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December 1-15, 2011
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR/ARTICLESLETTERS TO THE EDITOR/ARTICLES
12/15/11 Charter schools: Wave of the future?
"Everyone interviewed for this story said education officials have to do a better job of closing down charter schools that aren't making the grade and implement on a wider scale the practices that are producing positive results."
12/15/11 Hybrid math is on the way to Triangle schools
"The days of Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry could be numbered in Triangle schools, but they would be replaced by a new trio of what's supposed to be tougher and more in-depth math courses."
12/15/11 Report: half of schools fail federal standards
"Nearly half of America's public schools didn't meet federal achievement standards this year, marking the largest failure rate since the much-criticized No Child Left Behind Law took effect a decade ago, according to a national report released Thursday."
12/15/11 NC New Schools Project gets pledges for $15M grant
"A public school career initiative in North Carolina appears to be taking off now that $1.5 million in private money has been raised so the program can get 10 times that amount from the federal government."
12/15/11 CMS slows new tests rollout
"Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is slowing down its rollout of new tests that have been in the works for more than a year, and won't yet use the exams to grade students or teacher performance."
12/14/11 Tillman's puzzling shock
"House Speaker Thom Tillis said recently it is almost a sure thing that the General Assembly will reverse itself next year and repeal a budget provision that added five days to the public school calendar."
12/14/11 'Income Achievement Gap' Almost Double Black-White Performance Gap, Report Shows
"The report by Sean Reardon, a Stanford professor of education and sociology, shows that the income achievement gap--the difference in the average standardized scores between children from families at the 10th percentile of income distribution and children at the 90th percentile--is now "nearly twice as large as the black-white achievement gap."
12/14/11 Wake Community Network questioning difference in treatment of school board and Occupy Raleigh protesters
"The conservative Wake Community Network is continuing its criticism of Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby for seeking mediation for the 30 people arrested for disrupting Wake County school board meetings."
12/14/11 WakeUP Wake calls election of new school board majority an example of "success"
"WakeUP Wake County is citing the "success" of electing a new Democratic majority on the Wake County school board as one reason to give money to the organization."
12/14/11 Questioning how much autonomy should be given to schools
"Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata found himself being challenged Saturday by the new school board members on his idea of giving school autonomy based on student achievement."
12/14/11 A model school?
"On both sides of the debate over a proposed charter school in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro district the language is polite and respectful, and intentions are good. But still the proposal creates tensions, largely because it envisions a different answer to what racially integrated public schooling should look like in 21st century America."
12/14/11 Stressful connections to learning
"Amid the debates about our public schools and the need for education reform, the impact of poverty on student learning outcomes seems to be missing."
12/14/11 Harding challenges highlighted
"It's too early to judge this year's closings, mergers and other changes to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, but interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh told the school board Tuesday "we're definitely on the right track."
12/14/11 Novices to lead CMS board
"The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board made a major change of leadership Tuesday, electing first-time officeholders Ericka Ellis-Stewart as chairwoman and Mary McCray as vice chairwoman."
12/13/11 School board modifies core beliefs
"It took a lot of discussion on Saturday before the Wake County school board finally agreed to modify the district's core beliefs."
12/13/11 NAACP protests proposed Chapel Hill charter school
"The N.C. NAACP is against charter schools, saying they siphon off public money to set up special, semi-private schools for families that can afford lunches and transportation."
12/13/11 Feds provide welcome guidance on use of race and poverty in school assignment
"The DOE also issued a regulation permitting schools to use to information about children's eligibility for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program as a means of determining students' socioeconomic status for school assignment purposes."
12/13/11 CMS to pick board chair tonight
"The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board will select a chair and vice chair tonight, following swearing-in ceremonies for two newly elected board members."
12/12/11 Class Matters. Why Won't We Admit It?
"But rather than confront this fact of life head-on, our policy makers mistakenly continue to reason that, since they cannot change the backgrounds of students, they should focus on things they can control."
12/12/11 Underenrolled schools try new programs to fill seats
"Last school year, Superintendent Tony Tata announced initiatives to stabilize enrollment and lure families back to shrinking schools."
12/12/11 Just meanness
"The vote to prosecute Rev. William Barber, Tim Tyson and others on trespassing charges is a final act of meanness by the outgoing Republican-backed Wake school board majority."
12/12/11 Implementing the small schools, STEM schools and Global Schools programs
"So how are the various Wake County elementary and middle schools putting their money for small schools, Global Schools and STEM programs to use?"
12/12/11 School board to face whether to return $15 million to county commissioners
"The question of whether the Wake County school board should return to the county around $15 million in excess fund balance is likely to be a big issue during the budget process next year."
12/11/11 Wake school board might revive eliminated committee work
"Democrats are looking at undoing some of the changes made by their Republican predecessors, including reinstating the board committees that had been eliminated."
12/11/11 School board on board committees and governance since 2009
"It doesn't look like there's much doubt that the new Democratic majority on the Wake County school board will restore the standing committees."
12/10/11 Orange County charter school to tackle gaps
"Public school can never, in my opinion, rise to the point of having all students rise to the highest level because of the size and the diversity," he continued."
12/10/11 That'll teach 'em
"So Tyson, when asked, declined to make a big deal about the board's insistence that people arrested for trespassing at the meetings should be put on trial. That reflects well on him - just as the decision by lame-duck chairman Ron Margiotta and colleagues reflects a petty vindictiveness."
12/10/11 Speaking volumes
"The unwillingness of the outgoing members of the Wake County Board of Education to mediate trespass cases involving their time in office says all we need to know, really, about their leadership style and their character."
12/10/11 School board to discuss Tony Tata's strategic plan for Wake
"The Wake County school board will dive into the details of Superintendent Tony Tata's draft strategic plan during today's all-day retreat."
12/9/11 Tony Tata on magnet school seat availability
"But Tata said this year's seat availability is similar to what existed in past years for people who are not current magnet families. The numbers may look less overall because they're pre-enrolling existing magnet students instead of making them apply for middle school and high school."
12/9/11 Calling the old school board's rejection of mediation a "final act of small-minded bitterness"
"Jim Horn is calling the decision by the outgoing Wake County school board majority to reject mediation in favor of trials for protesters the "final act of small-minded bitterness by Wake's Gang of Five."
12/9/11 Tony Tata on Morehead School lease, magnet application process and AdvancED
"I'll go into more detail later, but here's an abbreviated recap of Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata's press conference today."
12/9/11 CMS forums bring out small, passionate groups
"Empty seats dominated this week's forums on finding a new superintendent, but the dozens who came were eager to talk about finding a leader to build on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' strengths and unite a fractured community."
12/9/11 Time for an insider?
"Some explicitly urged the school board and search firm to look inside CMS for leadership."
12/9/11 Carolyn Morrison to join District 6 board advisory council
"We all know that Kushner took Morrison's seat on the school board. But now Morrison will take Kushner's seat on the District 6 board advisory council."
12/9/11 Change coming to District 8 board advisory council
"Hank Dickson submitted his resignation letter last week as District 8 BAC co-chair and representative for Holly Springs High."
12/9/11 Magnet murder
"I disapprove of the plan and believe it will kill the magnet program. However, I am more disappointed with the lack of candor in public presentations and even in private conversations. If you want to kill the magnet program, do it. But tell us that you're doing it."
12/8/11 Trials sought for protesters of Wake school board
"The Wake County school board lineup that left office Tuesday decided behind closed doors last week to seek trials for 30 people charged with trespassing at board meetings, rejecting a prosecution offer to have the cases mediated. Former board chairman Ron Margiotta said the board wanted to take a stand against "anarchy."
12/8/11 Durham puts brakes on school changes
"The community delivered a very clear and unified message that this is happening too fast and more time is needed to examine the proposal, gather additional feedback and engage in productive dialogue concerning potential solutions," Becoats said. "We heard that message loud and clear."
12/8/11 Durham schools too
"Where the Wake County school board has been all over the TV and print media, the Durham school board members and superintendent have been inexplicably silent. Furthermore, the sweeping changes were only proposed in November, yet a final vote is already slated for December. The timing seems suspiciously fast."
12/8/11 Hattabaugh: No teacher layoffs in '12
"For the past three years, hundreds of teachers have gotten pink slips as CMS braced for budget cuts - even though the district ended up rehiring some of them. Hattabaugh, who is beginning work on the 2012-13 budget, said this spring won't bring a replay of that drama."
12/7/11 The Tillis Tango
"Here is some not so shocking news. House Speaker Thom Tillis, after saying Monday that the state is not doing enough to help young children, announced Tuesday that lawmakers would not be restoring some of the damaging budget cuts made to early childhood programs this year."
12/7/11 Back in charge, Dems pick Hill to lead
"A new Democratic majority on the Wake County school board took office and quickly went to work Tuesday, installing former Chairman Kevin Hill to replace lame-duck GOP Chairman Ron Margiotta and demoting Republican Vice Chairman John Tedesco in favor of incumbent member Keith Sutton."
12/7/11 Durham schools plan announcement on magnets
"Superintendent Eric Becoats has scheduled a press briefing today for "an important announcement" regarding the Durham Public Schools' plan to revamp the district's magnet and school-of-choice program."
12/7/11 Dome: Silence doesn't help schools, group says
"Progress North Carolina, a liberal advocacy group, is taking aim at June Atkinson, the state superintendent of public instruction, for her silence on the issue of school budget cuts."
12/6/11 Wake school board returning to Democratic control today
"Members of the new majority have said they don't plan to emulate what Republicans did in their first meeting in 2009 when they showed up with a list of action items that weren't part of the meeting agenda. Republicans hadn't let the Democrats know ahead of time what would be voted on."
12/6/11 'Slow down,' parents tell Durham school board on magnet program
"Parents, students and teachers told the Durham school board Monday to scrap or - at the very least - slow down the process to revamp the system's magnet and other schools-of-choice programs."
12/6/11 First bell
"But after two years of upheaval, with partisanship looming far too large in the board's policy calls, it's also important for school leaders to look for areas of consensus as they refocus not only on student assignment but also on the intertwined issue of classroom achievement."
12/6/11 School choice fails my neighborhood
"The situation for Washington's working- and middle-class families may be bleak, but we are hardly alone. Despite the lack of proof that school-choice policies work, they are gaining popularity in communities nationwide. Like us, those places will face a stark decision: Do they want equitable investment in community education, or do they want to hand it over to private schools and charters? Let's stop pretending we can fairly do both. As long as we do, some will keep winning, but many of us will lose."
12/6/11 Picking new school board leadership today
"Who will be chosen the new chair and potentially new vice chair of the Wake County school board today?"
12/6/11 Leading the new Wake school board: Hill and JT?
"Should Tedesco be allowed to serve the remaining six months of his term as vice chair? Or should he be ousted in favor of, say, Democrat Keith Sutton?"
12/6/11 New Wake Co. School Board members to be sworn in today
"Big changes start Tuesday for the Wake County School Board as new members will be sworn in."
12/6/11 Unity, trust are key to many in CMS
"About 20 residents attended the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools forum Monday at Butler High School to discuss the search for the next superintendent."
12/6/11 School year change short-lived?
"My guess is that will likely come off the books next year," Tillis said. "I'd put the odds at 70 percent or 80 percent."
12/6/11 Five days could spark new school calendar battle
"The longstanding battle over the length of North Carolina's school year could rear its head again next session."
12/6/11 Hill, Sutton take reins as new Wake school board convenes
"Three newly elected Wake County school board members were sworn in to office Tuesday afternoon, shifting the balance of power on the board to a 5-4 Democratic-backed majority."
12/5/11 New majority on Wake school board seeks 'third way'
"A new coalition will take control of the Wake County school board on Tuesday, with the challenge of trying to steer the state's largest school system on a course that's different from the directions taken by prior Democratic and Republican majorities."
12/7/11 CMS scores shine on 'nation's report card'
"But the results also reinforce a theme sounded at that ceremony: Academic progress has been painfully slow for poor and minority students, even in the most successful districts."
12/7/11 Trust remains a theme in CMS forums
"Attendees at Tuesday's forum at Albemarle Road Middle School said that they want the next superintendent to communicate well and to rebuild trust in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools."
12/7/11 Jim Martin asking how staff is explaining the choice plan to parents
"During last week's ED task force meeting, new Wake school board member Jim Martin grilled staff during a Q&A on how the new plan is being presented to parents. He was concerned that the choice process isn't being adequately explained to parents, especially those who are less educated."
12/6/11 Hill named new chair of Wake Co. School Board
"My goal is to work with my new colleagues and my former colleagues to try to put together some programs that will really benefit all of our kids," Hill said before the meeting."
12/6/11 NAACP "welcomes" new Wake County school board
"The Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP, is welcoming the new Wake County school board taking office today."
12/6/11 Kevin Hill elected as chairman and organizational meeting called
"Kevin Hill was elected chairman of the Wake County school board today after Democrats retook control, but Republican John Tedesco looks to be on the way out as vice chairman."
12/6/11 Last testament of school board member Carolyn Morrison
"Departing Wake County school board member Carolyn Morrison has prepared a "last testament" in which she thanks her colleagues and offers advice for the newly elected board members."
12/4/11 Magnet school window opens early in Wake
"The application period, running from 1 p.m. Monday to Dec. 19, is starting two months earlier than normal to accommodate the time frame for the recently adopted choice-based student assignment plan."
12/4/11 Tight money, large classes face next CMS leader
"Money and class sizes are the biggest issues facing the next leader of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, according to more than 9,000 people who took an online survey this fall."
12/3/11 Opposition arises for Wake single-sex academies
"A coalition of advocacy groups wants the Wake County school system to halt plans to open a pair of single-sex leadership academies next year."
12/3/11 New diversity guide issued
"The Obama administration on Friday urged colleges and universities to get creative in improving racial diversity at their campuses, throwing out a Bush-era interpretation of recent Supreme Court rulings that limited affirmative action in admissions."
12/3/11 Keith Sutton standing behind single-sex leadership academies
"It looks like there's still a solid majority on the Wake County school board to implement the new single-gender leadership academies for next school year."
12/2/11 School year requests on hold
"State board leaders say they support the longer 185-day school year mandated by the legislature, but it will be difficult to implement given limits on start and end dates that are written into state law. Lengthening the school year from 180 days to 185 days also will add costs to strained transportation budgets."
12/2/11 Groups seek to block Wake's planned single-sex schools
"A coalition of liberal groups is urging the Wake County school system to halt plans to open a pair of single-sex leadership academies next year."
12/2/11 Project LIFT extends fund drive
"Fundraising for Project LIFT, the philanthropic quest to pump $55 million into westside Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, will continue into 2012."
12/1/11 N.C. school board to vote on 5 more classroom days
"The North Carolina board of education is ready to make official that public school students will be spending more days in class starting next year."
12/1/11 ED task force discussing student assignment and math placement
"The new student assignment plan and an update on middle school math placement will be on the agenda of today's meeting of the Wake County school board economically disadvantaged student performance task force."
12/1/11 NC students headed for school year 5 days longer
"The academic year for North Carolina's public school students is set to get five days longer next year."
12/1/11 NC BOE delays vote to add 5 classroom days
"The North Carolina Board of Education delayed a vote to add five more classroom days so they can ask the General Assembly for more money."
12/1/11 CMS makes new push to hire teachers
"After three years of layoffs and cutbacks, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is actively recruiting teachers, including a quest to find people who don't have formal training and get them ready for classroom duty."
11/30/11 State Board of Education to discuss Wake's waiver request for 2012-13 school calendar
"Will the Wake County school system get permission to only add three and not five more days to the 2012-13 school calendar?"
11/30/11 Brookings Institution ranks Wake County fourth best on school choice among biggest districts
"A new ranking system from the Brookings Institution places Wake County as fourth best among the nation's 25 largest school districts in providing school choice."
11/30/11 The education system becomes a demolition zone
"Of course, one of the first things a builder knows is that if you want a beautiful, high-quality structure at the end of construction, you cannot try to build "on the cheap." Unfortunately, that is precisely what North Carolinians are being asked to settle for as state per pupil spending on public schools has plummeted from 45th to 49th or 50th in the country."
11/30/11 CMS is among districts wanting out of longer school year
"Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is among 69 N.C. districts asking to be exempted from adding five school days next year, but state officials may put their foot down today."
11/29/11 Accreditation review focus again for Wake schools
"Wake County's school superintendent said Tuesday that the school board has made a number of positive changes in how it operates after a national group threatened to revoke accreditation for the district's high schools."
11/29/11 US education chief says education will fix economy
"U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said Tuesday that a post-secondary education remained the surest path to professional and economic success, even as more Americans than ever are going into debt to pursue higher learning."
11/29/11 AdvancED begins interviews today for accreditation review
"The review team from AdvancED will begin today the interviews that will help determine whether Wake County's high schools remain accredited."
11/29/11 AdvancED to meet with Wake Co. school board members
"Wake County school leaders will meet with members of the AdvancED Tuesday afternoon as the district works to keep its accreditation."
11/29/11 What is Finland doing right?
"Finland's consensus model stands in stark contrast to the United States," Habit wrote . "If policies for education that are central to the future of the nation change with each election cycle, as they seem to do in North Carolina and the United States, what chance do we have to achieve and sustain a world-class educational system?"
