Daily Headlines for January 6, 2011
National School Choice Week to Galvanize Thousands of Americans in Support of School Choice, January 23-29, 2011PR Newswire, January 5, 2011Thousands of Americans will demand that children gain access to more effective and challenging schools during America ‘s first-ever National School Choice Week, January 23-29, 2011
Parents Squeeze the Trigger
National Review Online, January 6, 2011
The parents whose children attend McKinley Elementary School in Compton , Calif. , dropped a bomb on their school district’s central office on December 7. More than 61 percent of them signed a petition demanding that the school – one of the worst in the state – be handed over to Celerity Education Group, which already operates four charter schools in the L.A. area.
FROM THE STATES
California
The Parent Revolution You Might Not Expect
The Voice of San Diego, CA, January 6, 2011
Still, some parents in this seaside burg are quietly considering how to stake out more independence for their schools – or whether to secede from San Diego Unified and form charter schools. A new law could give their push new power, letting parents force dramatic change at some schools.
Charter Process Designed to Fail
The Monterey County Herald, CA, January 6, 2011
The list of good ideas hampered by poor execution grows longer by the day. A perfect example is California’s charter school system, or, more precisely, the approval process that charters must weather.
Kentucky
Charter Schools Interest Growing in Lexington
Lexington Herald Leader, KY, January 6, 2011
A small but growing number of Lexington residents say they’re interested in charter schools as a state Senate committee prepares to consider a charter schools bill on Thursday.
Massachusetts
Teachers Welcome Plan to Reform Evaluations
Boston Globe, MA, January 6, 2011
ON BEHALF of nearly 20 teachers in traditional and charter schools across Greater Boston, we commend Paul Toner’s leadership and the Massachusetts Teachers Association’s plan to reform the state’s teacher evaluation system (“A union leader makes a breakthrough,” Op-ed, Jan. 2).
New Jersey
‘Achievement Gap’ Between Rich, Poor, Among Different Races Persists in N.J. Schools
Star Ledger, NJ, January 5, 2011
The “achievement gap” between rich and poor students, and among those of different races, persists in New Jersey schools, according to statewide test score data released yesterday by the state Board of Education.
North Carolina
Charters: A Different Sort of School
Asheville Citizen-Times, NC, January 5, 2011
Charter schools offer students experiences they may not find in traditional public settings
Rhode Island
Troubled RI School Hits Bumps on Road to Reform
Associated Press, January 6, 2011
The teachers at Central Falls High School struck a deal to get their jobs back last year after the entire staff was fired in a radical, last-ditch attempt to raise student performance. But if the administrators thought the teachers would be grateful for a second chance, they were wrong.
Washington
Gregoire Wants Just One State Education Agency
Seattle Times, WA, January 5, 2011
Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposal to create a single education department covering preschool through college, if approved by the Legislature, would make Washington one of the only states to put all those areas under a single umbrella.
Wisconsin
Asleep to Reality
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI, January 5, 2011
Given the Milwaukee School Board’s reluctance to sell vacant buildings, the Legislature should change state law and allow the city to do so.
VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Trombetta Talks Cyber Education
East Liverpool Review, PA, January 5, 2011
An additional workforce for a cyber education curriculum may come to East Liverpool , according to the head of Midland-based PA Cyber.
Alternative-Education Option Discussed
Reading Eagle, PA, January 6, 2011
The Boyertown School District is looking to use the county intermediate unit’s cyber charter school to teach its alternative-education students.
Collier Considering Virtual School Franchise
WZVN-TV, FL, January 5, 2011
From the science lab to the computer lab, new graduation requirements have Collier County school leaders are looking online to solve a scheduling mess.
Virtual Charter School Will Go Online Soon
Times Picayune, LA, January 06, 2011
Beginning this year, Louisiana students from kindergarten through 12th grade will have a new public school option available to them — online.