Charter News in the Media
California Passes Major School-Reform Package’
According to USA Today, the California Legislature has sent two educational reform bills to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who plans to sign them, better positioning California to win $700 million in federal ‘Race to Top’ grants. After narrowly passing the Assembly Tuesday night, the bills were approved yesterday by two Senate committees and passed a floor vote later in the day. The bills will give the state leeway to close failing schools, replace the principal and half the teachers, or convert them to charter schools. In 75 schools, parents will be able to trigger such changes if 50% sign a petition. Students in the lowest-performing 1,000 schools will be able to transfer to any other school in the state. “For too many years, too many children were trapped in low-performing schools. The exit doors may as well have been chained,” Schwarzenegger said. The bills also allow teacher evaluations to be linked to student performance.
Source: USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-01-06-California-education_N.htm
Mass. ‘House Swiftly OKs Sweeping Education Measure’
According to the Boston Globe, the Massachusetts House of Representatives strongly approved an education reform bill after midnight last night, in a vote of 119 to 35. The bill will allow the state to overhaul failing schools, and double the number of charter school seats in failing districts. The Senate passed a version of the bill in November, and the bills will be considered in a conference committee today. The reform effort is expected to better the state’s chances to win $250 million in federal stimulus funds. “It’s a great day for the children of Massachusetts,’’ said Representative Marty Walz. “This bill will lead to significant improvement in our public schools and will make great strides in closing our state’s achievement gap.’’
Source: Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/07/house_swiftly_oks_sweeping_education_measure
Charter Schools Proposed in South Dakota
According to the Daily Republic, South Dakota Education Secretary Tom Oster said Tuesday that he will offer legislation to bring charter schools to the state. Under Oster’s plan, school districts will approve charters, and count charter students as part of district enrollment. The legislation would also create a statewide American Indian charter high school/junior college, which would be overseen by the Board of Education. According to Keith Moore, the diversity officer for the University of South Dakota, four out of five Indians drop out of state universities as college freshman, while more than half of Indians who transfer to a state university after two years of tribal college stay in school. The changes considered will be part of South Dakota’s ‘Race to the Top’ application; the state plans to apply for $68 million in federal funding. The 2010 legislative session begins January 12.
Source: Daily Republic, http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/event/article/id/39832/group/News/