2009 November School Reform News: Civil Disobedience Protests Scholarship Cuts

Published November 1, 2009

The November 2009 issue of School Reform News leads with news of an act of civil disobedience on behalf of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program. School choice advocates and education leaders gathered in front of the U.S. Department of Education building, standing nose-to-nose with Federal Protective Services offices for 30 minutes to draw attention to the plight of 216 low-income children whose scholarships were rescinded this year on order of the Obama administration. No one was arrested.

Also in this issue:

* Minnesota—home of the nation’s first charter school law—is now giving entire school districts charter-like freedom to innovate.

* Special Ed Vouchers Stop Mislabeling
A new study reveals special education voucher programs can help keep students from being mislabeled as “disabled.”

* Alt. Certification Benefits Students
Teachers who gain their credentials through alternative certification programs are just as capable in the classroom as those who attend traditional teachers colleges—and are addressing a critical need.

I Was Cyber-Stalked By My Teacher
Cyber-stalking among teenagers is nothing new—in fact, 46 states already have passed laws against it. But what happens when a student is cyber-stalked by her teacher?