Free Republic

A Pittsburgh-area school district is investigating allegations of harassment involving students. Several parents and students from McGuffey High School in Washington County have reached out to Channel 11 News voicing concern about a so-called “Anti-Gay Day” allegedly organized by some students. A group of students allegedly spread the news that if they were “Anti-Gay,” they were to wear a flannel shirt and write “Anti-Gay” on their hands. Below is a statement from Dr. Erica Kolat, the superintendent of McGuffey School District. “Yesterday afternoon, April 16, 2015, allegations of harassment were brought to the attention of our administration. McGuffey School District,...

If anyone but a law enforcement official carries a gun into an Ann Arbor school, administrators will ask the person to leave and call the police. Under a new policy, a weapon such as a gun in a school constitutes an emergency. The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education on Wednesday, April 15, unanimously voted to ban dangerous weapons, including guns, from school buildings and property. The vote approved three policies that outline the superintendent's ability to be able to close schools, cancel buses or student and staff events before, during and after school in the case of an...

High school students in Wisconsin were asked to pretend that they were Muslims for a 10th grade World History writing assignment. Union Grove High School teacher Beth Urban asked students to write a five paragraph essay in which they pretend they are a Muslim male or female in the U.S. "Give three examples of what you do daily for your religion and any struggles you face," Urban instructed. The assignment has some questioning why this is part of a World History class and also if similar assignments were given for other religions. "I wonder if any of the kids who...

High school students in Wisconsin were asked to pretend that they were Muslims for a 10th grade World History writing assignment. Union Grove High School teacher Beth Urban asked students to write a five paragraph essay in which they pretend they are a Muslim male or female in the U.S. "Give three examples of what you do daily for your religion and any struggles you face," Urban instructed.

In 2009, students in Detroit Public Schools posted the worst test scores ever measured on a national test. “There is no jurisdiction of any kind, at any level, at any time in the 30-year history of NAEP that has ever registered such low numbers,” said Michael Casserly, then the executive director of the council that administered the assessment. “They are barely above what one would expect simply by chance, as if the kids simply guessed at the answers.” Since then, charter schools have flourished in the city and more than half of Detroit's students attend them. A recent study from...

A coalition hoping to restructure the Detroit Public School district is asking the state to absolve the district of as much as $153 million in annual pension and debt payments. John Rakolta, CEO of Walbridge construction company, is a co-chair of Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren, and laid out to Michigan Capitol Confidential how the group came up with their calculations. The coalition’s report states: “The state of Michigan should take responsibility for past operating debt that occurred on its watch: $53 million a year." In addition, the group wants the state to let Detroit schools off the...

The city of Flint has more than twice the percentage of people living in poverty as the state average. And Flint Community Schools has been running a deficit since 2010-11. But poor cities such as Flint don't necessarily translate into poorly funded school districts. Flint schools isn't losing money because of a revenue problem. According to the Michigan Department of Education, Flint received a total of $13,127 in total per-pupil revenue in its general fund (local, state and federal dollars) in 2013-14, making it the highest-funded district in Genesee County. The chart shows each district's general fund per-pupil funding received...

In 2014, there were 35 public high schools in Detroit, 20 of them “conventional” public schools and 15 charter schools. Of the 20 conventional schools, all but two earned an “F” on the Mackinac Center for Public Policy’s student progress grading system, which unlike official state ratings take into account the effect of student family backgrounds on performance. In contrast, only two of the city’s 15 public charter high schools received a failing grade. Nevertheless, State Superintendent Mike Flanagan says the Legislature should impose a moratorium on opening any more charter schools, so that conventional school districts like Detroit can...

Two students seeking to start school pro-life clubs in Fargo, North Dakota, are claiming they are victims of unconstitutional discrimination from officials opposed to their cause.According to a complaint letter sent by the Thomas More Society (TMS), a public interest law firm assisting the students, Brigid O’Keefe of Fargo North High School and Katie McPherson of Fargo Davies High School have each spent months attempting to establish pro-life clubs at their schools, to no avail. McPherson first applied to found a club in September 2014, while O’Keefe applied last February. Both had their applications declined, with O’Keefe saying she and other potential club members were...

Those traveling down Durham Drive may have noticed a new sign recently at 812 W. 28th St., the site of the former Holden Elementary and interim facility for HISD’s Energy Institute High School. The bright green sign for HISD’s new Arabic Immersion Magnet School (AIMS) is up, repairs and enhancements are underway on the campus and Principal Kate Adams is preparing to welcome the first batch of students this fall.

Governor Scott Walker did not shy away from educational reforms in his 2015 State Budget Address. The second-term administration proposed sweeping changes that included a statewide school voucher program, A-F grades for all publicly funded schools, the creation of a statewide independent charter school authorizer, and a $141.9 million per-pupil funding supplement in 2016-17. That's a lot to process, so let's just get down to brass tacks. Here are the major reforms that Gov. Walker unveiled in his 2015 Budget Address: Voucher Expansion Walker's biggest announcement was the creation of a new statewide school choice program that would allow students...

Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) has unveiled legislation to establish a program, so schools and food banks can offer meals to low-income students on weekends and holidays. Titus's bill would create a five-year pilot program for providing food to students eligible for free or reduced lunch during the week, when school is out. The Nevada Democrat noted the measure comes at the same time as many schools are out for spring break. Students who rely on meals provided during the school day for sustenance consequently might not have enough to eat. "Vacation from school should never mean hunger for children. This...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is promoting a giant full-body exhibit for kids to walk through to promote healthy eating habits.While encouraging schools to apply for nearly $6 million in grants to help them comply with the First Lady Michelle Obama-promoted Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act new lunch standards, the USDA highlighted efforts by the Kansas State Department of Education.“Body Venture, a traveling health education exhibit sponsored by Kansas State Department of Education travels to schools to teach students about nutrition and physical activity,” the USDA said in a blog post Friday.Body Venture is a 45-foot by 50-foot exhibit that starts...

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – New York City public schools have added two Muslim holidays to the school calendar, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina announced Wednesday. Schools will now close for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, making New York City the largest school district in the nation to recognize the two holidays on the official school calendar. “We are committed to having a school calendar that reflects and honors the extraordinary diversity of our students,” said Farina.

David Dies fears that if Gov. Scott Walker succeeds in eliminating the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board, the for-profit schools it oversees will ramp up practices that could harm students. “If you basically throw the rule book out, I can guarantee you that they will take advantage of their ability to market and recruit as aggressively as possible,” said Dies, the board’s executive secretary. The proposal to eliminate the EAB is part of Walker’s proposed 2015-17 budget. Since its unveiling in February, Dies has been trying to persuade state lawmakers to reject the idea. Dies said his small agency is already...

When Deanna Sporleder's 17 year-old son announced he was spending the night at his 16 year-old girlfriend's house, her home life turned upside down, and part of it was subsidized by federal grants to the local school.Deanna and her husband were against their son leaving home and moving in with his teen girlfriend, but the girl's parents consented and the local law enforcement, both county and city, told Deanna that at seventeen, her son could move out and they had no power to stop him. A few months later, she while signing her other children up for school, she asked...

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Fifth grader Aaron Bencomo brought the Arizona Senate Education Committee to tears as he testified in support of HB2190, a bill to end Common Core in the Grand Canyon state. With his mom Kristi sitting to his left beaming with pride, Aaron decimates the “one size fits all” Common Core standards detailing how they are destroying his love of leaning as they ignore kids’ unique learning needs for the sake of conformity. I dare you not to tear up as Aaron cites from the Declaration of Independence to support his desire for the adults in the room...

In a classic Marc Andreessen “tweetstorm,” the venture capitalist offers 16 “somewhat-less obvious ideas for how to expand the # of “unicorn” great tech startups over time.” (I have added a few links and a chart.) Taken together, I think, Andreessen’s ideas point toward a more dynamic, competitively intense economy which (a) generates both more entrepreneurs and more creative and innovative workers with deep expertise, (b) provides easy and open access to ideas for entrepreneurs and low barriers to starting and growing their firms, (c) offers a safety net that encourages work and mobility and risk taking. In short, just...

PINE BUSH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) — A school in upstate New York has apologized for reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic after complaints from district residents who lost family members in the Afghanistan war. The pledge was read in Arabic during Wednesday morning announcements at Pine Bush High School, located 65 miles northwest of New York City. Some students were angered and responded with catcalls. District Superintendent Joan Carbone told the Times Herald-Record of Middletown that she received complaints from residents who lost relatives in Afghanistan and from Jewish parents.

LANSING -- The Michigan Senate passed a bill allowing up to three fundraising bake sales in public schools per week, providing a way around federal health standards that banned them. brownies. State Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton Township, introduced Senate Bill 109, which passed 36-1, with one senator excused from voting. Colbeck said Boy Scouts in his district asked him why the state banned bake sales in schools. After looking into it further, he realized Michigan had not approved exemptions from the federal Smart Snacks in School standards that disqualify most bake sale items. "(This bill is a) common sense change...