February 1: Top Story - ‘Excellent Education Can Be Delivered With Careful Policy Choices’

An op-ed in the Los Angeles Times by Margaret E. Raymond, director of the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University, recommends that the success of New York City charter schools serve as a “learning lab” for L.A. and other cities.

In other headlines...
‘Union Officials Are Disturbingly Inflexible Toward Charter Schools’
‘Va.‘s Laws on Charter Schools Could Ease’
‘A Talent Acquisition Machine for Public Education’

‘Excellent Education Can Be Delivered With Careful Policy Choices’

An op-ed in the Los Angeles Times by Margaret E. Raymond, director of the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University, recommends that the success of New York City charter schools serve as a “learning lab” for L.A. and other cities. According to Raymond, three policy elements contribute to New York’s success: political support for charters among district and community leadership; support organizations that help charters establish effective management and financial systems; and high-quality oversight from charter school authorizers. “The strong results in New York City have important implications. They show that even in challenging urban environments, excellent education can be delivered by charter schools. Moreover, the concentration of successful schools suggests that careful policy choices about charter schools and their operations can make a big difference in their outcomes.”

Source: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-raymond1-2010feb01,0,7545869.story?track=rss

Back to Top »
________________________________________

‘Union Officials Are Disturbingly Inflexible Toward Charter Schools’

A Washington Post editorial expresses concern that teachers unions are standing in the way of educational reform, as evidenced by the United Federation of Teachers leading the fight against raising the charter school cap in New York. The UFT’s actions “may well doom New York’s Race to the Top application,” the Post writes. “If Education Secretary Arne Duncan is serious about Race to the Top being a game-changer, he can start by tossing out New York's bid and challenging it to do better.”

Source: Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/31/AR2010013101872.html

Back to Top »
________________________________________

‘Va.‘s Laws on Charter Schools Could Ease’

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that new leadership in Virginia could soon lead to changes in the state’s charter school law. New Governor Bob McDonnell campaigned on bringing more charter schools to the state, and he has appointed charter school proponent Gerard Robinson as his education secretary. Charter school bills have already been introduced in the General Assembly this session, including one which would withhold state funding to school systems that deny charter school applications that the Board of Education has approved. "This says you have a fighting chance to get the application going," said Del. Robert G. Marshall, who submitted the bill.

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/education/article/PHEN01S1_20100131-201607/321422/

Back to Top »
________________________________________

‘A Talent Acquisition Machine for Public Education’

The Houston Chronicle reports that the nonprofit Education Pioneers, which recruits and trains business, law and public policy graduates for leadership positions in education, announced last week that it is expanding to Houston. “We see them as a talent acquisition machine for public education in the greater Houston area,” said George Grainger, of the Houston Endowment, which helped fund the expansion into Houston. According to Scott Morgan, the founder and chief executive officer of Education Pioneers, the goal is to train 100 new education leaders in Houston by 2012. Last year, Education Pioneers accepted 13% of its 1,800 applications. About half the program’s fellows end up in director-level positions in charter schools or school districts. In Houston, Education Pioneers plans to partner with YES Prep Public Schools and KIPP, among others.

Source: Houston Chronicle, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6843845.html

Back to Top »
________________________________________