NSBA Voucher Brief/WP - Rhee starts student advocacy group/Inky Choice OPED/Daily KOS re Charters/Ohio RTT

 

The Case Against Private School Vouchers

NSBA Voucher Strategy Center

http://www.nsba.org/MainMenu/Advocacy/FederalLaws/SchoolVouchers/VoucherStrategyCenter/The-Case-Against-Private-School-Vouchers.aspx

Former D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee starts student advocacy group

By Bill Turque and Nick Anderson

Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, December 6, 2010; 5:30 PM

Michelle A. Rhee, who often expressed impatience with politics in more than three years as D.C. schools chancellor, launched a new political organization Monday that plans to spend $1 billion bringing her aggressive brand of education reform to the national stage .

Rhee said the new group, StudentsFirst, will pressure elected officials and bankroll candidates at all levels of government who support her approach. The agenda includes recruiting high-quality teachers who are held accountable for student growth, swiftly removing those who do not perform, offering merit pay to reward top educators, expanding school choice and fostering parent and family involvement.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/06/AR2010120602718.html

Philadelphia Inquirer Opinion Posted on Sun, Dec. 5, 2010

Quality schools for all must be a top priority

Howie Beigelman

is the deputy director of public policy for the New York-based Orthodox Union, an advocacy and support group for the Jewish community

Education in America is the civil rights issue of the 21st century. While we can respectfully debate the solutions, we should all agree on one thing: Every child deserves the opportunity to attend a great school.

The Orthodox Union is ready to advocate for that reality through school choice and reform that increases access to quality education options for all Pennsylvania students.

“The situation in West Philadelphia is a perfect illustration of why we need to give all families more options. As part of a visit organized by Students First for religious leaders, we were able to see firsthand three different high schools and better understand how each provides for families in the community.”
Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20101205_Quality_schools_for_all_must_be_a_top_priority.html#ixzz17QEJJpyw

Daily KOS Blog

Behind the drumbeat for charter schools

by Laura Clawson

Sun Sep 26, 2010 at 07:00:05 PM PST

Let's say you have an existing product that needs improvement. You come up with a replacement you're really excited about. After more than a decade (PDF), the replacement product is better than the original 17% of the time. It's worse 37% of the time.

At this point, if you choose to plow forward with the new product without stepping back and sincerely trying to figure out what lessons can be learned from the respective successes of each product, you're proving one of two things about yourself. Either you're really, really stupid, or you have a motivation separate from the question of quality.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/9/22/904312/-Behind-the-drumbeat-for-charter-schools

The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

Reconsider School Grants for Ohio

December 5, 2010 - News-Register

After assuring Ohio Governor-Elect John Kasich $400 million to improve public schools will be provided to his state, U.S. Department of Education officials are backtracking.

Days after Kasich defeated Gov. Ted Strickland, the incumbent warned that education changes planned by Kasich could jeopardize $400 million in federal "Race to the Top" money approved for Ohio schools. Kasich said he had been assured by federal officials the money will be delivered.

http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/549564/Reconsider-School-Grants-for-Ohio.html?nav=511

We’ve added new sections to the website for What Works   and for Vouchers

If you have suggestions for links to websites, articles or reports that describe best practices for improving student learning/achievement please send them along.

Likewise for background and unfolding coverage of the voucher issue.