Thursday, January 30, 2014

01.30.14 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition


Tweets of the afternoon
@JalenRoseProud to be part of the “Educational Choice Now” PSA. Watch it here: #EdRevolution http://bit.ly/1jOTjfH 

‪@DeionSanders: PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT NOW!! TRUTH @SchoolChoiceNow PSA release. Watch it here http://bit.ly/1jOTjfH  pic.twitter.com/ZKuqNEcsyr"

American Federation for Children
DEION SANDERS, LISA LESLIE & KEVIN CHAVOUS ANNOUNCE “EDUCATIONAL CHOICE NOW” PSA

SEVEN SCHOOL CHOICE SUCCESS STORIES IN SEVEN DAYS: AMANDA

Seven Educational Choice Success Stories in Seven Days: Chloe and Kasey

Civil rights leaders, elected officials and students join together for Tennessee’s National School Choice Week celebration

Civil rights leaders, elected officials and students join together for Tennessee’s National School Choice Week celebration


More than 1,000 Tennesseans gathered at War Memorial Auditorium Tuesday in recognition of National School Choice Week’s “School Choice NOW” celebration. The celebration brought together civil rights leaders, Gov. Bill Haslam (R-TN), Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, other elected officials, and students and parents from across the state. 

Lawmakers were pleased to see the surge of Tennesseans who made their way across the state to attend and show their support for education choice options, including  an opportunity scholarship program that is currently being discussed by legislators.  

Gov. Haslam addressed the crowd expressing his desire to move Tennessee forward and make education reform a top priority for the state. Lt. Governor Ramsey followed, echoing these sentiments and emphasizing the need for greater choice options for parents across Tennessee.  

Parents, students, community leaders and legislators poured into the auditorium with high-energy and began cheering for educational choice options prior to the start of the celebration program. Banners hung from the auditorium balcony saying “Rise Up for School Choice” and a sea of yellow scarves was seen by all in attendance. 


St. Joseph’s Catholic School choir kicked off the program, lifting their voices in harmony to sing The National Anthem. Rep. John Deberry (D - Memphis) was the official emcee for the day keeping the room energized with his own personal education stories and words of support for school choice in the state.  Attendees were prompted to use their smartphones texting “TNkids” to become a direct advocate for school choice options. 

Attendees received a first hand demonstration of the benefits of educational options when student speaker Brianna Terrall, a sophomore at Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, and Raymond Cheers, volunteer and a grandparent of a student at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, shared their personal experiences.  

Former Tennessee Titan Chris Sanders shared his story with attendees, calling on lawmakers not to “fall a yard short in our state’s education.” Rev. Dwight Montgomery, president of the Memphis chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, brought the crowd to their feet as he challenged lawmakers to put children first. “Our government bailed out big businesses like Ford and General Motors,” said Rev. Montgomery. “Now it’s time to bail out our children from failing educations.”


Several state lawmakers were in attendance to greet their constituents, including Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville), Sen. Reggie Tate (D - Memphis), Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D- Memphis), and Rep. Joshua Evans (R - Greenbrier). 

Coalition members who helped organize the event, include:
  • Agudath Israel of America 
  • Beacon Center of Tennessee 
  • Black Alliance for Educational Options
  • Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice
  • Parent Revolution
  • PublicSchoolOptions. org
  • StudentsFirst
  • Tennessee Charter School Center 
  • Tennessee Federation for Children

Tuesday's celebration made headlines.  Click the links below to see the full stories:

Memphis Families Return After Nashville School Vouchers Rally
School Choice Rally Brings Teachers, Parents to State Capitol
Students, Parents Rally in Nashville for School Voucher Bill 

01.30.14 Daily News Clips – morning edition


Tweet of the morning
@ntlBAEO: What an amazing time at the "Put Kids First Rally" w/ @LisaLeslie & @EricCantor for National School Choice Week - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.774403272572164.1073741828.145659172113247&type=1 …

Vouchers – Indiana
State Impact: Does Indiana Attach Enough Money To Its Private School Vouchers?

Indy Star: Bill to let voucher schools out of ISTEP gutted

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

01.29.14 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition


Tweets of the afternoon
‪@LisaLeslie: I can't say enough about how @SenFeinstein took the time with each child and inspired them! #SchoolChoice

‪@GOPLeader: We need to empower every single child no matter who you are, no matter where you come from to have the best education and the best future.

American Federation for Children
200 STUDENTS, PARENTS AND SUPPORTERS PARTICIPATE IN DC’S “PUT KIDS FIRST” NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK CELEBRATION

The Washington Free Beacon: Students Rally for School Choice in D.C.

Majority Leader Blog: LEADER CANTOR CELEBRATES NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK

Daily Caller: Children are at the forefront of civil rights fights, including school choice

SEVEN SCHOOL CHOICE SUCCESS STORIES IN SEVEN DAYS: NEVADA

AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN APPLAUDS FEDERAL EFFORTS TO ADVANCE PARENTAL CHOICE

Seven Educational Choice Success Stories in Seven Days: Maria and Alexa

Photos from National School Choice Week in Louisiana

School Choice
Nonprofit Quarterly: Republican Response on Income Inequality & School Choice

The Gazette: National School Choice Week champions better education

Education Reform
The Washington Post: Civil rights hero launches ‘American Child’s Education Bill of Rights’

Charter Schools
The Washington Post: A push for D.C. Public Schools to share space with charter schools, nonprofits

01.29.14 Daily News Clips – morning edition


Tweet of the morning
‪@charteralliancePut kids first rally in DC about to start. The kids are here! ‪@schoolchoicewk #SCW pic.twitter.com/gBEvfNg6Kz

Vouchers – Tennessee
The Tennessean: Haslam, Ramsey strike different chord on vouchers at 'school choice' event

School Choice
Orange County Register: Larry Sand: Students benefit from school vouchers

Watchdog: Senators propose redirecting federal money to school choice

Color Lines: Should You Celebrate or Be Wary of National School Choice Week?

Charter Schools
EdWeek: New Report: States' Charter Laws Should Vary Based on Charters' Performance

CBS Philly: Senate Bill Would Give Colleges Authority To Approve Charter Schools In Pennsylvania

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

01.28.14 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition


Tweet of the afternoon
@BeaconTN: 1,200 rallied on behalf of #schoolchoice at TN capitol today! Gov. ‪@BillHaslam & LtGov @RonRamsey welcomed crowd! http://bit.ly/1f9gfSJ 

American Federation for Children
Louisiana Students, Parents, Legislators and Schools Celebrate National School Choice Week

Jim Engster Show on WRKF-FM: Ann Duplessis talks National School Choice Week

Vouchers – Wisconsin
Journal Sentinel: Bill would close failing Wisconsin public schools, cut voucher payments

School Choice
Cato Institute: Are Federal School Vouchers a Good Idea?

EdWeek: Key Republican Senators Introduce School Choice Bills

Idaho Press: Every student and family deserve school choice

WREG: Caravan From Memphis Rallies In Nashvile For School Choice

Charter Schools
Chicago Tribune: Emanuel defends new charter schools

01.28.14 Daily News Clips – morning edition


Tweet of the morning
‪@AEI: Don't Miss 10:40am ET ‪@SenAlexander‪@SenatorTimScott unveil ambitious proposals to expand ‪#schoolchoice #edequality http://ow.ly/t0g2T 

American Federation for Children
Seven School Choice Success Stories in Seven Days: Elias

The New York Times: Bill to Offer an Option to Give Vouchers

School Choice
The Washington Post: GOP measure would promote ‘school choice’ with federal funding

Associated Press: Alexander to file bill encouraging school choice

The Washington Free Beacon: Nation Celebrates Annual School Choice Week

Watchdog: National School Choice Train leaves S.C. station

US News: School Choice Should Be a Fundamental Right

The Hill: Rubio and Cruz circle education reform

Charter Schools
The Courier-Tribune: Accountability needed in charter school explosion

Monday, January 27, 2014

01.27.14 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition


Tweet of the afternoon
‪@LisaLeslieGood morning, I can't wait to speak this week @GOPLeader "Put Kids First" celebration, Jan. 29 at Friendship Chamberlain #SCW ‪#AFC

Vouchers – Indiana
The Journal Gazette: Nearly 20,000 got private-school vouchers

Vouchers – Tennessee
Associated Press: Opposing sides to vouchers speak out as lawmakers, governor work on compromise legislation

School Choice
Townhall: School Choice: A Powerful Lever to Increase the Quality of Education

Reason: Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Rally for School Choice

Red Alert Politics: School choice: A war on poverty worth fighting

The Foundry: Is Your Child in the Right School?

Education Reform
The Atlantic: Obama's Empty Rhetoric on Education

The Huffington Post: Poverty and the Education Opportunity Gap: Will the SOTU Step Up?

Charter Schools
Clarion Ledger: MS charter school letters of intent detail initial plans for operations (Download letters)

01.27.14 Daily News Clips – morning edition


Tweet of the morning
‪@GOPLeaderExpanding education opportunity through #SchoolChoice improves the lives of children and their families. #SchoolChoiceWeek

American Federation for Children
MAJORITY LEADER ERIC CANTOR & 4-TIME OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST LISA LESLIE TO SPEAK AT “PUT KIDS FIRST” NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK CELEBRATION

SEVEN SCHOOL CHOICE SUCCESS STORIES IN SEVEN DAYS: NYDIA

Vouchers – Louisiana
Newsmax: Louisiana Gov. Jindal Fights Washington War on School Vouchers

Vouchers – Tennessee
WREG: More African Americans Push For School Voucher Program

The Mountain Press: The King's Academy watches Tennessee voucher bills with interest

School Choice
National Review: We Need School Choice Now

Albuquerque Journal: NM lawmakers should expand school choices

The Market Oracle: Every Week Should Be School Choice Week

Southern Maryland News: Why School Choice Opens a Door to the American Dream

Houston Chronicle: Enlow: Better education options can help stem income inequality

The Wall Street Journal: School choice supporters to meet with NY lawmakers

Friday, January 24, 2014

01.24.14 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition


Tweet of the afternoon
‪@andrewrcamp: At @NSCWWhistleStop event in Birmingham, @kevinpchavous calls ‪#schoolchoice the civil rights issue of our time.

American Federation for Children
KEVIN P. CHAVOUS CALLS FOR MORE EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS, PROMOTES NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK

Vouchers – Tennessee
Associated Press: Republican lawmakers push new school voucher bill to Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam

Nashville Public Radio: More Families Could Get School Vouchers Under New Tennessee Proposal

School Choice
The Augusta Chronicle: On school choice, Georgia is a model

Education Reform
National Journal: Why Education Is the Big Issue in Gubernatorial Races

Charter Schools
Clarion Ledger: 30 hopefuls file papers to operate charter schools

01.24.14 Daily News Clips – morning edition


Tweet of the morning

American Federation for Children
The Great Fordham Toolkit Debate

Louisiana Celebrates National School Choice Week with Statewide School Tour

Vouchers – Tennessee
The Tennessean: Senate's school voucher proposal doesn't sway Haslam

The Mountain Press: Editorial: Voucher plan will garner passionate pleas from both sides

School Choice
Cola Daily: Education leaders gather for School Choice Week stop in Columbia

Anchorage Daily News: Parnell says funding increase linked to reforms, not vouchers

Education Reform
The Washington Post: Telling the truth on achievement gaps improves education

Thursday, January 23, 2014

The Great Fordham Toolkit Debate

By Whitney Marcavage
National Policy Director
Washington, D.C. - The American Federation for Children applauds the folks over at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute for stirring up debate about academic accountability within private school choice programs via the release of their policy “toolkit” last week. It’s an important conversation to have.

As the only national educational choice organization that works to elect state policymakers who support parental choice, lobbies for high-quality legislation, and ensures that the laws work for kids, we’ve got a pretty good sense of the policy and political questions regarding accountability in private school choice programs.