Teachers for Coverups
Wall Street Journal, September 2, 2010
The Wall Street Journal applauds the L.A. Times’s decision to publish evaluations of public school teachers.

Good Teachers, Good Students
Los Angeles Times, CA, September 3, 2010
There is more to good instruction than preparing students for standardized tests, but covering the required material effectively is a necessary part of good teaching.

Race to the Top Promises New Era of Standardized Testing
Christian Science Monitor, MA, September 2, 2010
US awards $330 million to two coalitions of states to develop standardized testing as part of its Race to the Top competition; tests to employ computers to measure students’ skills.

Obama Must Stick to His Guns on Education
CNN, September 2, 2010
Until recently, Obama deserved an “A” for his education reform efforts, which included a willingness to take on teachers unions.

FROM THE STATES

Arizona

ASU Charter School An Alternative for Downtown Kids
Arizona Republic, AZ, September 2, 2010
The school is part of the Phoenix Elementary School District but is an Arizona State University charter. The designation ensures the school still receives public funding but also gives ASU more freedom to apply new research in education to the classroom, school officials say.

Minnesota

From Crates to Classrooms: Schoolcraft Has Moved In and Out 21 Times, But School Says It’s Worth It
Bemidji Pioneer, MN, September 5, 2010
Two semitrailers, a few pickup trucks, one moving vehicle and one big fork lift - the recipe for a successful move-in day at Schoolcraft Learning Community.

Nevada

Public Charter School Turning Out Great Students
KLAS-TV, NV, September 2, 2010
Public charter schools are becoming a popular alternative for a growing number of Las Vegas parents who want a more unique and individualized learning experience for their children, without the pricey private school tuition.

New York

Foe Slams Perkins on Charters
New York Post, NY, September 3, 2010
The upstart challenger running against state Sen. Bill Perkins last night blasted the Harlem Democrat during a televised debate for his opposition to charter schools, calling him a “polarizing figure” whose knee-jerk support of public schools over charters left the community in tatters.

Ohio

Charter School Leaps from ‘Academic Watch’ to ‘Excellent’
WKBN, OH, September 2, 2010
For many Ohio school districts, it can take years to reach “excellent” status on the state-issued Report Cards.

Oregon

Ore. GOP Gov. Candidate Offers Education Plan
Longview Daily News, OR, September 2, 2010
Republican governor candidate Chris Dudley has unveiled his education plan, which includes full-ride scholarships to state universities for Oregon high school students who earn a 3.5 grade point average or better.

Pennsylvania

Task Force Cites High Dropout Rates for African American, Latino Students
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA, September 3, 2010
Calling the high school dropout rate for city students one of the most serious problems facing Philadelphia , Mayor Nutter said Thursday his administration would work with the School District to address it.

Texas

Going Public a Struggle
Times Record, TX, September 3, 2010
But when Plummer lost the school’s only donor because of the downturn in the oil industry, she was forced to turn the school into a free public charter school. She was told then that charter schools would receive a state subsidy per child equal to the amount any other public school received.

VIRTUAL EDUCATION

Cyber School Students Have Disadvantage with PSSA Tests
Morning Call, PA, September 2, 2010
In the Aug. 21 article, “A decade later, Pennsylvania cyber schools go viral,” the reporter appears to be baffled that the state’s 11 digital academies have mostly failed to meet state testing standards while enrollment in these schools is soaring. Although she attempted to offer a balanced account, there are a number of important facets of the Annual Yearly Progress issue related to cyber schools that were not addressed in the article; yet these factors have a huge connection to assessment outcomes.

Virtual Academy
News Banner, LA, September 3, 2010
Distance learning or online courses - St. Tammany Parish School System has been offering courses on computer since 2004. At first, the scope was to help seniors meet graduation requirements. Now, however, a variety of course work, including core courses and electives, are offered to students during the day or after regular hours for either credit recovery or new credit.

Online Education Can Open A New World
Daily Herald, WA, September 3, 2010
With all these choices, it’s not hard to imagine conversations between teens tired of getting up early and parents stressed by jobs and school-related activities. Online? It sounds like just the fix for overscheduled families. The price is right. Insight School of Washington is a tuition-free public school, as is iQ Academy Washington.

Students Enjoy Self Pacing, Convenience of Leon County Virtual School
WCTV, CA, September 2, 2010
The idea of a virtual school has raised questions from parents about how it all works and the type of education children get. We spoke with an enrolled student and his parents about why it’s a good fit.

IQ Academy Launches Online Middle and High School in California
Century City News, CA, September 2, 2010
iQ Academy California - Los Angeles announced today the launch of a new online middle and high school in California for the 2010-11 school year, which is open to all students in grades 6 - 12 living in Los Angeles and surrounding counties, including Kern, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange.