School Choice Now: December 2013

@SchoolChoiceNow: Happy Holidays! Wishing you a joyous season of thanks and a new year filled with opportunities! ‪#EdChoice ‪#EdReform ‪pic.twitter.com/yqTqSKInFQ

American Federation for Children

Louisiana Scholarship Program Audit: Much Ado?

http://federationforchildren.blogspot.com/2013/12/louisiana-scholarship-program-audit.html

Journal Sentinel: Walton grant pumps $6 million into vouchers in Wisconsin, other states

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/236641681.html

Vouchers – North Carolina

Winston-Salem Journal: Chris Fitzsimon on the unaccountability movement in education

http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/columnists/article_f30a043a-69a2-11e3-83c7-001a4bcf6878.html

School Choice

Texas Public Radio: Davis Campaign Pressing Abbott On School Vouchers

http://tpr.org/post/davis-campaign-pressing-abbott-school-vouchers

Charter Schools

Watchdog: Philly charter schools outperform district counterparts

http://watchdog.org/121760/philly-charter-schools/

Post-Tribune: Pence’s misguided faith in state charter schools

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/opinions/24455782-474/pences-misguided-faith-in-charter-schools.html

Associated Press: Texas officials move to close 6 charter schools

http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Texas-officials-move-to-close-6-charter-schools-5081517.php?cmpid=htx

Louisiana Scholarship Program Audit: Much Ado?

By Whitney Marcavage
Policy Director
American Federation for Children

In some circles, much is being made of the recently released legislative audit of Louisiana’s Scholarship Program, a statewide voucher program that allows low-income families with children zoned to attend failing public schools the option to attend a participating private school or high-performing public school of their choice.

Currently, about 6,750 such students are participating in the program, 86 percent of whom are African-American. These are kids who need educational options. It is worth keeping in mind that a multi-year, scientifically-based evaluation of a similar school choice programin Florida has consistently found that the scholarship program in that state serves students who “tend to come from lower-performing public schools prior to entering the program. Likewise, as in prior years, they tend to be among the lowest-performing students in their prior school, regardless of the performance level of their public school.”

The legislative audit itself makes clear the high demand for the program – student participation increased 269 percent from school year 2011-12 2013-14, the two years since the program was expanded to serve students statewide beyond Orleans Parish – including a 38 percent jump in enrollment since last year.

Tweet of the morning

‪@DrStevePerry: Knowing that when kids lose the lottery, they REALLY LOSE. This just shouldn't be in America. It's just wrong. #schoolchoice matters.

American Federation for Children

The Advocate: Letter: Audit finds voucher growth

http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/7891313-123/letter-audit-finds-voucher-growth

Talk 107.3: Ann Duplessis talks scholarship audit

http://bit.ly/1gIBLRh

Eyes Open with Tony Brown: Duplessis on scholarship program

http://bit.ly/18ZGKrQ

12.19.13 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition

Tweet of the afternoon

‪@HispanicCREO: Support for ‪#schoolchoice is real. Over 1,000 tweets were generated yesterday on ‪#schoolchoiceWISH

Vouchers – Louisiana

Daily Caller: DOJ’s Louisiana voucher challenge could segregate schools further

http://dailycaller.com/2013/12/19/dojs-louisiana-voucher-challenge-could-segregate-schools-further/

Quote of the morning

"a road of opportunity for kids with no other alternative.” Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Alliance for School Choice

NOLA: More money for school vouchers coming to Louisiana

http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/12/more_money_for_school_vouchers.html

School Choice

USA Today: Faith-based education an option we can't deny: Column

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/12/18/sotomayor-faith-based-schools-education-column/4117977/

12.18.13 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition

Tweet of the afternoon

@StudentsFirst: Equal access to high quality schools & teachers for every student in America! ‪#schoolchoiceWISH

Vouchers – North Carolina

Daily Caller: Leftist lawsuit says helping poor kids escape failing public schools is unconstitutional

http://dailycaller.com/2013/12/18/leftist-lawsuit-says-helping-poor-kids-escape-failing-public-schools-is-unconstitutional/

Shelby Star: EDITORIAL: Vouchers can be positive for education system

http://www.shelbystar.com/opinion/our-opinion/editorial-vouchers-can-be-positive-for-education-system-1.251164

School Choice

The Republic: Tax-credit program helping rich Arizona schools get richer

http://www.azcentral.com/news/arizona/articles/20131125tax-credit-program-helping-rich-ariz-schools-get-richer.html

Tweet of the morning

‪@julioflorida: My ‪#schoolchoiceWISH: That all kids get a fair chance. Education is making a difference for them, let's make it a positive difference

Vouchers- North Carolina

Townhall: NC Superintendent: Vouchers May Fund ‘Schools of Terror’

http://townhall.com/columnists/kyleolson/2013/12/18/nc-superintendent-vouchers-may-fund-schools-of-terror-n1764471

School Choice

Examiner: Plumsted district approved for school choice program

http://exa.gmnews.com/news/2013-12-19/Front_Page/Plumsted_district_approved_for_school_choice_progr.html

12.17.13 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition

Quote of the afternoon

“When they find out about it, they love it. We see this around the country, whenever these choice programs come into existence. We assume that once it’s in place, we assume that people know about it, and they don’t.” Kevin Chavous, Executive Counsel, American Federation for Children

Alliance for School Choice

The Washington Post: Walton foundation pumps cash into vouchers

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/walton-foundation-pumps-cash-into-vouchers/2013/12/17/3578483c-6740-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_story.html?tid=hpModule_99d5f542-86a2-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394

Tweet of the morning

@dcschoolreform: DCSRN is excited to host a training this morning for fellow ‪@DCAYA member organizations on the ‪#DC ‪#schoolchoice process! ‪@schoolchoicewk

American Federation for Children

Report Shows Scholarship Accountability Measures Working

http://www.louisiana4children.org/news-releases/report-shows-scholarship-accountability-measures-working

12.16.13 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition

Tweet of the Afternoon

@RonMatus1: Oh, the holidays. Egg nog. Mistletoe. And a little #schoolchoiceWISH! Share yours with us Wed http://goo.gl/dRtHw8 #schoolchoice #edFL

Vouchers – Louisiana

The Advocate: Legislative auditor criticizes voucher program

http://theadvocate.com/home/7839970-125/legislative-auditor-criticizes-voucher-program

Vouchers – North Carolina

Watauga Democrat: Groups sue over NC school voucher law

http://www2.wataugademocrat.com/News/story/Groups-sue-over-NC-school-voucher-law-id-013515

Tweet of the Morning

@HispanicCREO Do you have a WISH you would like to make for #schoolchoice? Join @RonMatus1 @NtlBAEO @PEFNC & others & make a #schoolchoiceWISH 12/18

Vouchers – North Carolina

Fayetteville Observer: White: No vouchers, no good news for schools

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2013/12/15/1302388

Wizbang: Union-Loving School Official Says School Vouchers Would ‘Train Terrorists’

http://wizbangblog.com/2013/12/15/union-loving-school-official-says-school-vouchers-would-train-terrorists/

12.03.13 Daily News Clips - afternoon edition

Quote of the Afternoon

“That was the great thing about the scholarship, that you can decide where you would like to place your child…” Anita Belcher, Empowerment Scholarship Account parent

School Choice

WFPL: Bluegrass Institute Launches 'Free to Learn' Debate Series

http://wfpl.org/post/bluegrass-institute-launches-free-learn-debate-series

Education Reform

NOLA: Louisiana Education Superintendent John White gets a national shout-out

http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/12/louisiana_education_superinten_1.html

The Washington Post: D.C. Council votes unanimously to give schools more money for at-risk kids

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-council-votes-unanimously-to-give-schools-more-money-for-at-risk-kids/2013/12/03/6532a1da-5c2d-11e3-be07-006c776266ed_story.html

EdWeek: U.S. Achievement Stalls as Other Nations Make Gains

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/12/03/14pisa.h33.html?tkn=XXTF3rherV6%2FllDKASty25fQb62F81FHErbw&cmp=clp-edweek

Charter Schools

The Lens: KIPP leadership to vote on returning to Orleans school board

http://thelensnola.org/2013/12/03/kipp-leadership-to-vote-on-returning-to-orleans-school-board/

Ahwatukee Foothill News: State charter schools seek more taxpayer money

http://www.ahwatukee.com/news/city_news/article_b3f0bf70-5c62-11e3-b2bf-0019bb2963f4.html

12.03.13 Daily News Clips – morning edition

Tweet of the morning

@redefinEDonline Unbelievable: Judge orders #homeschool kids into public school so they can "socialize" w others http://goo.gl/PTwwNw via @HSLDA #edchoice

School Choice

Miami Herald: For parents, finding the right magnet or charter school can be hard work

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/12/02/3792828/for-parents-finding-the-right.html

NJ.com: School Choice competition for students creates 'shark tank' atmosphere says Hampton board member

http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2013/12/school_choice_competition_for.html

Argus Leader: Parents line up for choice of schools

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20131203/VOICES/312030017/Parents-line-up-choice-schools?nclick_check=1

Education Reform

TribLive: Brewster eyes education reform

http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourmckeesport/yourmckeesportmore/5181664-74/brewster-charter-education#axzz2mQHshXbS

Port South: Common Core website launched by education reform group

http://www.postsouth.com/article/20131202/NEWS/131209979