According to a recent policy paper, Texas' graduation rates could get a sharp increase if the legislature passes a bill to establish Education Savings Accounts and help families send kids to the schools of their choice.
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Las Vegas students seek solace in online schools after being bullied
October is anti-bullying month, and local schools and organizations have made efforts to get the word out that the problem is widespread and deeply damaging.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s website, stopbullying.gov, kids who are bullied can experience negative physical and mental health issues including depression and anxiety, changes in sleep and eating patterns and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist into adulthood.
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A Real Fright: Wisconsin's School Choice Expansion Dubbed "Heartbreaking"
New enrollment numbers show an increase in participation and state funding to Wisconsin's school choice programs. Spooky? Hardly.
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The evolution of online learning in policy and the classroom
In 2007, Pete Bush became the principal for Coopersville High School near Grand Rapids, which had no online learning opportunities in place. But because he knew Michigan Virtual Schools was offering new foreign language course offerings, he thought he'd seize the opportunity to help students learn in a new way and take a course the small school of just 800 students couldn't offer itself.
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Close schools because of poor test scores? Michiganders say no
Michigan residents who participated in a poll earlier this month overwhelmingly oppose closing schools based solely on test scores, believe there are other ways to fix low-performing schools, and say parents should have input in the school closing process.
The results of the poll — conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and commissioned by the Michigan chapter of PublicSchoolOptions.org — were released today. The public school options group is an advocacy group that promotes the rights of parents to choose their children's schools.
Patrick Lanne of Public Opinion Strategies said opposition to using test scores solely to close schools was strong both among Republicans and Democrats.
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Parental choice program enrollments announced in Watertown
The Department of Public Instruction announced enrollment figures for the Wisconsin parental choice programs for the 2016-17 school year.
Two area schools, Lakeside Lutheran High School and Good Shepherd Lutheran School, take part in the program. Lakeside has 25 students participating in the program out of the school's total 401-student enrollment. At Good Shepherd 9.5 full-time equivalent students are participating in the program.
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Not an adult matter: Students take up the fight for school choice
A student-run advocacy group for educational policies in Vermont is set to continue its fight for school choice through the 2017 legislative session.
“The common misconception is that students don’t care about their education. That’s not true,” said Brennan Murphy, a senior at the The Long Trail School in Dorset, and a member of We The Students.
Nava Crispe, also a senior at The Long Trail School, created We The Students in August to protest Act 46 and the removal of school choice. The group has around 30 participants made up of students from various area schools. They participated in two forums on Act 46 in Montpelier this summer, and are planning to present their message at area schools in the coming months.
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More Wisconsin parents choosing school choice programs
MILWAUKEE – New enrollment figures released from the state Department of Public Instruction show parental interest in the state’s three private school choice programs continues to grow.
The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program grew 2 percent over last year, while the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program expanded by 21 percent, according to the data, released earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Racine Parental Choice Program increased 20 percent.
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Poll: Don’t base school closures on tests
This may be hard to believe, but there appears to be something Republicans and Democrats can agree on. A poll commissioned by PublicSchoolOptions.org, a pro-school choice group active in Michigan and other states, has found voters of all political persuasions think school closures should not be based on test scores alone.
Read more here.
More Wisconsin parents choosing school choice programs
MILWAUKEE – New enrollment figures released from the state Department of Public Instruction show parental interest in the state’s three private school choice programs continues to grow.
The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program grew 2 percent over last year, while the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program expanded by 21 percent, according to the data, released earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Racine Parental Choice Program increased 20 percent.
Keep reading here.