA, July 28, 2010
Officials cite expense of students attending cyber charter schools outside district

Virtual Schools ‘Clicking’ for Many Students This School Year
Creston News Advertiser, IA, July 27, 2010
A record number of students are heading back to school this year - without ever stepping foot inside a classroom. A growing number of virtual schools (also known as cyber schools or e-schools), combined with booming parent (and student) demand for high-quality virtual education, have more students than ever logging on, instead of boarding a school bus, this back-to-school season.

NATIONAL

Giving Lousy Teachers the Boot
Wall Street Journal, July 27, 2010
Donald Trump is not the only one who knows how to get attention with the words, “You’re fired.” Michelle Rhee, chancellor for the District of Columbia schools, has just done a pretty nifty job of it herself.

Uniform Education Standards: Momentum Grows As More States Sign On
Christian Science Monitor, MA, July 26, 2010
About 40 states will probably have adopted the ‘Common Core’ education standards by spring. But critics caution that buy-in is just a start.

Skimp or Splurge: 3 Areas Where the Numbers Are Clear
CBS Money Watch Blog, July 26, 2010
When Realtors advise about the three things you need to consider when buying a home, the classic response is: “Location; location; location.” Why? Schools, crime and traffic. Each of these could save or cost you a fortune over time.

FROM THE STATES

Florida

Looking Out for No. 1
Orlando Sentinel, FL, July 27, 2010
The teachers union has made clear its self-interest in suing to block class-size referendum.

Merit Pay Will Be Front and Center in November Elections
Marco News, FL, July 26, 2010
The Florida gubernatorial race is shaping up as a referendum on merit pay for teachers. Both of the leading Republican candidates, Bill McCollum and Rick Scott, have come out in favor of education reform, including restrictions on tenure and teacher pay based on student performance.

Illinois

A First-Rate Education for All
Chicago Tribune, IL, July 27, 2010
Illinois finished fifth in the first round. The state submitted a second-round application on June 1, and we’ll know Tuesday whether it was picked as a finalist. At stake: perhaps $400 million for Illinois alone.

Louisiana

Excelling at Excuses
Times Picayune, LA, July 27, 2010
Jefferson Parish School Board members are making excuses in the face of a critical Jefferson Community Foundation report, but defensiveness won’t improve the school system’s lackluster performance. Parish schools ranked 64th out of the state’s 70 public school systems.

New Orleans Superintendent Leaving Legacy of Charter School Expansion
PBS Newshour Transcript, July 26, 2010
As the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, the superintendent brought in to revive New Orleans ‘ troubled public schools is bidding farewell after turning many of the schools into charters. Before his departure, Paul Vallas speaks with John Merrow about where things stand with the city’s school reform efforts.

Special-Needs Students Get Aid
The Advocate, LA, July 27, 2010
Autistic and other children with special needs in East Baton Rouge Parish will be eligible for state vouchers to help them attend private schools under a new law.

Pastorek Says Foes Resist His Ideas
The Advocate, LA, July 26, 2010
State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said the biggest surprise of his 41-month tenure is resistance to change by teacher unions and groups representing school board members and superintendents.

Michigan

MI Candidates for Gov Say Education is a Top Priority
Michigan Public Radio, MI, July 26, 2010
All seven candidates - democrats and republicans - promise that if they become the next Governor of Michigan, education will be a top priority:

New York

Fixing Education
Buffalo News, NY, July 26, 2010
Something transformative happened recently in Washington , D.C. — something with potentially large impacts on jobs, health care and the economy. And it didn’t happen in the White House, the Senate or the House.

Pennsylvania

Sen. Williams Introduces Voucher Bill
Philadelphia Public School Notebook Blog, PA, July 26, 2010
State Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia) has continued his advocacy for school vouchers in Pennsylvania by introducing the Opportunity Scholarship Act. Senate Bill 1405, introduced last month, would require the Department of Education to create an opportunity scholarship program for low-income students in districts with at least one chronically failing school.

VIRTUAL EDUCATION

Apponequet Teacher Taking Her Class Virtual
The Herald News, MA, July 26, 2010
District Superintendent John McCarthy said the VHS system allows students to learn using a modern system “where learning happens 24-7, not just within the four walls of a classroom.”

Firm Helping D7 Create Virtual School
Dearborn Press & Guide, MI, July 26, 2010
Dearborn Heights District 7 is hoping to lure home-schoolers and others to a new online academy it will start this fall.