Daily News Roundup—February 11, 2010

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM EEP.  EEP just released a statement commending Houston’s work to ensure that all students are taught by highly effective teachers.  Tonight, HISD Superintendent Terry Grier (an EEP signatory) is asking the Houston Board of Education to approve a policy that would require principals to use all the information available to them—including value-added test scores—when making decisions about renewing a teacher's contract.   The Education Equality Project emphatically encourages the Board to approve this critical proposal and commends Superintendent Grier for leading the charge to close the achievement gap. (To view the release, click here.)

National

Yesterday, Education Next published a new study on its website that evaluates the impact of high school charter attendance on the likelihood that a student will graduate from high school and attend college. Click here to watch Brian Gill (Mathematica) talk with Education Next about why students who attend charter high schools have higher rates of high school graduation and college attendance.

The NY Times reports on the growing number of students taking AP exams – and unfortunately – the growing number of students failing these exams.

Addressing the National Journal question of “Are Charter Schools a Civil Rights Failure?” Dr. Michael Lomax, President and CEO of UNCF (and co-chair of EEP’s Board of Directors), addresses the question from the perspective of managing one of the largest minority-focused education organizations as well as serving on several charter school boards.

The Broad Foundation recently announced the publication of a book by the Harvard Education Press – Bringing School Reform to Scale – that analyzes the comprehensive, large-scale strategies that led Broad Prize-winning School Districts to make significant academic gains.

Covering the recent Campaign for Educational Equity event hosted at Teachers College, EdWeek reports on the challenges of turning a one-time stimulus grant into long-term education reform.

Jay Mathews, education columnist for the Washington Post, says research shows there’s no such thing as “learning styles.”

From the States

Alabama

The Montgomery Advertiser reports on the House committee blocking AL Gov. Bob Riley’s efforts to create charter schools in AL.

Colorado

Mike Rosen, radio host for 850-KOA, writes an op-ed piece for the Denver Post supporting district superintendent Tom Boasberg’s (EEP Signatory) efforts to end the practice of shunting unwanted teachers from other schools to Title 1 schools, those serving students of low-income families.

Georgia

The Augusta Chronicle reports on many GA districts challenging the charter school approval process and the growing charter school movement nationwide.

Illinois

The Chicago Sun-Times reports on a new bill proposed by the head of the IL State Education Committee, that would strip hundreds of parent-led local school councils of the power to pick principals.

Louisiana

EdWeek reports on the ongoing debate taking place in New Orleans over the validity of Secretary Duncan’s comments that “the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina.”

Michigan

This Detroit News editorial reports on the recent National Council on Teacher Quality report that gave MI a D- grade when it comes to preparing teachers for classroom performance.

The Detroit News reports on YES Prep’s, the charter school operator based in Houston, plan to open a school in Detroit in the fall.

The Detroit Free Press reports on Detroit’s emergency financial manager, Robert Bobb’s, plan to lay off teachers and close roughly 40 Detroit public schools to help close a $200-million deficit.

Missouri

Earl Simms, state director of the Children’s Education Council of Missouri, writes an editorial for STL Today urging MO to abolish the cap on charter schools in order to fully compete for RTTT funds.

 New Jersey

Tomorrow, NJ Gov. Chris Christie is expected to lay out his budget plans for the state, and as the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, many are expecting significant cuts to school aid.

New York

City Limits interviews Harlem Children’s Zone founder and CEO (and EEP Signatory) Geoffrey Canada – a thorough analysis of Canada’s vision for the Zone and the realities of working towards his goals.

Texas

The Houston Chronicle reports that more than 400 teachers in Houston have performed so poorly that their students have actually lost ground while in their classrooms. HISD Superintendent and EEP signatory Terry Grier is asking the school board to give their final approval to a policy that would allow the district to fire teachers whose students don't make enough progress on standardized tests.

Utah

KSL Utah reports on the idea of linking classroom performance to teacher pay advancing on UT’s Capitol Hill.

Virginia

The Washington Post reports that VA Gov. Bob McDonnell just unveiled an ambitious proposal to expand the number of charter schools in VA.

Washington State

Hampered by teachers’ unions and Democratic majorities in the WA Legislature, Seattle Pi reports on several state education leaders who believe that WA will likely miss out on RTTT funds.

Wisconsin

This Pittsburgh Live editorials silences the critics of school choice by highlighting the fact that more low-income students in Milwaukee’s 20-year-old voucher program – 18% more – graduate from high school than their traditional public school peers.

Public Schedule of U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

The Week Ahead: Wednesday, Feb. 10 - Saturday, Feb. 13

Information/Schedule Subject to Change

(All times local)

Thursday, Feb. 11

Testifies before the House Budget Committee on the Education Department's fiscal year 2011 budget. 10 a.m. Cannon House Office Bldg., Rm. 210.

Conference call with reporters on school lunch, joined by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Call-in details to be announced.

Friday, Feb. 12

Remarks at the American Association of School Administrators national conference. 10 a.m. Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, Ariz.

Saturday, Feb. 13

No public events scheduled

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Categories: Daily News RoundUp