“Let Me Rise”
Please take the time to watch this amazingly powerful video prepared by the Heritage Foundation on the fight to save the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program- and in fact the fight to give every child the type of educational opportunities they deserve.
American Solutions Video: Newt Gingrich & Al Sharpton
American Solutions has video up from this morning’s joint appearance by Newt Gingrich and Al Sharpton on NBC’s Today Show talking about education reform. We had mentioned their efforts earlier today, and we applaud their efforts to bring about meaningful education reform.
American Solutions writes:
On most issues, we disagree strongly with Rev. Sharpton and the Obama Administration. But we believe when you can find common ground, it’s important to work together to achieve the common goal–especially when it’s something as important as our children’s future.
To his credit, President Obama supports unlimited charter schools. On this subject, and in other ways that we can work together to strengthen education in our country, we look forward to working with the President.
While we would go further than the President by supporting vouchers, Obama’s support of charter schools is noteworthy because of the strong opposition from many in his party.
At its core, this tour is about our children and their future. If we want to remain the safest, freest and most prosperous nation in the world, our children and grandchildren must have access to schools where they can learn to their fullest potential. And our schools must be accountable for results and be focused solely on learning and achievement.
This is about children, and their (and our) future. And we do agree that it is an area where people can find common ground to make needed reforms reality.
Video: An Educator Speaks Up for School Choice
Dreams
Video: Another face of school choice
One of the things we’ve tried to do here on our blog is show you the faces of school choice- the real children and families who benefit from school choice programs around the country.
Here is another moving story, shared by the Institute for Justice, from a family in Arizona whose special needs daughter has seen tremendous progress from a school choice scholarship.
In his own words: Kevin Chavous on School Choice
When we announced the launch of School Choice Virginia back in July, we were honored to be joined by Kevin Chavous-noted education reform leader, former DC Councilman and co-founder of Democrats for Education Reform (among other things!). Mr. Chavous has been an active advocate for education reform in DC and around the country.
Voices of School Choice gives students, parents and others a chance to share their personal story about the impact of educational choice on their own lives. Here, Mr. Chavous talks about how he got involved in the issue.
Change won’t come easily
What school choice is really about…
Learn more at Voices of School Choice.
You think PARENTS can choose where to educate their kids?
Via the Club for Growth, we find this very entertaining clip from a British TV show showing the Prime Minister suggesting that parents be allowed to decide where to educate their children.
Film to document charter school’s success
The charter school’s five-year journey and success is being chronicled in a documentary that will be shared with schools across the Lowcountry, state and country.
“We truly believe we have a story to tell,” Principal Cecelia Rogers said.
The charter school received a $100,000 competitive grant from the state Department of Education as a result of its accomplishments in parent involvement, financial stability and sustainability, Rogers said. About a third of the grant is being used to share the school’s progress with schools elsewhere, and one of the ways the school plans to do that is through a documentary, Rogers said.
“We’ve been able to dispel the myth that children of the poverty level of a housing authority community can’t learn (the state) standards and make the expected annual gains,” she said. “We worked to do it in five years and did it in four.”
The school rated average on the state report card last year, and it had an excellent improvement rating. That’s an improvement from the previous two years of rating unsatisfactory and below average.
Rogers said the school doesn’t have enough room for all the students who want to attend, and at least 25 students are on the waiting list. The school has maximized use of its space and needs a bigger building, she said.
“We’re bursting at the seams, and we think we can attribute that to our success,” she said.
The school hired Kurt Walker, a local freelance videographer and Burke High graduate, to create the documentary. He began in February. He has had total access to the school community and spent time in classes, on field trips and in teacher meetings. The only off-limits area has been in classrooms on standardized test days, he said.
Walker expects to continue filming when school begins, and Charleston Development Academy plans a public viewing of the documentary this fall.
The school held a preview at the end of the school year for parents and community members to see what Walker had created thus far. The clips have been posted on YouTube and likely will be part of the final film, which Walker said he expected to last up to 1 1/2 hours.
He said his goal is to chronicle the school’s history, to explore the challenges facing the school as well as the community partnerships supporting it, and to show the varied programs to which students are exposed.
“We’re trying to capture the school in its true essence,” he said.
Part 1:
See more clips online here.
