LEV PAC endorses 28 candidates for 2012 election
The League of Education Voters Political Action Committee has announced the first round of endorsements for Washington state 2012 Senate and House elections. “This initial list is made up of people with long standing track records of leadership and positive impact for Washington’s students,” said Frank Ordway, Director of Government Relations. “We are proud to support all of them.” LEV PAC has endorsed 21 Democrats and seven Republicans in both the Senate and House races so far. … [Read more]
Judge expected to rule Wednesday on I-1053
A King County Superior Court judge is expected to issue a ruling on Wednesday in the lawsuit to overturn Initiative 1053. The League of Education Voters (LEV), the Washington Education Association (WEA), state legislators, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Utter, and other taxpayers filed the lawsuit in King County Superior Court on behalf of Washington students, parents, educators and organizations. The suit challenges the constitutionality of a supermajority requirement to raise … [Read more]
The Daily Ed: May 29, 2012
Experts: Remedial college classes need fixing (AP) Nearly 2 million college students take remedial classes annually, but experts say that the way they are offered needs to be rethought. Local colleges aim to welcome veterans back home (Seattle Times) Seattle Central Community College is one of many local colleges adding new programs to help veterans feel welcome and succeed on its campus. Editorial: A worthwhile conversation about charters (Seattle Times) THE charter schools ballot … [Read more]
Attend “Finding Your Voice” Parent Institute
The Office of the Education Ombudsman is hosting a parent institute, titled "Finding Your Voice" in Renton on June 9th. The event is geared to help parents better understand the public school system and to help them become advocates for their children. Attendees will have the opportunity to take classes on topics such as: How do school districts work? - Understanding the way school districts are structured, and financed, how education laws and policies are created, and how to … [Read more]
Rocketship Education: Eliminate the achievement gap in our lifetimes
Rocketship Education currently operates three K-5 charter schools in San Jose that serve overwhelmingly low-income, immigrant students. Through a rigorous college-preparatory focus, Rocketship seeks to transform public education by developing an instructional model that supplements traditional face-to-face instruction with instruction provided via computer-based programs and tutoring. As part of Rocketship’s school education model, students attend one block of Math/Science, one block of … [Read more]
Green Dot charter network raises performance
This article ran in Education Week. Green Dot operates 18 charter schools, which include 14 high schools and four middle schools, in Los Angeles, with a focus on serving impoverished communities. Students attending a cluster of Los Angeles schools overseen by the charter operator Green Dot significantly increased their test scores and persistence in school, and took more challenging courses than comparable peers, a newly released study has found. The schools were part of what was … [Read more]
Korsmo’s news roundup: Show me the money
Edsters! Before you pack up the kiddos, unplug the toaster and forget your hiking boots here’s all the news that any terrifically ed-worthy reader will need to get through a long weekend. Charterlicious: A broad coalition that includes LEV has filed an initiative for this fall’s ballot that will lift the ban on public charter schools in Washington. Much has been written and much more will be said between now and November. The initiative allows up to 40 public charter schools to open in … [Read more]
The Daily Ed: May 25, 2012
Seattle School Board can't hide from U.S. Chamber's slap (Seattle Times) The Seattle Times Editorial Board weighs in on the recent report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that says the Seattle School Board has a management problem. Students address grading systems in letters to Kennewick School Board (Bellingham Herald) As part of a civics course, several middle school students delivered letters opposed (and a few in support) of the grading system used in some of the area … [Read more]
Student who couldn’t read in 6th grade accepted into college
Achievement First is a public charter school network with schools in Brooklyn and Connecticut. This article ran in the New Haven Register. NEW HAVEN — Achievement First Amistad High School senior Benjamin Cuevas said that until sixth grade, he couldn’t read a sentence to save his life. But, Cuevas chose to attend Gateway Community College to pursue a career in graphic novels. Cuevas was placed in a special education program he said didn’t seem to help. But once he became a student … [Read more]
Center on Reinventing Public Education to host webinars on district-charter collaboration
With the likelihood of charter schools being on the November ballot, now is a great time to learn more about collaboration efforts between the non-profit public schools and their respective districts. The Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) will be hosting two virtual learning sessions on the subject, exploring the experiences of charter schools in the Denver, Los Angeles, Hartford, and Minneapolis school districts. First up: How District and Charter Schools Coordinate Supports for … [Read more]
