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Newswire - February 3, 2004
Vol. 6, No. 5
CHOICE
• STEP ASIDE. Underscoring its role in extending civil rights and social justice and promoting school effectiveness, Education Secretary Rod Paige stressed the importance of educational choices in a major speech last week. He applauded the "daring leadership" of those who worked towards passage of the landmark legislation that will bring school choice to the District of Columbia this fall and pledged to work quickly to establish the plan to implement the program with D.C.’s Mayor Anthony Williams. He asked those opposed to school choice to, "step aside" rather than obstruct the progress in the program and let it "be given every chance to work." Secretary Paige said, "The future of our children is at stake and it would be unconscionable to work against their best interests, to desire failure, to actively labor for obstruction and sabotage." For more go to the full speech.
• NEWS FROM THE CONSTITUTION STATE. The goal of improving school choices for children tied to schools in need of improvement has become the centerpiece for many state leaders this year. Connecticut Governor John Rowland is just one of many Governors who have made a commitment to provide new and expanded opportunities for children. In releasing his budget, Gov. Rowland announced plans for a modest school choice plan that will provide private scholarships of up to $4,000 to 500 children in 42 of the state’s lowest-performing schools. Even a limited proposal such as that one brought out the opposition in full force with claims that this program would deprive the schools from much needed revenue. Rowland said, "We’re trying to redefine the choice issue," and he is trying to do so to provide families with a range of educational choices from magnet schools, charter schools and the scholarships. In ’94, a similar proposal failed after a tie in the legislature. For the latest on school choice, go to CER’s School Choice page.
CHARTERS
• LEADING THE WAY. Three charter schools are among 50 semi-finalists of Harvard University’s annual Innovation in American Government Awards. The list of 50 are called "the most creative, forward thinking, results-driven government programs at the state, local, tribal and federal levels." The three schools are: Life Learning Academy Charter School of San Francisco, CA; the SEED Public Charter School of Washington, DC; and the American YouthWorks Charter School of Austin, TX. Fifteen finalists will be chosen in March and the five winning programs will be announced in July. Winners receive $100,000 grants to promote and replicate their efforts. Click here for more on the awards.
• FIXING DIXIE. Newly sworn in Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour used his first State of the State address to tackle education reform and encouraged state lawmakers to work with him to strengthen Mississippi’s weakest-in-the-nation charter school law. Said Barbour in his address, "We should reform our charter school law to encourage innovation and improvement in the public schools by giving parents and students more choices." Reformers here and elsewhere applaud Gov. Barbour for his proactive stance and look forward to working with his office to achieve more choices, greater performance and better schools for Mississippi parents. In fact, new, stronger charter legislation is already moving through the Mississippi Legislature.
• PAINT JOB! The 2004 Washington Auto Show featured a Ford Windstar minivan covered in red, green, blue, purple and pink paint. Children were actually encouraged to paint the car by WVSA arts connection, a Washington, DC based arts-in-education non-profit organization, and the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association. WVSA had been invited to exhibit at this year’s auto expo to announce the opening of AutoArts Academy, its art-infused, automotive-based public charter high school. To view the whole press relase click here.
ABSURDITY
YOU’RE KIDDING?! In order to fulfill a mandatory community service credit requirement, Montgomery County, Maryland schools are encouraging students to participate in a rally in the state’s capital to protest proposed cuts in education funding. Montgomery County is not the only school district participating in the February 9th rally, neighboring Prince George’s County Executive has given permission to close schools two hours early so County teachers can participate. Teachers’ unions, local and state school board members and other vested interests have organized the rally.
In Other News
CA State Board Appointment: Golden State Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced last week the appointment of Johnathan Williams, charter school leader of the Accelerated School to the State Board of Education. This marks the first appointment of a charter school director to the state board. Williams co-founded the school in 1994 to serve students of inner city Los Angeles. The Accelerated School was named the Elementary School of the Year by TIME magazine in 2001 and has been a top performer for years.
The Building Excellent Schools Fellowship is accepting nominations for its fourth class of aspiring charter school founders. Building on three years of tremendous success, the Fellowship welcomes inquiries and applications from exceptional leaders who are interested in starting public charter schools of uncompromising quality for children in urban settings across Massachusetts, New York, and the District of Columbia. We hope that you will forward this information along to your friends and colleagues. Apply now on the website.
New Charter Data: Next Wednesday, February 11, CER will release the 8th edition of the report, Charter School Laws Across the States: Ranking Scorecard and Legislative Profile. The briefing will address new findings on student achievement data. Charter leaders will be on hand to discuss the impact of charter school legislation. For more information or to register, contact: kate@edreform.com.
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