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Education Policy Center Newsletter


From The Independence Institute
June 11, 2009
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In this issue
-- Colorado Charter Schools Make a Big Splash
-- Getting Sick of Sick-Outs and Other Contract Clashes
-- Eddie Brings News from Arizona, Milwaukee, Kansas, and More

Dear Friends,

We hope you enjoy our latest update from the Education Policy Center.

Pamela Benigno, Director


Ben DeGrow, Policy Analyst
Marya DeGrow, Research Associate

Colorado Charter Schools Make a Big Splash


Thanks to the groundbreaking work of the late Independence Institute co-
founder David D’Evelyn, public charter schools have been around Colorado for
more than 15 years. But both locally and nationally, they have been a hot topic
of conversation in the past month:
• Sean Bradley from the League of Charter Schools joined Pam for an
iVoices podcast to recap how charters fared in the recent legislative
session
• Senior fellow Krista Kafer co-authored a recently released report from the
Colorado Department of Education about The State of Charter Schools in
Colorado (PDF)
• Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien last week testified before a Congressional
committee about Colorado’s success with charter schools
• The Denver Public Schools board will vote next week on a proposal to
approve 10 new charter schools starting in 2010

Also during the last month, Education Policy Center staff were privileged to visit
four local innovative and successful charter schools: Rocky Mountain Deaf
School, West Denver Prep, KIPP Sunshine Peak, and Denver School of Science
and Technology.

For more:
GoBash, Colorado Charter School Champion
Ed Is Watching, New CDE Report Offers Valuable Digest of Information on
Charters
Ed Is Watching, Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien Highlights Colorado Charter Success to
Congress

Getting Sick of Sick-Outs and Other Contract Clashes


As the 2008-09 school year wound down along the Front Range, teachers in
Boulder Valley collectively called in sick. Contract negotiations also have gone to
impasse in Jefferson County, Greeley, and Pueblo. Listen to Pam and Ben discuss
the issues and lessons to be learned on an iVoices podcast. Ben also went on the
air to talk about sick-outs and related labor issues with 850 KOA’s Mike Rosen
and with Brad Jones on Face The State Radio.

In light of these developments, Ben interviewed the co-author of a new Friedman


Foundation report shedding light on survey data that show private school
teachers are more satisfied than their public school counterparts.

For more:
GoBash, A Collective Temper Tantrum
Ed Is Watching, Professional Pay and Behavior in Jefferson County Contract
Impasse
Ed Is Watching, Talking Temper Tantrums & Teacher Pay

Eddie Brings News from Arizona, Milwaukee, Kansas, and More


In case you missed it, our prodigious young blogger “Eddie” also added some
attention and insights to other key developments in the world of education:
Arizona Lawmakers’ Quick, Creative Work Makes Me So Happy for Lexie
Sneaky Anti-School Choice Empire Strikes Back at Milwaukee
Please Don’t Let Unions Play Hide-and-Seek with Teachers’ Money
Kansas Teacher Independence Story Makes National Headlines Again
All Eyes (Including Mine) on Radical Westminster School Innovation
Universal Preschool Promises Like Harold Hill’s Shiny New Trombones

Contact Information
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email: pam@i2i.org
phone: 303-279-6536
web:http://www.independenceinstitute.org
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