School Reform News
The Heartland Institute's monthly outreach publication for the national movement for greater competition and choice in K-12 schooling.
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School Reform News
March 2009
2009 March School Reform News: Milwaukee Voucher Program Under Fire (PDF)
The March 2009 issue of School Reform News opens with a report on California’s continuing budget crisis, which has some observers fearing multibillion-dollar ... (read more)
The March 2009 issue of School Reform News opens with a report on California’s continuing budget crisis, which has some observers fearing multibillion-dollar ... (read more)
Ala. Students Must Take Virtual Class to Graduate
Alabama has a new requirement for graduating seniors: Take an online distance-learning course.The requirement, passed last spring and scheduled to take ... (read more)
Alabama has a new requirement for graduating seniors: Take an online distance-learning course.The requirement, passed last spring and scheduled to take ... (read more)
Budget Crises Could Contain Silver Lining
As educators, parents, and leaders across the country increasingly accept that cuts will likely have to be made to public education because state budget ... (read more)
As educators, parents, and leaders across the country increasingly accept that cuts will likely have to be made to public education because state budget ... (read more)
California Charters Among Best for Low-Income Kids
Twelve of California’s 15 highest-performing schools serving primarily low-income children are charter schools, according to the 2008 Academic Performance ... (read more)
Twelve of California’s 15 highest-performing schools serving primarily low-income children are charter schools, according to the 2008 Academic Performance ... (read more)
California Considers Deep Education Cuts
California school officials and education reformers are wrestling with the specter of multibillion-dollar education budget cuts in 2009.But as Republican ... (read more)
California school officials and education reformers are wrestling with the specter of multibillion-dollar education budget cuts in 2009.But as Republican ... (read more)
Court: Only School Districts Can Authorize Charters in Fla.
A Florida state appellate court has stripped an independent charter school authorizer of its power, meaning the only course charter schools in the state ... (read more)
A Florida state appellate court has stripped an independent charter school authorizer of its power, meaning the only course charter schools in the state ... (read more)
Federal Stimulus Bill Unlikely to Improve Education
In February, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The $787 billion bill dedicates more than $100 billion for ... (read more)
In February, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The $787 billion bill dedicates more than $100 billion for ... (read more)
Kentucky Spending More, But Academic Results Lag
When the Kentucky Education Reform Act was passed in 1990, the law was hailed nationally as a model for closing funding and academic gaps in one of the ... (read more)
When the Kentucky Education Reform Act was passed in 1990, the law was hailed nationally as a model for closing funding and academic gaps in one of the ... (read more)
Mass. Charter Schools Outperform Their Peers
Massachusetts charter schools are outperforming traditional public schools in both math and English, a new study shows.The study was sponsored by the state’s ... (read more)
Massachusetts charter schools are outperforming traditional public schools in both math and English, a new study shows.The study was sponsored by the state’s ... (read more)
Michigan Union Misrepresented Illegal Strike Goals
Having uncovered a local union leader’s use of public emails to organize an illegal walkout, a Michigan taxpayer activist group says the record exposes ... (read more)
Having uncovered a local union leader’s use of public emails to organize an illegal walkout, a Michigan taxpayer activist group says the record exposes ... (read more)
Michigan Virtual School Expands Students’ Choices
Imagine your local high school offering courses in forensic science, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, human space exploration, Web design, Latin, and film studies, ... (read more)
Imagine your local high school offering courses in forensic science, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, human space exploration, Web design, Latin, and film studies, ... (read more)
Milwaukee Voucher Program Facing Headwinds
Wisconsin lawmakers are expected this legislative session, once again, to take up the question of funding for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Proposals ... (read more)
Wisconsin lawmakers are expected this legislative session, once again, to take up the question of funding for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Proposals ... (read more)
Milwaukee Voucher School Is Founded on Diversity
The notion that cultural differences are part of our national strength is the spark that conceived Atlas Preparatory Academy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin seven-and-a-half ... (read more)
The notion that cultural differences are part of our national strength is the spark that conceived Atlas Preparatory Academy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin seven-and-a-half ... (read more)
Mississippi Bill Would Expand Charter Schools
Mississippi—home to exactly one charter school and one of the nation’s most restrictive charter school laws—may soon expand its stable ... (read more)
Mississippi—home to exactly one charter school and one of the nation’s most restrictive charter school laws—may soon expand its stable ... (read more)
New Hampshire Paves Way for Early Graduation
New Hampshire policymakers are rethinking the traditional four-year high school model in hopes of creating a more-rigorous curriculum. Last autumn the ... (read more)
New Hampshire policymakers are rethinking the traditional four-year high school model in hopes of creating a more-rigorous curriculum. Last autumn the ... (read more)
Obama Rejects Reform with Duncan Pick
Nominating Chicago Public Schools chief Arne Duncan to head up the U.S. Department of Education was like selecting Exxon Valdez captain Joseph Hazelwood ... (read more)
Nominating Chicago Public Schools chief Arne Duncan to head up the U.S. Department of Education was like selecting Exxon Valdez captain Joseph Hazelwood ... (read more)
Ohio Narrowly Rejects Voucher Expansion
By just one vote, the Ohio General Assembly rejected a bill to create a new special-needs school voucher program that would have helped parents of students ... (read more)
By just one vote, the Ohio General Assembly rejected a bill to create a new special-needs school voucher program that would have helped parents of students ... (read more)
Oklahoma Homeschool Bills Insult Families
Homeschooling advocates throughout [Oklahoma] are rightfully alarmed about a pair of legislative proposals to place more restrictions on families who opt ... (read more)
Homeschooling advocates throughout [Oklahoma] are rightfully alarmed about a pair of legislative proposals to place more restrictions on families who opt ... (read more)
Poll: Oregonians Hungry for School Choice
The people of Oregon want more choice among educational opportunities for the state’s K-12 students, a new poll reports. According to the report, ... (read more)
The people of Oregon want more choice among educational opportunities for the state’s K-12 students, a new poll reports. According to the report, ... (read more)
Survey: Va. Parents Support All Forms of School Choice
Voters throughout Virginia’s lowest-income neighborhoods are strong supporters of school choice, a new poll reports.In mid-January the Thomas Jefferson ... (read more)
Voters throughout Virginia’s lowest-income neighborhoods are strong supporters of school choice, a new poll reports.In mid-January the Thomas Jefferson ... (read more)
Vouchers Saving Florida Tax Dollars, State Reports
Florida’s statewide voucher program for low-income students saved taxpayers $38.9 million in the 2007-08 school year, according to a study released ... (read more)
Florida’s statewide voucher program for low-income students saved taxpayers $38.9 million in the 2007-08 school year, according to a study released ... (read more)
