Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

UPDATE: Schools Matter: Stop Corporate Takeover of Local School Decision Making in TN

Schools Matter: Stop Corporate Takeover of Local School Decision Making in TN:


Stop Corporate Takeover of Local School Decision Making in TN


From a new grassroots groups in Nashville focused to stop corporate power grab in Nashville and Memphis schools:


Power grab on the Hill! CALL TO ACTION!!

Today we are seeing an outrageous power grab play out in the Tennessee legislature.  Legislation creating a process to circumvent the local school boards of Davidson and Shelby counties that allows charter school applicants to go directly to the state for charter approval was filed yesterday (Feb. 11) and is on the agenda for the House education subcommittee today.  This last minute addition of language creating a direct state level path to charter authorization is an obvious attempt to rush this legislation through the committee before the public has any 

Allergy to reading among reading experts


A blog in Ed Week has the headline “Students Must Learn More Words, Say Studies.” Based on a yet to be published article in the Reading Research Quarterly, it asserts that research shows that teachers are not teaching enough vocabulary.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/02/06/20vocabulary_ep.h32.html?tkn=TZMFgk7NAkmjOoC5gr4c2bOzxwjAgLv%2BoQnD&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS1

Only two of those who posted comments and none of the experts cited in the article (except for Hirsch) appear to be even aware of the hypothesis (not to mention the massive research showing) that vocabulary is gradually 

Thirteen Ohio School Districts "Scrubbing" Low Scoring Students

From CantonRep.com:
Four more Ohio districts, including Canton City Schools, removed poor-performing students from their rolls, state Auditor David Yost said Monday in the final step of his investigation into a practice whereby schools attempted to improve performance ratings. 
More than 70 schools or districts also had attendance reporting errors, though these didn’t appear to be purposeful, Yost said. 
The four districts bring to nine the number that Yost has identified in his investigation of the data 

Today's Charter School Crime Blotter

Troubled charter school board president resigns; principal ordered to repay ...
Las Vegas Review - Journal
Allegations of mismanagement at Quest Academy have led to the resignation of charter school President Christina Fuentes and prompted other board members to order Principal Connie Jordan to repay $15,000 in unmerited bonuses awarded to her by ...


Grant stripped from Brighton charter school, criminal investigation on
Denver Post
A Brighton charter school has been stripped of a startup grant after a state investigation into the misuse of federal funds and a criminal investigation has been handed over to the Adams County district attorney. Eagle Ridge Academy, formerly Brighton ...