12.2.13 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition

Educational Choice Quote of the Day

"My child attends a public, free “virtual” charter school. I was interested in this because she suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a disability that affects stability in her arms and legs. ... This school works." 

- Jody Curson, parent. 

Vouchers – Louisiana

Bayou Buzz: School still out on Louisiana voucher program impact

http://www.bayoubuzz.com/buzz/item/560205-school-still-out-on-louisiana-voucher-program-impact

11.25.13 Daily News Clips

Tweet of the Morning:

@PEFNC Not sure if you are eligible for NC Opportunity Scholarships? Here is a great tool, the eligibility calculator! http://bit.ly/187gVWx 

American Federation for Children

PARENTS SHOULD CONTROL THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS, NOT FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS

http://federationforchildren.org/articles/856

The Advocate: Former school voucher foe heads pro-voucher group

http://theadvocate.com/home/7564929-125/former-voucher-foe-heads-pro-voucher

Journal Sentinel: Republican Jessie Rodriguez elected to Assembly for 21st District

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/republican-jessie-rodriguez-elected-to-assembly-b99144203z1-232608671.html

  

Momentum is Building for Educational Options in Tennessee

Momentum is building in Tennessee for private school choice, as Governor Haslam's proposed private school choice bill was passed with a 9-4 vote by the House Education Committee on Tuesday.  The companion bill is set to be discussed by the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 21. If passed, the bill would only children zoned to attend the bottom five percent of failing public schools and who qualify for free or reduced lunch to participate in the program.  The program would also be initially capped at 5,000 children, while 35,000 children are expected to be eligible for the program.

A broader private school choice proposal has been introduced that does not include the failing schools restriction.  

Students deserve to have access to the best education possible.  Let’s hope the program allows for as many children as possible to receive the education that works best for their individual learning needs.

Education Over Politics

One’s political affiliation should not dictate their stance on educational options, including opportunity scholarship programs, says StudentsFirst’s Michelle Rhee in her new book, “Radical: Fighting to Put Students First."

Rhee, who previously served as the chancellor of the D.C. public school system, is a lifelong Democrat, something that she says squares perfectly with her support for vouchers. 

When Rhee arrived in D.C., she was faced with a dilemma.  Families had been enjoying the benefits of the city’s Opportunity Scholarship program, but this program went against what she thought she should believe as a Democrat. Rather than rejecting the program, Rhee decided to meet with families across the city and get a sense of their stories.  She soon discovered that countless families across the city depended on the scholarship program to deliver their children with a high quality education.

“After my listening tour of families, and hearing so many parents plead for an immediate solution to their desire for a quality education, I came out in favor of the voucher program,” Rhee recalls.  “People went nuts. Democrats chastised me for going against the party, but the most vocal detractors were my biggest supporters.”

Across the board, Democrats and Republicans tend to agree on the issue of providing tax dollars to private hospital institutions, Rhee says.  Schools should not be an exception.  

“Our approach should be no different for our children,” she says. “Their lives are at stake when we’re talking about the quality of education they are receiving.”

Rhee isn’t alone.  Doug Tuthill, President of Step Up For Students, is as a progressive Democrat and even served as president of two local teachers unions in Florida.

In a recent piece for the Huffington Post, Tuthill says the number of Democrats siding with educational choice is a growing trend. 

“Despite charges to the contrary, school choice is not a right-wing plot to privatize public education,” Tuthill writes.  “McGovern, Moynihan and Humphrey were not right-wing zealots, and neither are the increasing numbers of modern Democrats who want to give more options to underprivileged and struggling students.”

With bills under consideration in Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee to create voucher programs, bipartisan support is necessary!  With substantial learning gaps between students based on their family’s income, it is time our leaders put politics aside and take a stand for students.  Providing low-income families with educational options is a proven way to close the achievement gap and give all students a fair shot at a quality education and bright future.

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, KMS

Providing Educational Options for TN Families Topic of Conversation at National School Choice Week Event in Nashville

Last night the American Federation for Children teamed up with educational choice partners from across Tennessee to host the Nashville School Choice Celebration. The reception and panel discussion, co-sponsored by the Beacon Center of Tennessee, The Tennessee Chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org, and the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, welcomed more than 80 guests to discuss the importance of bringing quality educational options to ALL Tennessee families. The event was only one of over 3,600 that are taking place across the country as part of NationalSchool Choice Week.
The panel discussion featured student leader Sandeep Thomas, Overstock.com and Freidman board member Patrick Byrne, and Olympic medalist and former WNBA star Lisa Leslie. The discussion, moderated by AFC's Kevin P. Chavous focused on the stories behind education reform such as Sandeep’s own journey through the world of school choice. At a young age he was adopted from India after much personal tragedy and had to overcome significant learning challenges. It was only through online and specialized curriculum that he was finally able to excel in his studies.  Today, Sandeep is thriving as a college student, thanks to his robust k-12 education.

Speaking from a policy standpoint, Patrick Byrne discussed what effective school choice legislation looks like and the principles for promoting educational freedom for all American children. His work founding and opening hundreds of schools across the world have opened his eyes to the importance of a high-quality American education system. Bringing years of experience to the discussion, he provided insight into the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for Tennessee families.

Finally, Lisa Leslie provided remarks from the perspective of both a former student and a mother of two. Growing up, Lisa always wanted to make sure she was known for more than just her skills on the court. She excelled in the classroom and led her peers as senior class president. It wasn’t until she enrolled at the University of Southern California that she realized she was far behind her classmates in her level of knowledge. By taking extra courses and spending any free time she had on studying, Lisa eventually overcame her struggles and went on to earn her MBA. Recognizing that she did not learn everything she needed from the traditional classroom, Lisa has become an advocate for children all over the country to ensure that every student gains the education they deserve. Through her work with AFC, she has become an outspoken supporter of all forms of school choice including opportunity scholarships and vouchers.

The event concluded with questions from the audience – including many state legislators and staff – focusing on the relevance of these personal stories to the future of education reform in Tennessee. Without a doubt the energy and motivation to bring reform to Tennessee was heightened by last night’s event. 

Lisa and Kevin are in Atlanta, Georgia today, attending the Georgia School Choice Rally and Celebration on the steps of the state capitol.

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, KMS

National School Choice Week is in Full Swing

Over 7,000 school choice supporters gathered in Phoenix, AZ on Friday to kick-off this year’s celebration – the largest event yet!  Check out some of the event’s highlights courtesy of ABC Phoenix and Univison.

Commemorating the week-long festivities, House Speaker John Boehner posted a video today to his official YouTube channel, issuing his support for parent choice. 

“Congress needs to open up the education system to include all forms of school choice, including private, charter, traditional public, and home schools,” said Speaker Boehner in the video.  “School choice has proven to boost graduation rates, improve parental satisfaction and increase student achievement.  If we restrict parents’ choices, we only harm our children’s future.”

Click below to watch Speaker Boehner’s message:



As thousands of school choice advocates, families, and students celebrate access to educational options, we’d like to highlight a few events this week, and encourage you to get involved:

• Tuesday, January 29: Kevin P. Chavous, Executive Counsel to American Federation for Children will be a featured panelist at the Nashville National School Choice Week Celebration.  Joined by WNBA star Lisa Leslie, Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, and student leader Sandeep Thomas, Chavous will be moderating the discussion on the future of educational choice in Tennessee. 
• Wednesday, January 30: Thousands of families are expected to gather in Atlanta for the Georgia School Choice Celebration and Rally.  Sponsored by the Center for an Educated Georgia and the? Georgia Family Council, the event will bring together families and state legislators to celebrate the state’s school choice options and support for a quality education for all students.
• Saturday, February 2: The American Federation for Children will also be participating in a rally on Saturday in Houston, TX hosted by Families Empowered. Also, we’re proud to partner with the Institute for Justice to host a celebration for students currently enrolled in the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.

For more information on how you can get involved in any of these events, please contact Randan Swindler – Rswindler (at) federationforchildren.org

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, KMS

2013: The Year of Education Choice?

While more students than ever have access to educational options this year—and you can get the full slate of numbers when our annual School Choice Yearbook is released next week—thousands more are still unable to attend the school of their choice. 

Robert Enlow, president and CEO of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, recently wrote an op-ed for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, calling on lawmakers across the country to expand or grant access to choice programs being considered in their state.

Educational Choice Prospects in Tennessee

Education reformers around the country have eyes on—and investments in—Tennessee being the next state to greatly expand educational choice.

Here are some of the reasons why:

• Editorial Support: The editorial board of Memphis’ Commercial Appeal published an editorial in support of vouchers on Thursday, calling on both sides of the voucher debate to “stop and consider: What is best for kids?”  The editorial supports expanding educational choice in Tennessee through enacting a voucher program for children from low-income families:

When you think about the kids first, allowing public money to fund vouchers to any school, public or private, begins to make more sense.

Many issues must be resolved, but the basic notion of letting Memphis kids of all income brackets have a shot at the best education they can find, by using the money the state already has set aside to educate them, is an idea worth serious consideration

• Political Spending: In the 2012 election cycle, education reform groups outspent the teachers unions in Tennessee legislative races, demonstrating a strong swing toward reform over the status quo.  The Tennessee Federation for Children PAC, a state-based affiliate of the American Federation for Children Action Fund spent nearly $250,000 supported Democrats and Republicans who stand for educational choice. They invested in independent expenditures in 18 general election races, emerging victorious in 15 of those races.

• Bipartisan Support: The Tennessee Legislature has broad bipartisan support for enacting a voucher program, with strong leaders including Senator Brian Kelsey (R) and Representatives John DeBerry (D) and Tony Shipley (R).

• Education Task Force: The Education Task Force set up by Governor Bill Haslam to study how a voucher program would work in Tennessee concluded this week with recommendations on options to establish a voucher program.  The report will be delivered to the Governor in two weeks.  While the Task Force has been mum on many details, the group did recommend that a voucher program should be designed for students from low-income families and that participating private schools must be held to high accountability standards.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Victories for Educational Choice

Across the country, Democrats and Republicans who support expanding educational choices win elections

Voters in the 2012 elections sent a clear message: they were going to support candidates who stand for educational options and strong reforms.

The American Federation for Children and its affiliated organizations endorsed more than 180 candidates who won their elections.  But beyond the Federation’s election work, education reform played a strong role in this year’s elections.

Here are the highlights from the 2012 elections:

• Georgia voters pass Amendment 1 to the state constitution, which will allow a key charter school authorizing committee to allow more charter schools to operate in the state.  Thanks to voters in Washington, the state became the 42^nd state to allow charter schools, beginning the trend toward creating strong educational choice in the Evergreen State.

• Indiana elected Mike Pence—a strong supporter of private school choice—to the Governorship.  While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Pence supported the only federally-funded voucher program for students in Washington, D.C.

• All of the 10 candidates running in general elections in Arizona that were endorsed by the American Federation for Children won on Tuesday, including Rep. Kimberly Yee (R) and Rep. Barbara McGuire (D), both of whom won state senate seats.

• In Florida, a strong bipartisan coalition was elected or reelected with a mandate to expand educational options, including Representatives Bruce Antone (D), Cary Pigman (R), and Katie Edwards (D) and Senators Darren Soto (D) and Kelli Stargel (R).

• Tennessee voters elected a bipartisan coalition of members from the across the state, including Rep. John Ragan (R) and Rep. Tim Wirgau (R), as well as Dr. Steve Dickerson (R), who won a state senate seat. 

• In Ohio, House Democrats Bill Patmon and John Barnes were reelected, and in Wisconsin, Senator-Elect Rick Gudex provided a key victory by defeating Sen. Jessica King, who routinely criticized educational choice and Gudex’s support for it in candidate forums, thereby helping to flip the Senate and give a majority to educational choice supporters in the chamber.

 - American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Haslam should Volunteer his Support on the Voucher Program

In Tennessee, parents, students, and school choice advocates are gearing up for a push to enact a voucher program to give Volunteer State families real educational options.  And Tennessee is ripe for overhauling its educational system and implementing parental choice.  According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 26 percent of fourth graders and 30 percent of Tennessee eighth graders are proficient in reading.  In addition, Tennessee has the highest number of adults without a high school diploma and a 7.9 percent unemployment rate.

State Senator Brian Kelsey introduced voucher legislation in 2011 that would give scholarships up to $5,400.  The legislation passed the Senate, but failed to pass in the House.  And last year Governor Haslam set up a task force to study the benefits of vouchers in Tennessee. 

School choice champions from Senator Kelsey to Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey are ready to enact an accountable voucher program.  But it looks like the Governor may not be ready to put his muscle behind the program.  According to Nashville Public Radio, Governor Haslam is saying the bill could face some political observation.

But if the Governor gave his strong support for the legislation, vouchers could help thousands of students escape persistently failing schools.  Across the nation, we’ve seen that these programs work from academic scores to high graduation rates.

Haslam wants to see a return on investment.  Enact vouchers and watch more students graduate from high school.  That’s the return on investment.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Volunteers Forego Vouchers in Favor of Governor's Task Force

Well, it looks like students in the Volunteer State may have to wait another year.

Governor Bill Haslam says he isn’t ready to bring vouchers to the state, but instead will set up a task force to study how vouchers would work in Tennessee.

The task force will have nine members, including Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Collierville)—one of the original sponsors of school choice legislation earlier this year—Richard Montgomery (R-Sevierville), chairman of the House Education Committee, former Senator Jamie Woodson of Knoxville, and State Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman, who will chair the committee.

The group is tasked with seeking “to provide meaningful education options to disadvantaged students," according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

To save the task force some time—and so they can get right to work on creating real educational options for disadvantaged students today—we thought we’d get a head start on what vouchers could mean for Tennessee:

Volunteers Next Up To Give Parents School Choice

The heavy lifting in state legislatures around the country has largely slowed, but that doesn't mean that the successes of "The Year of School Choice" are over just yet.

We told you earlier this week about the potential school choice expansion in Pennsylvania, and there are still prospects for New Jersey to pass the Opportunity Scholarship Act in the Garden State. But now, Tennessee has its sights set on giving vouchers to low-income kids to attend private schools.

The early talk of a program is taking place largely in Memphis, the state's lowest-performing large school district.  There, 30 percent of students fail to graduate, a fact that has caused State Senator Brian Kelsey to act. He has introduced a bill that would give $5,400 scholarships to students in the means-tested program, a boon for students in a city where private school graduation rates drastically outpace those of kids in public schools.

One-Fifth of America's Chief Executives Convene for NBC Education Summit

There were many opinions under one tent (literally) at this week's Education Nation Summit, the second annual event hosted in New York City on Monday and Tuesday by the folks at NBC. It sometimes made for a few odd exchanges—like, for example, when reform-minded Michelle Rhee shared the stage with AFT President Randi Weingarten. Reason TV captured a portion of that conversation, as well as a few other highlights from the summit, in the video below: