I read the new American Federation for Children/Step Up for Students study on choice for Black students in Florida, and found a bit of inspiration in the following charts: These charts compare the NAEP scores for Black students attending Florida charter schools to those of statewide averages for Black students.[Read More…]
Tag: black student achievement
Controlling the narrative: Parental choice, Black empowerment and lessons from Florida
Editor’s note: This special report was compiled by Denisha Merriweather, director of public relations and content marketing at the American Federation for Children; Dava Hankerson, director of enterprise data and research at Step Up For Students; Nathaniel Cunneen, communications associate at the American Federation for Children; and Ron Matus, director of[Read More…]
Education choice gives Black students a way out of ‘achievement gaps’ – and the systems that cause them
A recent article on The 74 noted the controversy over using the term “achievement gap” to describe learning disparities between Black and white students, with critics arguing that the education reform movement’s focus on “widespread, high-stakes standardized testing” heightens racial stereotypes. This is like blaming a thermometer for a[Read More…]
New group aims to create pipeline of black school leaders, entrepreneurs in Florida
In an effort aimed at boosting black student achievement, a new group is forming in Florida to develop a cadre of black entrepreneurs and executives to lead high-quality schools, including charter and private schools. Black Floridians C.A.R.E. – which stands for Choice Advocates Reforming Education – is chaired by T. Willard[Read More…]
redefinED roundup: School choice in Arkansas, charter schools in Maine and more
Arkansas: A federal judge’s ruling on the state’s school choice law opens the door for legislative action on choice. (Arkansas News) Maine: Gov. Paul LePage and the newly formed Maine Charter School Commission are at odds over the pace of the commission’s work. (Bangor Daily News) Louisiana: More financial concerns surface about[Read More…]
Florida pastor symbolizes new face of vouchers, school choice
If you read the papers, you know the story. People who like vouchers and tax credit scholarships are right-wingers. They don’t like public schools. They’re corporate pawns. Now meet the Rev. Manuel L. Sykes. He’s a Democrat. He’s president of the NAACP in St. Petersburg, Fla. He thinks public schools[Read More…]
In Florida, a rare opportunity to redefine supporters of school choice
They hold public schools in contempt. They think private schools are better. They want to privatize everything. Supporters of school choice, including vouchers and tax-credit scholarships, have long been defined by cartoonish stereotypes. And as a former education reporter for one of the biggest newspapers in the country, I know how hard[Read More…]