Governance Notes Archives

Welcome to ECS Governance Notes, a bimonthly e-mail publication with links to key information on education governance.

WHAT STATES ARE DOING
A recent study commissioned by the UTAH legislature suggests that a proposed tax credit plan could save the state nearly $1.3 billion over 13 years and provide parents more control over their children's education. The plan would allow a tax credit of up to $2,000 for parents who choose to send their kids to private schools. The remaining $6,500 in per-pupil spending would go back to the state.
http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_2524374

In COLORADO's first forced conversion of a low-performing public school to charter status, the state board of education has directed the Denver school district to hand over its lowest-performing middle school to the nonprofit Knowledge Is Power Program, or KIPP. For Colorado, the action marks the first use of a 2001 state law that requires regular schools to become charter schools if they are rated "unsatisfactory" for three years in a row.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2004/12/08/15kipp.h24.html

In CALIFORNIA, the San Diego school board voted 4-1 to require charter advocates at four schools to gather signatures from at least 50% of their teachers to support their charter petitions if they want to reopen as charter schools next fall and continue to occupy their existing campuses.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20050108-9999-7m8charter.html

Increasing student achievement through academic and organizational innovation is the mission of GEORGIA's charter schools, according to a new strategic plan approved by the state board of education. The strategic plan represents the first time the state has crafted a system to support its 35 charter schools, which are public but largely independent schools.
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/schools/charterschools/charter_strategic_plan.pdf

GOOD READS
"The Role of CROSS-SECTORAL ALLIANCES in the Development and Support of Charter Schools," an article published in the December issue of Social Science Quarterly, explores cross-sectoral alliances as mechanisms for enhancing service delivery in public education. The authors assess the extent to which the three economic sectors - nonprofit, for-profit and public - are involved in partnerships with charter schools and identify the benefits that charter schools receive from partnering with other organizations. Their findings suggest that cross-sectoral alliances have the potential to enhance the capacity of charter schools to deliver high-quality educational services. Three hypotheses generated from the findings are also offered to guide future research on charter school alliances.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/servlet/useragent?func=synergy&synergyAction=showTOC&journalCode=ssqu&volume=85&issue=5&year=2004&part=null

The official analysis of scores from the 2003 National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as "the nation's report card," found that CHARTER SCHOOLS posted lower math scores on the tests than their counterparts in regular public schools.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/01/05/16charter.h24.html

"Calling All Youth," an online magazine, features stories, analysis and lessons learned from the 2004 "Students as Partners in HIGH SCHOOL REDESIGN" conference. The magazine was written by student and adult participants from 15 cities.
http://www.crosscity.org/downloads/crosscity_fnl.pdf

For the first time, several states are moving to RESTRUCTURE underperforming schools, as required under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The Center on Education Policy analyzes the NCLB restructuring policies and practices in Michigan, and highlights the restructuring efforts in three schools
http://www.ctredpol.org/fededprograms/Michigan_Nov2004.pdf

NEW ECS PUBLICATIONS
Review and compare state policies on RESTRUCTURING LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS, including taking them over, reconstituting them and converting them to charter schools.
/clearinghouse/57/02/5702.doc

OTHER USEFUL WEB SITES
The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement has published the inaugural issue of its e-newsletter, which offers guides and tools on school improvement, as well as information about the organization.
http://www.csrclearinghouse.org/index.cgi?l=library_newsletters_122204

GOVERNANCE
To read more about Education Governance, visit the ECS Issue Site on Governance.