Hurricane Katrina wiped out much of the struggling education system in New Orleans. Three years later, more than half of that parish's students have left traditional schools and attend charter schools. Read the Washington Post's story on how the charter school efforts are going here.
The jury is still out on Texas charter schools, but I'm interested in the notion of universities - especially those with solid education schools - running their own charter elementary schools as a sort of on-campus teaching lab. Click here to read UT-Austin's news release on their first group of fifth-graders to graduate from the University of Texas Elementary School. Says 100 percent of those 40 students passed the TAKS reading test and 97 percent passed the math portion of the test.
The extra hours of work to produce Westlake Academy's campus newspaper have paid off for the staff. The Black Cow has been awarded 47 prizes in a state contest, more than any other student newspaper in the Texas Interscholastic League Press Conference competition. The charter school has no in-school journalism program and students put the paper together on their own time. The paper is mailed to all Westlake households.
In first person:
By Amanda Gann, branding coordinator for the Fort Worth school district
The Fort Worth ISD science department has a new friend. In addition to two snakes, a Beta, a hissing roach and hairless rats, a gutsy lizard moved in today. He hopped on my car while I was at the 7th Street Starbuck's and, despite my efforts, wouldn't leave the hood of my Escape. I am a bit afraid of reptiles, so picking him up was out of the question. I tried coaxing him off with promises of soft grass and bugs aplenty, but he wasn't convinced. I tried scooting him using some paper. A police officer stopped to see what was wrong, but failed to offer assistance when I explained the problem to him. Thus, I was forced to drive (very slowly) back to the administration building with him attached firmly onto my windshield. While driving up the ramp to the parking garage, he opened his lizard mouth and tried yelling what I can only suppose was "help."
I obliged.
The science department was eager to assist. They created a lovely habitat for Buck, and Joe Ferrara, Director of Science, identified him as an anole.
As soon as he was settled in his new digs, Buck turned from dull brown to a brilliant shade of lime green. His closest neighbor is the hissing roach and I hope they become fast friends. Also, if he plays his cards right, Buck might have the chance to visit an elementary school. As I was leaving (following Buck's photo shoot), he opened his mouth again, even wider than before. He could have been yawning, maybe just stretching his jaw, but I prefer to think he was saying "thanks."
Today on star-telegram.com:
Rising costs force Tarrant school districts to reconsider bond projects
Arlington specialist in gang culture has boyhood ties to cops, criminals
John Rodriguez is with the Greater Arlington Juvenile Improvement Team, which is working to reduce youth crime.
Principal ushers in era of stability at once-failing Arlington charter school
In January, Janice Hobbs took the helm of Metro Academy of Math and Science, which has posted some of the lowest test scores in the county and suffered financial difficulties.
Arlington superintendent set to work with new trustees
Euless girls are on the run -- to healthier, better lives
Colleyville, Trophy Club ImagiNation teams have new Destination: the top
The Uber Blue Paws from Colleyville Middle School will compete in the Destination ImagiNation global finals next month. Team members are, front, Zach Hoinoski, Faiez Saiyed, Vanessa Hethcock and manager Terri Mouton; back, Breshell Hurley, Emily Wiegmann and Andrew Hohertz.
As always, please share your thoughts on any education-related matters on your mind. This is your forum. We just work here.
Almost half of all Texas charter schools got a total of about $26 million in taxpayer money by submitting funding for students they didn't have. Officials said the incorrect reporting came from having inexperienced staffers or from charter school officials inflating the numbers when faced with financial troubles.
-Eva-Marie Ayala
This story out of Pennsylvania details how school districts are running online charter schools to draw students back from private schools and to address overcrowding issues.
In Washington, D.C., eight of the 28 Catholic schools may be converted into secular charter schools because the archdiocese says it can't afford to keep them open. Read The Washington Post story here or go here to listen to the NPR version. We've seen that trend in North Texas, with schools such as the former private school at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Arlington converting to a charter school. But even then, charters like Mount Olive's Metro Academy of Math and Science struggle.
Read S-T reporter Eva-Marie Ayala's recent article on charters here.
