In this edition of In the News:
- Does New Orleans Voucher Performance Measure Up?
- Legislative Review: Education Bills from Latest Session
- What’s Working in Education
- Extreme Poverty on the Rise, Especially in the South
- Teacher Proposes Conditions for Assessment
- Warren Buffet Plans to Donate 99% of His Wealth
Does New Orleans Voucher Performance Measure Up?
RSD Schools Significantly Outperform Voucher Program
Educate Now! – June 25, 2010
Based on the 2010 test scores, students in Louisiana’s voucher program are performing well below their peers in New Orleans’ Recovery School District (in both charter and traditionally run schools). Only 29% of 4th graders earned scores indicating they are grade level proficient in English, compared to 48% in RSD New Orleans.
Legislative Review: Education Bills from Latest Session
End of Session Legislative Report
Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools – June 23, 2010
The LAPCS looks back at the last legislative session and outlines what happened to the many education-related bills, specifically those that impact charter schools.
Lawmakers Pass Major Pre-K-12 Education Reform Legislation
Louisiana Department of Education – June 25, 2010
During the last legislative session, state lawmakers looked at more than 150 bills that would directly or indirectly impact K-12 education. The Louisiana Department of Education summarizes key education legislation approved in the 2010 session.
Children Win as Louisiana Enacts Special Needs Scholarship Program
American Federation for Children – June 26, 2010
A new Louisiana law will allow children with special needs to use state-funded scholarships, or vouchers, to attend the private schools of their parents’ choice.
What’s Working in Education
KIPP Middle Schools Found to Spur Learning Gains
Education Week – June 22, 2010
A new report from a long-term study of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) charter schools nationwide shows significant academic gains for KIPP students. Middle school student gains in math are large enough in half the schools to significantly narrow race- and income-based achievement gaps among students.
View the Mathematica press release and report.
Study Finds Success in NYC’s ‘Small Schools’
Education Week – June 23, 2010
A major study of New York City high schools has found that students are more academically successful in smaller, more personal high schools that they choose for themselves than they are in larger, more traditional schools.
When “City Connects” Helps the Whole Child, Achievement Gaps Shrink
Public School Insights – June 18, 2010
A low cost, innovative program is making a big difference for children in Boston elementary schools by ensuring that already existing services actually reach students previously under-served. The program’s impact on growth in student academic achievement (across grades 1 to 5) was on average approximately three times the harmful impact of poverty.
Candidates Take Notice: Charter Schools Succeed
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle – June 20, 2010
A local Wyoming paper returns to New Orleans’ own Sci Academy to highlight the schools impressive 2010 test scores.
Extreme Poverty on the Rise, Especially in the South
The Worst of Times: Children in Extreme Poverty in the South and Nation
Southern Education Foundation – June 15, 2010
A new report finds that a large, growing number of children in the South and the nation live in extreme poverty-surviving on less than seven or eight dollars per day. The report looks at the impact on school districts like New Orleans with high concentrations of extremely poor children.
Teacher Proposes Conditions for Assessment
The Right Way to Assess Teachers’ Performance
The Washington Post – June 18, 2010
One teacher says she is willing to be tested on student performance but proposes a couple of conditions: don’t include students who are absent more than 10% of the time or who don’t come with the prerequisite knowledge for success.
Warren Buffett Plans to Donate 99% of His Wealth
Warren Buffett: My Philanthropic Pledge
Fortune Magazine – June 16, 2010
Bill Gates, Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett are asking hundreds of rich Americans to pledge at least 50% of their wealth to charity. In this op-ed Buffet explains his own pledge to give 99% of his wealth to philanthropy during his lifetime or on his death.