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Down-and-out In Dixie Reformers Need To Rally Behind Mississippi Charter Schools

When teachers unions attacked charter schools in Washington State by filing lawsuits challenging their constitutionality, reformers from across the nation rushed to their defense. A media campaign was launched with the hashtag #SaveWACharterSchools. Op-eds were written. Amicus briefs were filed. Rallies were organized. Pro-charter forces raised such a fuss that the fight in Washington State […] More

by Peter Cook 20 March 2017, 14:27
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in Charters

Take Your Excuses Elsewhere Charter Schools USA Tries To Evade Accountability For Failing School

When the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) made the difficult decision to close Baton Rouge Charter Academy in Mid-City (BRCA) last month, that was supposed to be the final word on the matter. But apparently Jon Hage, CEO of Charter Schools USA, the organization which runs BRCA, didn’t get the memo. Charles Lussier […] More

by Peter Cook 6 January 2017, 16:17
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in Charters, Policy, Politics, Reform

Let’s Recognize AROS For What It Really Is… A Publicity Stunt Organized by the Teachers Unions

On Thursday, the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools (AROS) held “walk-ins” in cities across the country to call for an increase in education funding, a reduction in standardized testing, and limits on charter school expansion. The Alliance’s “Day of Action” drew plenty of media coverage, most of which portrayed the walk-ins as a genuine expression […] More

by Peter Cook 8 October 2016, 13:53
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in Charters, NOLA, OPSB, Policy, Politics, Reform

Quick Take: Talking About Education Discussing Schools With Garland Robinette & Chris Stewart

I’ll be on Garland Robinette’s radio show, “The Think Tank” on WWL AM 807/FM 105.3 on Monday to discuss the ongoing legal battle over a new funding plan for New Orleans schools. Earlier this week, attorneys for Lusher and Lake Forest, two selective-admissions charter schools under the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB), argued in federal […] More

by Peter Cook 20 August 2016, 22:28
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in Charters, Policy, Reform

Mississippi Learning? Not If The Southern Poverty Law Center Has Its Way

We have an old saying down here in Louisiana: Thank God for Mississippi. It’s a cynical expression alluding to the fact that no matter how poorly Louisiana fares in national rankings of social and economic health, things for our neighbors in the Magnolia State are almost inevitably worse. That’s especially true when it comes to indicators for children. Just last month, […] More

by Peter Cook 1 August 2016, 13:32
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in Charters, Policy, Politics, Reform

I Was Wrong About Hillary Time For Reformers To Go On The Offensive

When Hillary Clinton decided to skip an education forum hosted by Campbell Brown last fall, I wrote a piece arguing that pro-reform Democrats shouldn’t read too much into it. I insisted it wasn’t a signal that she was distancing herself from the education policies embraced by the Obama Administration. Surely, I said, Clinton just wanted […] More

by Peter Cook 20 July 2016, 00:46
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in Charters, Policy, Politics, Reform

Quick Take: Diane Ravitch’s Soul Mate Charlie Pierce Adopts Ravitch's Approach To Education

Charlie Pierce was once an insightful – and often funny – political commentator and sportswriter. For years, his columns appeared in the pages of the Boston Herald and Boston Globe, and he’s written for such publications as the New York Times, GQ, and Slate. Loyal NPR listeners also know him as a fixture on the popular game show, Wait, […] More

by Peter Cook 6 July 2016, 11:14
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in Charters, NOLA, Policy

Quick Take: What Did Teachers Gain In Morris Jeff’s Contract? The Answer: Not A Whole Lot

On Tuesday, teachers at Morris Jeff Community School approved a contract between the board and the United Teachers of New Orleans (UTNO). Union members and representatives of the school’s board of directors had been negotiating the contract for over a year. On Monday, board members unanimously backed the agreement. What did teachers at Morris Jeff […] More

by Peter Cook 22 June 2016, 19:16
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in Charters, NOLA, OPSB, Policy, Reform

NLRB Doesn’t Think Charters Are Public Schools Why IHSNO and Lusher Are Challenging The Board's Position

Last week, The Lens reported that lawyers for International High School of New Orleans (IHSNO) are challenging the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) claim of jurisdiction over their school. In May, NLRB held an election at IHSNO in which a majority (26-18) of teachers voted to form a union with the United Teachers of New Orleans (UTNO). It […] More

by Peter Cook 14 June 2016, 16:00
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in Charters, LaLege, Louisiana, Politics, Reform

Quick Take: An All-New Low For The Louisiana Federation of Teachers LFT Opposes An Innovative Charter School Serving At-Risk Kids

It has long been clear that the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT) does not work in the best interests of students. After all, LFT has been on the wrong (and losing) side of several debates over past several years. They joined with Tea Party-aligned lawmakers in an attempt to repeal Common Core. They have supported […] More

by Peter Cook 13 June 2016, 18:38
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in Charters, NOLA, Politics, Reform

Quick Take: Lusher Teachers Reject Union Educators Reject AFT Effort To Organize School

Teachers at Lusher Charter School have rejected an effort backed and funded by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and United Teachers of New Orleans (UTNO) to organize the school. National Labor Relations Board officials held a secret ballot on Tuesday that asked teachers whether they wanted AFT/UTNO to serve as their exclusive bargaining representative. When […] More

by Peter Cook 17 May 2016, 20:04
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in Charters, NOLA, OPSB, Politics

Does Lusher Need A Union? A Guest Post From Lusher Parent Bill Murphy

Bill Murphy has spent the past 16 years as a K-12 educator. He got his start as a special education teacher in rural Louisiana. He has since worked as a teacher and special education director at a charter school in Massachusetts and as the principal of what became one of the highest-performing traditional public schools […] More

by Peter Cook 15 May 2016, 23:54