FAILING AMERICA’S STUDENTS. As Mark Anthony once said, “if you have tears, prepare to shed them now." The latest American College Testing (ACT) scores are out, assessing readiness of high school seniors to succeed in college, and it’s not good. Only 60% of high schoolers met collegiate success benchmarks in English, 46% in reading, 40% in math and 38% in science. Every category showed a decline from the previous year. The math number is the most alarming, because of its dire impact on future American competitiveness in a digital world.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. The ACT report shows the results of lack of competition among and competency-based learning in schools. But rather than decry the continued failure, the education Blob continues to churn out inaccurate reports. Take the recent report by the Center for American Progress (CAP) aimed (with little analysis or real data) at virtual, or online, charter schools. These schools provide students children in numerous challenging environments a chance to learn at home. While ostensibly aimed at online charters, the CAP report is mainly a rehash of previous attacks on the very idea of educational choice as well as cherry-picked statistics. Nate Davis, Chairman and CEO of K12 Inc., the nation’s leading provider of online charter schooling, pointed out that CAP “did not engage with the educators, nonprofit charter board members, providers, or parents of online charter schools for this report. The report does not include significantly more relevant data and school-level information, nor does it examine other important factors including effects of mobility on graduation rates and achievement, in particular for academically at-risk students... CAP chose instead to attack the model rather than understand why parents are choosing online charter schools and how to best address students’ needs.” Thankfully, like the rebels in Star Wars, the educational choice warriors are fighting for a noble cause. May the force be with them!
BULLYING IS ANOTHER REASON. Expanded options serve everyone – the gifted, the challenged and all in between. But increasingly data suggests bullying is another reason for us to ensure these options don’t go away. Hat tip to Tommy Schulz at AFC for this data:
The U.S. Department of Education's NCES in 2015 stated that 21.3% of students in public schools reported that they were bullied, compared to 15.3% of students in private schools. 33% of students who reported being bullied say they're bullied once or twice a month.Among other things, that’s what inspired FL legislators to pass the Hope Scholarship, where many victims of bullying “find safety and comfort."
GRANNY KNOWS BEST. In a most timely retort from someone with experience with online schools, a happy grandmother wrote to the editor of the Daily Chronicleof Centralia, Washington. “Beginning in elementary school my granddaughter, (Name withheld by CER), was a victim of bullying. The bullying continued into middle school where more than 100 of her classmates sent hateful messages daily on Facebook. When she attempted to leave, they added her back... Her grades dropped. We made the switch to online school and haven’t looked back. Since enrolling in Washington Virtual Academy, (my granddaughter’s) grades have improved immensely. She is not focused on the social issues that once distracted her and she now spends her time studying and focusing on building a successful future.” (That’s what generalized research ignores by the way!)
MORE ARE NEEDED. That’s the educated and reliable conclusion of a new book by Dr. Cara Candal, educator, mom and charter expert whose work with the Pioneer Institute and CER is well known. The Fight for the Best Charter Public Schools in the Nation documents the Massachusetts education miracle, which analyzes why, despite the success of its charters, schools are unable to grow. Candal also argues that innovation is critical to expansion and success, something reticent bureaucrats often eschew waiting for the perfect to be the enemy of the good. Former top lawmakers Governor Bill Weld and Senate President Tom Birmingham wrote the forward. “Today, the majority of students in urban Massachusetts districts attend schools whose performance ranks in the bottom 20 percent of public schools statewide. Most of those children are poor, black, or Latino, and many are immigrants. Nothing has proven more effective at closing that gap than our charter schools, which are the best-performing in the country.” Let’s have more of them, they all say. Here, here. Buy the book. Join the fight.
PUT ANOTHER CANDLE ON OUR BIRTHDAY CAKE! We are so proud to be celebrating CER’s 25th Anniversary this week with a Summit and Gala. To be held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami beach, the summit will feature a power-packed list of speakers including Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello, former Governors Jeb Bush and Tommy Thompson, the reigning Miss America Nia Franklin and dozens of the top leaders in education, business and technology. For last minute details and registration visit edreform.com/cer-25th-anniversary.
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Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Campaign Kick-Off.
(Ogden, UT): The Egyptian Theatre Foundation is opening the doors of the Historic Peery’s Egyptian Theater to host a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. We invite you to join us as we break ground on our 2018 campaign to engage the community and raise funds to replace the theater entrance marquee. Just in time to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Golden Spike!
What: Kick-Off Campaign
When: Tuesday, October 30th at 4pm
Where: Peery’s Egyptian Theater, 2415 Washington Blvd. Ogden, Utah 84401
Who: Speakers will include, Weber County Commissioner James Harvey, ETF President Rob Werner and representatives from Ogden Weber Chamber of Commerce, Ogden Eccles Conference Center and Weber County.
Details: Ribbon cutting ceremony, front of house and behind the scenes historic theater tours, up close look and demos of the Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, curtain show- watch the sun set and rise from the spectacular atmospheric ceiling. Interviews with speakers can be arranged and photo taking is encouraged.
The Egyptian Theatre Foundation provides conscientious oversight of the preservation, maintenance, and improvement of this historically important venue. Focusing on fundraising initiatives for theater-related projects that attract increased community participation and invite new audiences to come and create their own special memories of Peery’s Egyptian Theater.
For more information, visit www.egyptiantheatrefoundation.org
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Secretary Perdue in Illinois and South Dakota
(Washington, D.C., October 23, 2018) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be in Illinois TOMORROW, October 24th and South Dakota Thursday, October 25th.
* NOTE: Media interested in attending any event must RSVP to press@oc.usda.gov by TODAY, Tuesday, October 23rd at 5:00pm ET.
ILLINOIS
Secretary Perdue to visit Ekcert’s Orchard with Congressman Mike Bost
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will visit Eckert’s Orchard and hold a town hall with Congressman Bost and Illinois agriculture leaders. Following, Secretary Perdue and Congressman Bost will hold a media availability.
WHEN: TOMORROW, Wednesday, October 24th beginning at 10:00am CT
WHERE: Eckert’s Orchard, 951 South Green Mount Road, Belleville, IL 62220
Secretary Perdue to visit Reifsteck Farm with Congressman Rodney Davis
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will visit Reifsteck farm and hold a town hall with Congressman Davis and Illinois agriculture leaders. Following, Secretary Perdue and Congressman Davis will hold a media availability.
WHEN: TOMORROW, Wednesday, October 24th beginning at 3:00pm CT WHERE: Reifsteck Farm, 1007 County Road 900 East, Champaign, IL 61822
SOUTH DAKOTA
Secretary Perdue to visit POET’s Ethanol Plant in Chancellor with Senator Mike Rounds and Congresswoman Kristi Noem
WHAT: Secretary Perdue, Senator Rounds, and Congresswoman Noem will tour POET’s ethanol plant in Chancellor and hold an ethanol and corn grower’s roundtable. Following, Secretary Perdue, Senator Rounds, and Congresswoman Noem will hold a media availability.
WHEN: Thursday, October 25th beginning at 7:30am CT
WHERE: POET Chancellor, 27716 462nd Avenue, Chancellor, SD 57015
Secretary Perdue to visit Poppens Farm with Senator John Thune, Senator Rounds, and Congresswoman Noem
WHAT: Secretary Perdue, Senator Thune, Senator Rounds, and Congresswoman Noem will visit Poppens Farm and hold a town hall with South Dakota producers. Following, Secretary Perdue, Senator Rounds, Senator Thune, and Congresswoman Noem will hold a media availability.
WHEN: Thursday, October 25th beginning at 9:00am CT
WHERE: Poppens Farm, 27459 468th Avenue, Lennox, SD 57039
Secretary Perdue to visit Brandon Valley Intermediate School with Congresswoman Noem
WHAT: Secretary Perdue and Congresswoman Noem will visit Brandon Valley Intermediate School, participate in a pep rally, and serve lunch to students. Following, Secretary Perdue and Congresswoman Noem will hold a media availability.
WHEN: Thursday, October 25th beginning at 10:45am CT
WHERE: Brandon Valley Intermediate School, 201 West Park Street, Brandon, SD 57110
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