It’s likely been a reaffirming week for charter school advocates. On Wednesday, the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University, a respected research group, released positive findings regarding urban charter school performance. Then on Thursday, Alabama succeeded after years of failed attempts to pass a charter school law:
Alabama’s gov. signs charter school measure http://t.co/NMhrYWKXxl. State becomes 43rd to allow charters. pic.twitter.com/oDwz5beRnv
— Charters & Choice (@ChartersNChoice) March 20, 2015
In related news, voucher advocates haven’t had any major wins yet this legislative season, but there are several bills they’re keeping an eye on.
“If there’s a good news message, in the charter schools space, it seems to be concentrated in urban areas,” —Macke Raymond, CREDO Director
Nationally, urban charter schools are significantly out-performing their district counterparts in both reading and math, according to a new study from CREDO. The research center’s analysis of 41 urban areas also found that both types of schools are serving equal numbers of English-language learners as well as students in poverty and special education.
So you’ve pulled the trigger, now what? It’s been five years since California passed the nation’s first “parent trigger” law, and now advocates are expanding their strategies to broaden this young movement’s influence.
After a divisive start, the use of the “parent trigger” law matures: http://t.co/uQTP0LWRpf pic.twitter.com/y3A4VoLNDt
— Education Week (@educationweek) March 19, 2015
And now for the kicker...
You can name the country’s top education law! Rebranding the No Child Left Behind Act might have been really difficult, but my coworker Ross Brenneman has conceived of an education legislation name generator that makes this task no work and all fun. Play the game here.
Have ideas for next week’s school choice roundup? Tweet them at @ChartersNChoice or leave them in the comments section below.