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Career Academy Related

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Charter School Related

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Magnet School Related

  • Magnet Busing Could Be Back

by EMILY ALPERT

In the wake of parents' and principals' complaints, San Diego Unified could change its plans to cancel busing to magnet schools. Critics argued that jettisoning the buses would save less money than originally estimated, could damage schools that bring students from across the city, and would undercut the very idea of magnets.

Keeping magnet busing is part of a long list of new staff recommendations on how to revamp the magnet program. The recommendations came partly from a recent report by Magnet Schools of America, a nonprofit advocacy group hired by San Diego Unified on a $58,000 contract. The report found …. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/04/27/education/schooled/881magnet042709.txt

  • Orange County schools strive to show no bias

For 45 years, Orange County school leaders have been unable to prove to the federal courts that they operate an integrated school system that is fair to both black and white students.

By the end of this year, they hope to be released from the court's jurisdiction by convincing a judge they have done everything possible to achieve that goal.

If they fall short, they hope to create a path that gets them there soon.

Either way, school district attorney Frank Kruppenbacher said, "It is time for us to look at this and say this district has done what it has been committed to do.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-asecdeseg27042709apr27,0,4745074.story?page=1

  • High Court Strikes Down School Assignment Plans

The high court found, in a split decision, that both plans were unconstitutional in using race to achieve diversity, but the decision is not viewed as a defeat for “school integration and diversity.” Chief Justice Roberts, writing for the majority, in our opinion, has negated over 50 years of effort for school integration (Brown v. the Board of Education, a unanimous decision by the high court) and the importance of integrated schools for all races and ethnic populations.

Press Release by Magnet Schools of America

Virtual School Related

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Other School Choices, Opinions and Other Interesting Articles

  • Schools use Facebook, Twitter to get out their message

Community forums and newsletters sent home in backpacks are so old school. You want to find out whether stewed tomatoes are on tomorrow's lunch menu? Check out the district's latest tweet. How about the date for the next school board meeting? Look on Facebook. Don't like a school district decision? Post a comment.

http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2009/09/schools_turn_to_facebook_twitt.html

  • The Effect of Special Education Vouchers on Public School Achievement: Evidence From Florida's McKay Scholarship Program

This study is the first empirical evaluation of a voucher program for disabled students. The report evaluates the impact of Florida’s McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities the largest school voucher program in the United States on the achievement of disabled students who remain in their local public schools.

http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cr_52.htm

  • ‘No Child’ Law Is Not Closing a Racial Gap

The achievement gap between white and minority students has not narrowed in recent years, despite the focus of the No Child Left Behind law on improving the scores of blacks and Hispanics, according to results of a federal test considered to be the nation’s best measure of long-term trends in math and reading proficiency.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/education/29scores.html?_r=1

  • Racism hurts kids' mental health

Fifth-graders who feel they've been mistreated because of their skin color are much more likely than classmates without such feelings to have symptoms of mental disorders, especially depression, a study suggests. 
There is evidence that racial discrimination increases the odds that adolescents and adults will develop mental health problems, but this is the first study to examine a possible link in children of varied races, says Tumaini Coker, the study co-author and a RAND Corp. researcher and UCLA pediatrician. 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-05-05-race-depression_N.htm

  • Choice programs Found to Help Integration, But Not Scores

A study of several school choice programs in San Diego finds that they are promoting more racial and ethnic integration of students, but do not, in general, have any notable effect on test scores.

From Education Week