Legislative Committee Halts Charter School ‘Witch-Hunt’
When it comes to public performance audits, there’s a difference between good governance and oversight on one hand, and a far-reaching fishing expedition on the other. The latter SHAMEFUL act is what a handful of Democrat state legislators (Rep. Mike Merrifield, Rep. Judy Solano, Sen. Bob Bacon, Sen. Evie Hudak) put into motion last month. [...]
CDE Gathers Feedback on Social Studies Standards
Colorado is making major revisions to the state’s academic standards. At the Independence Institute, we’re especially interested in the Social Studies standards. Our own Ben DeGrow has served on the subcommittee to draft new standards for history.
What’s really GOOD about the process is how the Colorado Department of Education has worked to solicit feedback on [...]
Indiana Takes a Stand for Private School Choice
June 30, 2009 was a GOOD day for thousands of Indiana children in the home state of the Friedman Foundation and the GEO Foundation, two long-time school choice advocates. Governor Mitch Daniels signed into law a 2.5 million corporate and individual scholarship tax credit program. The program gives companies and individuals a 50 percent tax credit in return for their donation [...]
Good News from the Gold Dome
Good picks by a Republican leader! Colorado Senate News has reported that Republican Senate leader Josh Penry will appoint a Democrat to the Interim Committee to Study Financing of Public Schools. The Democrat is education reformer Michael Johnston, who was selected by a committee to fill the vacancy left by the departure of Senator Peter [...]
Bad Decision for Children like Lexie: AZ Vouchers Struck Down
To realize the impact of yesterday’s Arizona Supreme Court decision watch this video about a little girl named Lexie. Also, read the media release from the Institute for Justice. Lexie has multiple disabilities. Her public school was not able to meet her needs, but the state-funded scholarship program for children with disabilities gave her the opportunity to attend a private [...]
Waivers for Public Schools: A Good Step for Reform
Today, two public schools received waivers from 40 state statutes, 32 district policies, and 18 collective bargaining agreement provisions. The Colorado State Board of Education unanimously voted in favor of granting waivers to two Denver Public Schools, Manual High School and Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment.
The schools are the first “Innovation Schools” under a law [...]
Bad News for Families: State Cuts Printed School Report Cards
Yesterday the Joint Budget Committee cut the printing of next year’s School Accountability Reports (SAR). Also, a bill going through the legislature that will make major changes to Colorado’s accountability system does not include printing of the new reports. Not sending home a SAR (aka school report card) keeps parents in the dark about a school’s student performance. [...]
