Daily News Roundup—July 7, 2010

EEP News

The debate on the proposed $800 million in education reform cuts has sparked much insightful discussion (and dissent) over on the Education Experts blog at the National Journal. Click here to see fourteen responses from both sides of the argument, including from EEP Signatories Tom Vander Ark, Chester Finn, Arthur Rothkopf, and Lisa Graham Keegan – as well as posts from The New Teacher Project and EEP, partner, National Council of La Raza. 

National           

The Alliance for Excellent Education estimates the economic benefits of reducing the dropout rate among students of color in the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.

If you’ve been falling behind on the whirlwind story of the EduJobs bills and the Chairman Obey amendment, check out this post from the New America Foundation to get up to speed. 

This week in Slate, Brian Palmer asks when it became so hard to fire a teacher? The article points to opposition within the two largest teachers’ unions (NEAT and AFT) directed towards President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan who have angered the unions by pushing reforms that would make it easier for school districts to fire ineffective teachers.

Diane Ravitch spoke at the National Education Administration (NEA) Conference Tuesday, panning the No Child Left Behind Act, the Race to the Top, charter schools, the "privatization" of public schools, merit pay, and efforts to shift away from seniority and tenure, among many other things. At the end of her speech, Ravitch donned a T-shirt reading "Public Schools: It's a Right, Not a Race," to great acclaim and applause. 

Heather Zavadsky writes for the LA Times about five school systems across the country, varying in location, funding and demographics that have all raised student achievement significantly, using five common-sense steps.

Public Innovators takes a look at the Social Innovation Fund (SIF) one year later, and highlights the strengths and shortcomings of the program thus far.

Education Next reports on the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation’s long and deep immersion in Ohio education policy, particularly in charter school authorizing.

EdWeek (subscription required) reports that some schools are implementing “pay-to-play” extracurricular activities in their schools due to budget shortfalls.

Esther Wojcicki, Creative Commons Board chair and Michael Levine, the executive director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, call for a revolution in teaching literacy in a digital age, providing concrete recommendations of how to implement their ideas to make schools more effective and close the achievement gap (Huffington Post).

From the States

California

The LA Times follows the turnaround story at Fremont High, a school in which 2% of its students were proficient in the math course taught there last year, as it faces challenges and critics in restructuring.

Maryland

Listen to the second part of NPR’s (audio) story (Claudio Sanchez) about school restructuring.  Part 2 explores Annapolis High School’s turnaround, involving a 12-month school year, re-vamped staff, and a strong commitment to never again let a single student fall through the cracks.  (Listen to and/or read the transcript of Part 1 here).

New Jersey

The Wall Street Journal reports that a charter school planned for Princeton-area children has hit a roadblock on a zoning issue, prompting a debate in the affluent community over whether charters are even needed in high-performing school districts.

New York

Education Next supports a recent study by MDRC providing evidence that smaller high schools are working in New York City.

HechingerEd asks, “Why the anger at closing bad schools?” and looks to history to try and understand the mobilization of groups like the NAACP against the closing of 19 low-performing schools in New York City last month.

Ohio

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Cleveland teachers union reached a tentative contract agreement with Cleveland Municipal School District Monday night. The details of the agreement have not been disclosed, but union officials said many laid-off union members might be returning to the classroom in time for school next year.

Texas

Eduwonk reports that YES Prep, a Houston-based charter management network, has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Houston,” by Houston Business Journal–the first time any public school or school system has made the list.

Virginia

The Washington Post reports that officials in Fairfax County sparred Tuesday over the $8 million in funding provided to programs for the area's neediest schoolchildren, with Board of Supervisors members accusing public school officials of not considering the impact program changes would have on the students.  (Real implications for achievement gap closing strategies here.)

The Virginian-Pilot reports that education experts believe Virginia is “missing the mark” when it comes to education reform efforts, not keeping up with national trends regarding charter schools, teacher accountability, and turning around low-performing schools in the state.

Washington

The Seattle Times reports that Seattle Schools Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson sets an ambitious agenda to implement a report card system for city schools, and to push forth an accountability initiative that she has touted for the past three years.

Washington D.C.

Walt Gardner asks in EdWeek:  Will the newly minted teacher contract in D.C. schools, which changed the rules on rules for tenure, seniority and pay in the district, actually help students get a quality education?

Wyoming

The Billings Gazette reports that Wyoming is adopting new math and language arts standards for its schools that aim to better prepare students for college and careers.

PUBLIC SCHEDULE OF U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY ARNE DUNCAN

THE WEEK AHEAD: Monday, July 5 - Saturday, July 11

Monday, July 5           

No public events scheduled.

Tuesday, July 6

No public events scheduled.

Wednesday, July 7

Noon-12:30 p.m.

The Secretary will participate in the Department’s “Let’s Read! Let’s Move” summer reading initiative. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is scheduled to attend.

U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W. (on the plaza), Washington, D.C.

Thursday, July 8

No public events scheduled.

Friday, July 9

2:10 to 3:20 p.m. PDT

The Secretary will travel to Seattle, Wash., to meet with community partners, education stakeholders, as well as students at Aviation High School, for a discussion on innovation in education. Sen. Patty Murray will join him.

Aviation High School, 615 South 200th St., Des Moines, Wash.

Saturday, July 10

No public events scheduled.

Sunday, July 11

No public events scheduled.

Want to receive these headlines via email? Send us a note - info@educationequalityproject.org - with the Subject Title "Daily News Roundup."

And you can always review old RoundUps on our website here.

Categories: Daily News RoundUp