Washington Preps For First Charter School Commission; Texas School Funding Protest: Ed Today

Chartering Hits Washington Last November, Washington state voted to allow the creation of its first ever charter schools. Now, reports the Associated Press, activists, teachers and parents are applying to be on the state's first charter commission, the body that decides which charter schools are approved and denied. "I've seen the power that specialized programs can have," said fifth grade teacher Ryan Grant. "I see a lot of potential around the state for innovative schools."

New York T-Val Legal Fight Late last week, a New York judge said the state can't withhold school aid to New York City schools over the district's failure to come to an agreement on teacher evaluations, reports the New York Times. The ruling knocks the teeth out of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to do just that to spur the city and the teachers' union into action. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told a group of reporters at the Harbor School that he was confident the union and the city could come to an agreement soon.

Texas School Fight? Following a lawsuit over Texas school finance, thousands of people marched on the Lone Star State's Capitol to ask the government to restore billions in school dollars reports KVUE. "We need to wake up and realize whats going on in our government and whats going on with our politicians and with our money that's being held hostage here in Austin," said protester Rich Rutherford. The protest comes along with a report from the National Education Association that found that Texas ranks 49th when it comes to school funding.

Patchwork Diploma? The Times's Tamar Lewin has an interesting piece about schools like Thomas Edison State College that let adults graduate from there without ever taking one of the university's classes. An interesting development at a time when adults need increasing flexibility.