Obama Picks Education Secretary

BY ABDON M. PALLASCH Political Reporter/apallasch@suntimes.com

As he introduced "my friend" and Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan as his choice for Secretary of Education Tuesday, President-elect Barack Obama also talked about the federal reserve lowering interest rates this morning.

But Obama refused to answer any more questions about the scandal surround Gov. Blagojevich's alleged attempts to sell Obama's senate seat to the highest bidder.

Voicing a willingness to try new ideas to solve the economic and educational crises facing the nation, Obama said he would even consider charter schools, which have flourished in Chicago even though teacher unions complain they siphon resources from the public schools.

"If charter schools work, let's try them -- let's not be clouded by ideology," Obama said.

Appearing at the Dodge Renaissaince Academy on Chicago's West Side underneath a rolled-up basketball net, Obama introduced his longtime fellow hoops-shooter Duncan, joking that "I did not select Arne because he is one of the best basketball players.....click here to read the rest of the article

Cd'A Charter Academy Featured in Flunked, Ranked In Nation's Top 100 High Schools!

By MAUREEN DOLAN
Staff writer

Cd'A Charter Academy ranked in nation's top 100

COEUR d'ALENE -- When it comes to high schools, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy is among the best.

Again.

U.S. News and World Report ranked the school 97th among the top 100 high schools in the nation in a report released today.

More than 21,000 high schools were analyzed by U.S. News for possible inclusion on its 2009 list of America's Best High Schools.

Charter Academy is the only Idaho school to make it into the top 100 and achieve the honor of being named a "Gold Medal" school.

"This is really great," said principal Dan Nicklay. "We've gotten a lot of recognition, various awards here and there, but to be one of the top 100, this is really cool."

Last year, Newsweek ranked the school the 544th best high school in a list of 1,300.

In 2007, Charter Academy was named a National Charter School of the Year by the Center for Education Reform.

The benchmarks used by U.S. News to measure the top schools are what the organization considers indicators of college readiness including high performance in reading and math, proficiency rates on standardized tests that exceed state averages and performance on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams.

The school functions on significantly less money than a regular public school, Nicklay said, because as a charter, the school has no taxing authority and cannot levy property taxes for supplemental funding to maintain and operate the school or for its facility needs.

The school does not receive any federal funding, no hot lunches or busing so parents have to be more involved in getting their children to school, he said.

"There is a level of investment on the parents' part that is really key," Nicklay said.

One of the first charter schools to open in Idaho after the state passed its Charter School Law in 1998, the school serves students in grades six through 12.

In 1999, Charter Academy opened with 200 students attending seventh through 10th grades in a converted pet store and garden center along Kathleen Avenue.

Opening enrollment for the 2008-2009 school year was nearly 550 with waiting lists for some grades.

Who Needs the Bailout???

Schoolchildren need a bailout more than Wall Street

By WALTER BACKSTROM
Bellevue Reporter Columnist - Dec, 2008

Bill and Melinda Gates recently met with several superintendents of large school districts, including Washington, D.C., New York and Chicago.

These groups also included the usual suspects: Politicians, teachers unions, etc., discussing how to improve the sorry state of education in America.

One of the biggest drawbacks to these types of conferences is that people who truly can make a difference are never represented, such as parents. You have school superintendents whose track record for improving education for poor and minority kids is shameful. For example, children of color whose graduation rates are 30 percent. You have the teachers union whose main goal is to improve and acquire extra benefits for its members, not for the kids. They are against pay for performance, where some of the best teachers could be retained to teach in inner-city schools. They are for extra waiver days.

Does anybody other than this writer think that these kids are out of school too much?

I am just a single African American dad and an observer on education issues. My daughter is in the fourth grade, and every day for four years, I have had the privilege of being part of her education.

Since she’s been in school, I have witnessed the good, the bad and the ridiculous. I have argued with school superintendents, disagreed with arrogant principals, talked to clueless school board members and endured teachers who were afraid of me because I am black.

It has been quite a ride........(click here to continue)

Flunked for $19.99 including S&H!

Get your copy of "Flunked" for $19.99 including S&H now! (For domestic orders only.)

This deal is only good through Christmas.

Use the coupon code: NOEL and go Here to get your copy today!

Makes a great gift for any teacher, educator or anyone interested in improving America's education system.

Happy Holidays!!

Interview With Executive Producer Steven Maggi

Check out this recent interview with Steven Maggi!

On October 8, 2008, Citizens for Better Education, the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy, and Americans For Prosperity — Kansas sponsored a screening of Flunked the Movie. I had an opportunity to sit down and talk with Steven Maggi, the film’s executive producer. Following are some excerpts from our conversation.

Q. The reform measures in the movie Flunked: Did they end up costing more money?

A. They actually saved money. Certainly the charter schools did. In every case they paid their teachers more than teachers in the traditional school, and still did it with less money. Teacher pay is an important thing, but people have to think beyond just paying teachers under the same system. It’s still rewarded off seniority. We have to find ways to attract the best teachers. … How do we keep the best teachers?

Q. Some of the schools successfully serve student populations that are poor and disadvantaged in many ways. Often public schools use poverty as an excuse for their failures. Does poverty doom children to failure?

A. Absolutely not. What dooms failure is.....

Click here to read complete interview:

Flunked Wins Best Documentary at the San Fernando Valley International Film Festival!

Los Angeles, CA—Flunked, narrated by award-winning actor Joe Mantegna, has won top award for Best Documentary at the San Fernando Valley International Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA. VIFFI showcased 66 projects, from over 500 submissions, featuring 7 documentaries to promote and encourage the endeavors of the international creative community in all media, by providing exposure to their productions and writings.

Flunked takes a realistic view of our failing education system, offering a disturbing look at America’s shameful decline in comparison to other nations. However, instead of complaining and doing nothing, Flunked showcases schools and teachers who have figured out a way to make things better . . . right now.

Flunked highlights the common threads of successful education: strong leadership, high standards, excellent teachers, and solid curricula. By focusing on schools that are successfully applying these principles, Flunked sends a message loud and clear: Parents, students, principals, and teachers do not have to settle for mediocrity in their own schools!

To contact Executive Producer Steven Maggi or to arrange an interview, please email judy@flunkedthemovie.com.

For more information, visit our website: http://www.flunkedthemovie.com/.

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Free Film Festival In North Hollywood, CA Featuring Flunked!

FLUNKED, NARRATED BY JOE MANTEGNA, TO SCREEN AT VIFFI

FREE FILM FESTIVAL!!
All screenings free to the public.


The 2008 San Fernando Valley International Film Festival (October 24–26) offers a tremendous opportunity for writers and filmmakers to demonstrate their craft to the public and industry decision makers. This festival is one of the only festivals in California to offer free screenings to the public—which facilitates excellent screening attendance.

Flunked will be screening on:

Friday, October 24th at 4:30 pm

Beverly Garland Hotel
4222 Vineland Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91602-3399


For years we’ve read the stories: Results of national and international educational aptitude tests show that the average American student is unable to compete academically. In short, public education is failing.

Success rates are plummeting, and remediation and dropout rates are skyrocketing. Students entering the current American education system are in for a grim ride. It truly is a national scandal.

Flunked highlights the common threads of successful education: strong leadership, high standards, excellent teachers, and solid curricula. By focusing on schools that are successfully applying these principles, Flunked sends a message loud and clear: Parents, students, principals, and teachers do not have to settle for mediocrity in their own schools!

Flunked trailer: http://flunkedthemovie.com/trailer.php
VIFFI website: http://www.viffi.org