Alabama: Gov. Robert Bentley signs the tax credit scholarship bill into law after the Alabama Supreme Court lifts a restraining order from a circuit court judge that prevented the bill from being sent to him (NPR). More from AL.com. The Alabama Education Association is running ads accusing lawmakers of betrayal for approving the bill (Sand Mountain Reporter).
Indiana: Gov. Mike Pence tells a crowd of several thousand school choice supporters that vouchers and charter schools are key pieces in ed reform (Indianapolis Star). More from Associated Press, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Evansville Courier & Press. The proposed voucher expansion raises concerns about cost (Associated Press).
Pennsylvania: Lawmakers are set to consider several bills that would alter funding formulas for both virtual and bricks-n-mortar charter schools (Pittsburg Post Gazette).
Wisconsin: The state is holding back voucher funds from five Milwaukee private schools it says have financial and/or reporting issues (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). Three private schools that lost accreditation continue to receive voucher funds because of a loophole in state law (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).
Ohio: Gov. John Kasich proposes to hike charter school funding by 4.5 percent (Cleveland Plain Dealer).
Florida: One city in Florida turns its district schools into charter schools in an effort to boost quality (redefinED). A prominent Democrat helps lead the effort (redefinED). More than 600 gather in Orlando for the Black Alliance for Educational Options’ annual symposium (redefinED). Legislation to require safety alerts for private schools clears two more hurdles (redefinED).
Tennessee: Gov. Bill Haslam’s voucher proposal clears the House Education Committee (Associated Press). But a Republican senators puts forward a broader, alternative proposal (The Tennessean). The Rocketship charter school network plans to open eight schools in Nashville, beginning next year (Getting Smart). Nashville school district officials are stunned (The Tennessean). They also worry about the financial fallout of a bill that would create a statewide charter school authorizer (The Tennessean).
North Carolina: Lawmakers propose a parent-friendly tweak to the state’s tax credit scholarship program for students with disabilities (Greensboro News & Record).
South Carolina: The Senate Education Committee passes a bill that would allow parents to send their children to public schools in other districts (WBTW).
Louisiana: Registration opens for the state’s new course choice program (New Orleans Times Picayune). More from Gannett Louisiana. The ACLU and other groups file legal documents accusing the statewide voucher program of crossing church-state lines (Monroe News Star). One school district considers creation of an online academy (Baton Rouge Advocate).
Mississippi: The fate of charter school legislation is in limbo as the House and Senate differ on scope (Jackson Clarion Ledger).
Arkansas: Lawmakers advance a bill that would make the state education department, rather than the state education board, the authorizer of charter schools. Associated Press.
Texas: Hundreds of teachers rally at the state Capitol for more money, less testing and no vouchers (Houston Chronicle). Proposed charter school expansion faces hurdles in the Legislature (Lubbock Avalanche Journal).
Utah: Lawmakers kill a bill that would have created a pilot project for blended learning (Salt Lake Tribune). Charter schools boost the performance of nearby district schools, according to new research from a University of Utah professor (Deseret News).
Montana: The Montana Family Foundation is among the groups leading the charge for school choice in the state (Independent Record). The Montana teachers union is among those leading the charge against it (The Missoulian).
Oregon: Private school enrollment is falling in Oregon and nationwide in part because of the growth of charter schools (The Oregonian).
Massachusetts: Some school districts prepare virtual learning proposals in the wake of a new state law (MetroWest Daily News). A popular virtual school faces an uncertain future because of new state laws (Greenfield Recorder).
