- The legislature has taken no action yet on two charter school bills — its own and the governor’s. (Times)
- But it appears to be set to reject the Obama administration’s favored school policies. (Wall Street Journal)
- At risk: The state’s eligibility to win $700 million in Race to the Top school aid. (Albany Times-Union)
THE WEEKEND’S BACKSTORY:
- First, Senate Democrats proposed a charter school compromise bill. (GothamSchools, Times, Post)
- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver came out in favor of the Senate’s charter authorizer plan. (Post)
- Mayor Bloomberg called the legislature’s bill “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” (Post, Daily News, Times)
- He also signed off on the state’s RttT application yesterday, despite the unresolved issues. (Daily News)
- Yesterday, Paterson introduced his own compromise bill, with Bloomberg’s backing. (GothamSchools)
- Paterson called a last-minute session to get legislators to boost the charter cap. (Daily News, NY1)
- UFT’s Michael Mulgrew: “Separate and unequal” charter schools are a tiny part of RttT. (Daily News)
- Charter school parent advocates say they oppose the legislature’s proposed changes. (Post)
- Regular old parents too say they are disappointed to hear about potential charter restrictions. (Post)
- Charter schools approved by the Regents, the legislature’s preferred authorizer, performed worst. (Post)
- DREAM Charter’s principal says the Assembly bill would prevent schools like his from opening. (Post)
- The Daily News lambasted top legislators for appearing willing to give up on landing more school aid.
- The Post says the education bill’s “poison bills” mark a win for the anti-charter UFT.
- And the Post asked why Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch hasn’t spoken up through all this.
IN OTHER NEWS:
- Race to the Top has caused conflict within states, districts, and local unions. (Times, Washington Post)
- President Obama will announce today that he plans to expand RttT next year. (Washington Post)
- A charter school mom says she wishes a charter would take her special-needs son, too. (Post)
- NY1 is going inside Paul Robeson High School, one of 20 schools proposed for closure.
- A South Bronx high school slated for closure has put together a fight song. (WNYC)
- Nearly all of the schools slated for closure have seen far more homeless students recently. (Daily News)
- State Sen. Malcolm Smith gave $100,000 in state funds to a charter school he founded. (Daily News)
- The Times says it’s hoping to see Randi Weingarten’s AFT “walk the walk” on reform in coming months.
- A new program teaches students vocabulary by having them listen to hip-hop music. (Daily News)
- The UFT announced that contract talks have reached an impasse. (GothamSchools, WNYC)
- Jay Mathews says local education reporting is alive and well. (Washington Post)
- D.C.’s charter school graduation rate dropped 5 points last year. (Washington Post)
- Some Chicago schools set for turnaround have been overhauled before. (Chicago Sun-Times)