DFER News Round Up
November 30, 2012
By Devin Boyle, Director of Communications
There’s an extra week of news thrown in here due to the holidays so fill up your coffee cups!
DFER Seen & Heard:
- Bills to refine education authority's role in Michigan make progress; DFER's Blackmond weighs in (The Detroit News)
- Dropout Nation gives a nod to Charlie Barone’s tweet saying USDOE's letter to states on grad rate accountability appears to be fig leaf
- DFER Hot List member Rep. Millie Hamner named chair of CO House Education Committee (EdNews Colorado)
- Fed Policy Director, Charlie Barone, tells the Huff Post's Joy Resmovits that the Administration is being hedgy about NCLB reauthorization
- Joe Williams talks ed reform and the election on Bloomberg EDU’s Podcast
- DFER’s Lisa Macfarlane tells the Lake Stevens Journal, “Washington voters clearly understand that public charter schools across the country are providing more opportunities for student success”
- EdNews Colorado gives a nod to DFER in their “Endorsements 2012 scorecard”
- Washington Coalition for Public Charter Schools sends press release on passage of WA Charter School Initiative
- DFER WA State Director discusses the benefits of charter schools with NY Times columnist Motoko Rich
DFER Press Releases:
- DFER Urges Lawmakers and School Districts to Act on Latest Data Showing Student Gains in NJ Charter Schools
- DFER NJ Applauds Passage of Teacher Contract in Newark
- DFER Commends Passing of WA Ballot Measure Allowing Public Charter Schools
From DFER's Blog:
- Joe Williams asks, “True or False?: Doogie Howser Is The Best Argument Against LIFO Ever”
- Lisa Macfarlane writes, “Public Charter Schools Ride Blue Wave in Washington”
- “What Do Elections Really Tell Us?” asks DFER’s Larry Grau
- DFER Colorado State Director Moira Cullen gives a post-election recap
- DFER Team members Omar Lopez and Sean Anderson spend Veterans Day helping Hurricane Sandy victims
In Related News:
- Something’s off here: 97% of Michigan teachers rated effective or highly effective in 2011-12 school year (Ed Week)
- Duncan tells states grad rates must be significant part of accountability systems under NCLB waivers; see Barone's take in Dropout Nation piece (Ed Week)
- LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy feigned shock at not being a finalist in the RttT District Competition (Huff Post)
- Graduation rate data released by the USDOE highlights large achievement gaps (Ed Week)
- Dept. of Ed announces 61 finalists for $400 Million Race to the Top District Competition
- Teachers find value in LAUSD new evaluation system according to the LA Times
- “A new contract for teachers is shaking up New Jersey’s largest city,” reports The Economist
- The Wall Street Journal reports on the high cost of dropping out of college
- Washington becomes 42nd state to allow charter schools (Seattle Times)
Fun with Infographics & More:
- DFER Postcard - A liberal, a moderate, and a conservative walk into a bar …
- Infographic - The High Cost of Dropping Out
- Infographic - Spotlight on Progress: Path to College Completion
And, as always - Have a great weekend!