While scores don’t lie, they don’t tell the full story, either; nor do they account for any number of factors that can influence test results.
We certainly know this to be true! Check out this article in the Hattiesburg American.
Maine’s virtual schools attracting more students
“The continued growth of Maine Connections Academy indicates that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to education doesn’t work for everyone,” said Maine Connections Academy Principal Doug Bourget.
Read the entire article here.
We Must Diversify Charter School Options
June 4 marked the 25th anniversary of Minnesota's charter school law, the nation's first. In 1990, charter pioneer Ted Kolderie foresaw that chartering would "introduce the dynamics of choice, competition, and innovation into America's public school system, while at the same time ensuring that new schools serve broad public purposes."
You can read the rest of this blog post in Education Week here.
Another Shade of Brown: Hispanics and Choice in Public Education
The Hispanic community’s battle for educational freedom started well before the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954 through a series of court cases that helped lay the foundation of our modern public school choice movement.Beginning in the 1990s, charter schools proved to be a popular public choice model for Hispanic families. Today, charter schools are approximately 30 percent Hispanic and educate a larger percentage of Hispanic students than traditional public schools.Recent data, including a 2015 study, indicate that Hispanic students are making gains in charter schools. With the Hispanic student population continuing to grow—and because 84 percent of Hispanic parents support allowing parents to choose what public school they send their child to—charter schools will likely remain a popular option for Hispanic parents in the future.Click here to read the rest of the article.
Parent Choice in Education Wins
School choice truly is a win-win for students, parents, and taxpayers. States across the country should learn from this evidence and embrace school choice.
Check out the rest of this article in The American Spectator here.
Post-Regulatory School Reform
With many students still at risk, choice and competition remain the country's best hope. Read the full article in Harvard Magazine here.
Reform May Get Chipped Away, but School Choice is Here to Stay
Check out this blog post from Education Week.
6 ways to ensure public virtual schools serve all students
Recent federal guidance aims to make sure students with disabilities receive special education supports in virtual schools. Check out the article explaining it here.
Two Florida students explain how the virtual school program works for them
These students aren’t isolated from their classmates if they don’t want to be. They can take electives in school, participate in sports and other extracurricular activities, and when graduation day comes – they will walk the stage with their class.
Click here to read the rest of this article.
Talk to Parents Before Closing a Charter School
One of the few points of universal agreement in education policy is that bad charter schools should be shuttered. But what exactly is a bad charter school?
A school with meager enrollment that can't make financial ends meet? Yes.
A school that finds itself on, or even near, the wrong side of the law? Absolutely.
A school with low standardized test scores yet high parent demand? Maybe. Maybe not.
Check out the rest of this blog post in Education Week. Click here.