School Choice
Schoolmageddon ’13: Wall Street Journal Attacks Guess Who
The Wall Street Journal (paywalled) has an editorial out that criticizes the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers for refusing to acquiesce to the reforms Gov. Corbett has […]
Schoolmaggedon ’13: When Michelle Rhee Came to Town
In many pockets of Philadelphia’s public ed community, Michelle Rhee is the devil incarnate. The face of the ed reform movement, she’s often accused of […]
The Infamous Santorum Cyber Charter May Be One Gigantic Racket
Remember when Rick Santorum was “sending” his kids to a taxpayer-funded cyber charter in Penn Hills while living in exurban Virginia? Well the founder of […]
Michael Nutter Goes on MSNBC To…Defend the School Cuts?
Chris Hayes got an education in Michael Nutter yesterday night, on style and substance. The MSNBC host ran a segment on the Philadelphia public school […]
Philadelphia Getting into the Cyber School Business
Pennsylvania’s two biggest cyber charter school operators–Agora and PA Cyber–are involved in federal corruption allegations. So depending on how you look at it, the news […]
Philly’s First Performing Arts Charter High School Will Be Housed in Former Glaxo Building
As more than two dozen traditional public schools are slated to close this year, at least one spiffy new charter school is poised to open […]
Powerful Pro-School-Voucher Group May Have Violated State Law [Updated]
Students First PAC, a pro-school-voucher group backed by three managers of Bala Cynwyd-based Susquehanna International Group, may have violated state election law. Susquehanna’s Jeffrey Yass, […]
PA Charter Schools Actually Perform Terribly When They Don’t Inflate Statistics
Last September, it was reported that about 50% of charter schools in the state were proficient, hitting the benchmarks mandated by No Child Left Behind. […]
Charter School Founder in Even Bigger Trouble Than We Thought
The five criminal charges the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed against “charter school mogul” Dorothy June Brown, will go nicely with the 62 federal charges […]
UPDATE: Penn Alexander Switches to Lottery System
UPDATE: The Philadelphia School District, to the dismay of the roughly 70 parents who were waiting in line (see below) to secure their kids’ places […]
Irony Alert: Anti-Charter Activists Boo Decision to Close Philly Charter School
As of now, the only Philadelphia school being closed isn’t a traditional public school at all. Last night, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission voted to […]
Gates Foundation to Give $2.5 Million to Philadelphia Schools
The three-year award, part of a national $25 million grant to schools in seven cities, is designed to encourage better cooperation among district, charter, and […]
Upper Darby Budget Cuts Could Eliminate the Next Tina Fey
How many miracles can one hill hope for? Just two months ago, in Drexel Hill, Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast high schools were saved from […]
Joe Biden’s Wayward Brother Is the Perfect Role Model for Your Children
If you’re one of the too-many Pollyannas still singing the praises of school vouchers and charter schools, put your feet up and wend your way […]
Catholic Mass, Andy Reid, School Choice and Dumb Security Measures
The best thing about being a columnist is that there’s never a shortage of material—especially the kind that leaves you shaking your head. The bad […]