Mariachi Music Coming To Your School Soon

More schools getting in tune with mariachi music

Jan. 5, 2009 -Associated Press

DALLAS - Jose Perez often butted heads with his grandfather, who emigrated from Mexico years ago and feared his American-born grandson didn't appreciate the sacrifices his family made. Then the teenager started playing the music of the elder's homeland.

Perez, 14, took a mariachi music class at his Fort Worth high school, and gained a cultural connection to his grandfather as he learned how to strum the five-stringed vihuela (pronounced vee-way-la).

"He used to always yell at me because I didn't want to do my chores," Jose said. "But as soon as I got into mariachi, I guess we developed a better relationship." Mariachi not only gave Perez closer ties with his family, it gave the North Side High School freshman one more reason to stay in school.

With soaring dropout rates among Hispanic students, mariachi education programs, long popular in parts of South Texas and California, are springing up in schools across the country to help keep the nation's largest and fastest-growing ethnic group academically engaged.

"You don't have to worry about your kids joining gangs, we provide the gang," said William Gradante, a master mariachi teacher and chairman of the National Association for Music Education's Mariachi Advisory Committee. Click here to read the rest of the article.

Charter Schools in Cyberspace!

McFarland Might Offer Online Charter School

School Board To Decide In One Month

By Angela Bettis, Staff Writer
January 6, 2009

McFARLAND, Wis. -- The McFarland School District is considering a school without walls -- an online charter school.

During a public hearing on Monday night, the McFarland School Board floated the idea of allowing a company called Wisconsin Virtual Academy to establish an online charter school in the district. The charter school, which would be kindergarten through 12th grade is supported by several local parents and the district superintendent, WISC-TV reported.

Charter schools aren't the same as home-schooling. Students enrolled in charter schools are accountable to licensed Wisconsin teachers and follow a strict curriculum that comes to them on the computer.

The learning process for charter school students is more flexible, which is why McFarland parent Jean Stube said that she chose it for her children.

"This is their second year, so they were going to a private school prior to that," said Stube.

Stube felt the curriculum in the private school was moving too quickly for her children."

I brought them home to virtual school because I just felt with the one-on-one teaching with them, I can teach directly to their learning style," she said.

Because McFarland doesn't have an online school, Stube's boys are enrolled in the Northern Ozaukee School District.

"They have normal textbooks and worksheets like all kids," said Stube.

"I think it's a different type of education model, but I don't think every education model meets the needs of every student," said McFarland Superintendent Scott Brown. Click here to read the rest of the article.

Charter Schools Performing Higher?

Charter schools grade highest

Hub's traditional, pilot systems lag; Findings surprise state's specialists

By James Vaznis - Globe Staff / January 6, 2009

A new study indicates that Boston charter schools significantly outperform the city's traditional schools, but raises new questions about the city's experimental pilot schools, which in many cases posted "ambiguous" or "disconcerting" results.

The study, being released today at a Boston Foundation forum, examined state standardized test scores for students of similar backgrounds at the three kinds of schools over a four-year period. In the most stark example, charters - independent public schools dedicated to innovative teaching - excelled significantly in middle school math. However, pilots, which have similar goals but are run by the School Department, performed at slightly lower rates than traditional schools, according to the study. Click here to read the rest of the article...

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)

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