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School Reform News
February 2005
Achievement Data Show Positive Impact of Charter Schools, Study Finds
Parents, teachers, and other school reformers who want to make full use of public charter schools to help students who are struggling in regular public ... (read more)
Parents, teachers, and other school reformers who want to make full use of public charter schools to help students who are struggling in regular public ... (read more)
Big Apple Hits Jackpot in School Finance Case
In an escalating conflict with the separation of powers doctrine, a court-appointed panel on November 30, 2004 unanimously determined that New York state ... (read more)
In an escalating conflict with the separation of powers doctrine, a court-appointed panel on November 30, 2004 unanimously determined that New York state ... (read more)
Building Unwanted Schools in Illinois
While taxpayers in Florida’s Miami-Dade School District aren’t getting the new schools they want and need, taxpayers in Jersey County, Illinois, are getting ... (read more)
While taxpayers in Florida’s Miami-Dade School District aren’t getting the new schools they want and need, taxpayers in Jersey County, Illinois, are getting ... (read more)
California Charters Show Above-Average Gains
Students attending California charter schools were 8.5 percent more likely to be proficient at reading and 5.0 percent more likely to be proficient at math ... (read more)
Students attending California charter schools were 8.5 percent more likely to be proficient at reading and 5.0 percent more likely to be proficient at math ... (read more)
Detroit Schools Face Default
In order to comply with state and federal laws, Detroit Public Schools issued a comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004. ... (read more)
In order to comply with state and federal laws, Detroit Public Schools issued a comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004. ... (read more)
Education Next Addresses Merit Pay for Teachers
Merit pay for teachers is featured in the Winter 2005 issue of the scholarly journal, Education Next, published by the Hoover Institution. The issue also ... (read more)
Merit pay for teachers is featured in the Winter 2005 issue of the scholarly journal, Education Next, published by the Hoover Institution. The issue also ... (read more)
Fast Facts About Private Schools
In America: One in four schools is a private school. One child in nine attends a private school. Private schools produce an annual savings to ... (read more)
In America: One in four schools is a private school. One child in nine attends a private school. Private schools produce an annual savings to ... (read more)
February 2005 Friedman Report Profile: Donayle Whitmore
As a mother of two, president and interim director of the Missouri Coalition for School Choice, and founder of the Ptah Academy, Donayle Whitmore is heavily ... (read more)
As a mother of two, president and interim director of the Missouri Coalition for School Choice, and founder of the Ptah Academy, Donayle Whitmore is heavily ... (read more)
February 2005 Friedman Report: School Choice Roundup
California * Florida * New Jersey South Carolina * Texas * Wisconsin CALIFORNIA Gifted Student’s Lawsuit Could Have Impact on Voucher Plans Levi ... (read more)
California * Florida * New Jersey South Carolina * Texas * Wisconsin CALIFORNIA Gifted Student’s Lawsuit Could Have Impact on Voucher Plans Levi ... (read more)
February 2005 School Reform News (PDF)
High school students in the U.S. have a poorer understanding of basic math concepts than their counterparts in most other leading industrialized nations, ... (read more)
High school students in the U.S. have a poorer understanding of basic math concepts than their counterparts in most other leading industrialized nations, ... (read more)
Florida Corporations Step Up Support for Low-Income Students
In 2004, Florida corporations significantly increased their participation in Step Up for Students, the state’s two-year-old program intended to provide ... (read more)
In 2004, Florida corporations significantly increased their participation in Step Up for Students, the state’s two-year-old program intended to provide ... (read more)
Florida Policy on Social Promotion Helps Students
A new study has found ending social promotion leads to significant academic improvement for previously low-performing students. The study, published in ... (read more)
A new study has found ending social promotion leads to significant academic improvement for previously low-performing students. The study, published in ... (read more)
Florida Supreme Court Reverses Itself
On December 28, 2004, the Florida Supreme Court backed away from its December 24 order telling Gov. Jeb Bush he would have to file his initial appeal briefs ... (read more)
On December 28, 2004, the Florida Supreme Court backed away from its December 24 order telling Gov. Jeb Bush he would have to file his initial appeal briefs ... (read more)
Help Wanted: School Choice Leaders in the 109th Congress
As the 109th Congress convened in January, Capitol Hill supporters of educational freedom were nervously surveying the likely composition and leadership ... (read more)
As the 109th Congress convened in January, Capitol Hill supporters of educational freedom were nervously surveying the likely composition and leadership ... (read more)
Home Schooling Benefits Are Real, Widespread
The evidence that home schooled students do well is more than special-interest pleading. Departments of education in such states as Alaska, Tennessee, and ... (read more)
The evidence that home schooled students do well is more than special-interest pleading. Departments of education in such states as Alaska, Tennessee, and ... (read more)
Illinois Supreme Court to Hear Charter School Appeal
The Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear in 2005 the appeal of a proposed Illinois charter school whose application was rejected by the local school ... (read more)
The Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear in 2005 the appeal of a proposed Illinois charter school whose application was rejected by the local school ... (read more)
Legal Jujitsu
According to Sol Stern, one of New York state’s most powerful arguments against the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit was that New York City’s public education ... (read more)
According to Sol Stern, one of New York state’s most powerful arguments against the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit was that New York City’s public education ... (read more)
New Publication Documents Benefits of Private Education
Private education is good for students, good for families, and good for America, according to a new publication by the Council for American Private Education ... (read more)
Private education is good for students, good for families, and good for America, according to a new publication by the Council for American Private Education ... (read more)
Organization Provides Model School Choice Bills for State Legislators
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), with which the author is affiliated, released on January 7 a collection of model legislation intended ... (read more)
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), with which the author is affiliated, released on January 7 a collection of model legislation intended ... (read more)
PISA Results Cast Doubt on Heavy Use of Computers in the Classroom
Researchers Thomas Fuchs and Ludger Woessmann of the CESifo Economic Research Organization in Munich, a joint project of the University of Munich’s Center ... (read more)
Researchers Thomas Fuchs and Ludger Woessmann of the CESifo Economic Research Organization in Munich, a joint project of the University of Munich’s Center ... (read more)
Public Education: About the Child, Not the System: an exclusive interview with Cheri Pierson Yecke
“In an age of cynicism, the parents of America still believe in their country--and they want the public schools to teach their children to believe as ... (read more)
“In an age of cynicism, the parents of America still believe in their country--and they want the public schools to teach their children to believe as ... (read more)
Summary of Home School Laws in the 50 States
Home Schooling in the United States: A Legal Analysis, by Christopher J. Klicka, contains a one-page legal summary for each state and territory in the ... (read more)
Home Schooling in the United States: A Legal Analysis, by Christopher J. Klicka, contains a one-page legal summary for each state and territory in the ... (read more)
Superintendent Plans Revamp of Miami-Dade School Construction
In his first few months as the new superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Rudolph F. “Rudy” Crew negotiated a new contract with the local ... (read more)
In his first few months as the new superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Rudolph F. “Rudy” Crew negotiated a new contract with the local ... (read more)
Takeover as a Reform Strategy
Detroit Public Schools is currently operating under a five-year reform plan implemented by the Michigan legislature in March 1999. Although the measure ... (read more)
Detroit Public Schools is currently operating under a five-year reform plan implemented by the Michigan legislature in March 1999. Although the measure ... (read more)
Think Tank Helps Teachers Avoid Unwanted Union Political Spending
In December 2004, the Independence Institute, a free-market think tank in Colorado (where the author serves as a research associate), sent emails to nearly ... (read more)
In December 2004, the Independence Institute, a free-market think tank in Colorado (where the author serves as a research associate), sent emails to nearly ... (read more)
U.S. Students Flunk Math Again
PISA 2003 Mean Scores in Mathematics OECD Countries Finland 544 Korea 542 Netherlands 538 Japan 534 Canada 532 Belgium 529 Switzerland 527 Australia ... (read more)
PISA 2003 Mean Scores in Mathematics OECD Countries Finland 544 Korea 542 Netherlands 538 Japan 534 Canada 532 Belgium 529 Switzerland 527 Australia ... (read more)