New York: More than 1,000 charter school parents rally in Albany to convince the state to let charter schools compete for state funding for pre-K (Fox23 News). Montana: Lawmakers hear from parents and other child advocates who want their state to open charter schools and support giving families more choices, such as[Read More…]
Tag: Democrats and charter schools
Florida charter school bill okayed along party lines
The Florida House subcommittee on choice and innovation approved its first bill along party lines Wednesday, giving charter schools more freedom to grow but also including new accountability measures. Lawmakers continue to amend the bill, which would allow charter schools to move into unused district facilities. It would also tighten[Read More…]
redefinED roundup: Vouchers in Tennessee, tax credit scholarships in Mississippi & more
Tennessee: Gov. Bill Haslam proposes a voucher that’s limited to low-income students in low-performing schools, with additional state funding for those schools to boot (KnoxNews). More from timesfreepress.com and Nashville Public Radio. Haslam reiterates that his proposal won’t affect funding for public schools (Nooga.com). Both supporters and opponents find details to[Read More…]
redefinED roundup: Another parent trigger in California, charter school performance in Michigan & more
California: A parents group in Los Angeles is using the state’s landmark parent trigger law to force the school district to reform a low-performing school. (Los Angeles Times). More from the Associated Press and Education Week. A national report finds the state continues to lead the nation in charter school growth, despite funding disparities[Read More…]
redefinED roundup: Louisiana voucher ruling, school choice aspirations in Mississippi & more
Louisiana: A district judge deems the state’s voucher program unconstitutional because of the funding mechanism it uses to send public dollars to private schools (coverage roundup at redefinED). A federal judge rules the recent expansion of vouchers and charter schools in Lousiana conflicts with one school district’s desegregation order (New Orleans Times Picayune). Mississippi: Gov. Phil Bryant is[Read More…]
More parent trigger disconnect
Pity the parent trigger. Its political identity crisis never ends. In Florida, the trigger erupted in a state House race this week, with a Democratic challenger accusing her Republican rival in an attack ad of voting last spring “to take control of our schools away from parents and teachers, and[Read More…]
redefinED roundup: Chicago strike shows Democratic divide, school choice growth in Florida & more
Chicago: The teachers union strike is over, but it highlights a growing rift within the Democratic Party over school choice and education reform (Christian Science Monitor). Mayor Rahm Emanuel can now focus on expanding charter schools (Chicago Tribune). (Image from louisville.com) Florida: The state teachers union sinks $1 million into the campaign over[Read More…]
Democrat joins Republican Gov. Rick Scott at charter school visit
Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s visit to a new charter school yesterday was not only noteworthy because it reaffirmed his commitment to parental school choice, but because of who was by his side: former state Sen. Al Lawson, a Tallahassee Democrat now running for Congress. “Throughout my 28 years in the[Read More…]