Subject: Charter Schools

• Morning Roundup: Curry Todd Tells the Governor to Stick It and Other Developments

  Rep. Curry Todd lashes out at the governor for vetoing his guns-in-bars bill. ... Bredesen's veto message says the bill's "reckless and lacking basic safeguards to ensure public safety." Todd retorts: "I won't tell you what the governor can do with that piece of paper he just sent." ... The governor admits he won't be "even faintly surprised" if he's overridden. ... Police Chief Serpas blasts the legislature for gun bills: "How many of you have been to a softball game and you've seen people mad

  June 2, 2009

• Meandering Through the School Board Field in District 9

  August 1, 2008

• Karl Dean's Scary Flirtation With Charter Schools

  The good ship Dean sets sail for the rockiest coastIt's hard to blame Mayor Karl Dean for his flirtation with charter schools. He's presiding over a city with a failing system that only seems to be getting worse. And like 1,000 mayors before him, he has no idea how to fix it. So he's turning to the magic bullet of charter schools. If you read the brochures, they're supposed to offer competition, innovation, a reinvention of the learning process. They're designed to be free from the rule-bound bu

  April 2, 2009

• Head of the Class

  Nashville’s earnest new mayor is willing to try something different to fix schools

  January 31, 2008

• Best Foes Forever

  After five-and-a-half years in Nashville, Pedro Garcia is the second most senior urban schools superintendent in the nation—and as much of a lightning rod as ever

  March 22, 2007

• One More Shot for the Year

  December 21, 2006

• Love-Hate Mail

  November 30, 2006

• There Are Cultural Barriers on Bransford Avenue

  November 23, 2006

• Bredesen’s Chance of a Lifetime

  November 9, 2006

• You Can’t Shine a Turd

  September 28, 2006

• Pedro Garcia vs. a Few Good Kids

  The Metro school administration picks a fight with a group of poor 5th and 6th graders

  September 21, 2006

• Education, Critical Masses

  June 8, 2006

• Good question

  The kids aren't alright

  April 14, 2005

• Contention, Redemption, Corruption

  April 7, 2005

• Metro Flunkies

  February 3, 2005

• Do No Harm

  January 6, 2005

• Love/Hate Mail

  Need some study hall?

  April 15, 2004

• Let 'Em Rip

  April 1, 2004

• Sisters Superior

  Two education pioneers improve Nashville’s learning landscape one kid at a time

  March 6, 2003

• News Briefly

  They’ve really screwed the pooch now

  July 4, 2002

• Create Charter Schools

  February 21, 2002

• So Sorry

  NASCAR.com falsely maligns WKRN, then apologizes

  May 3, 2001

• School Prayer?

  Charter school opponents say churches want to use them to proselytize

  April 26, 2001

• Schooling the Government

  Chris Whittle may finally have something to teach about schools

  December 14, 2000

• Schooling the Voters

  June 17, 1999

• Education Reclamation

  March 11, 1999

• Checkout Break

  February 11, 1999

• Vive what difference?

  July 30, 1998

• Chartering a New Course

  February 19, 1998

• Bidding for the Big House

  April 24, 1997

• Mayor Asks Legislature to Expand Charter Schools

  Mayor Karl Dean came to the legislature this morning to plead for expanding the number of children who can attend charter schools. Under present law, failing students or students who attend failing schools are eligible. Additionally, at-risk students in grades K-3 can attend, but their numbers are limited to 25 percent of enrollment. A bill by Rep. Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, would expand eligibility to any child receiving federally subsidized lunches, which in Nashville is 70 percent of the kids

  April 29, 2009

• Senate Passes Charter Schools Expansion

  With Mayor Karl Dean lobbying for it, the Senate voted 22-7 this morning to expand charter schools in Tennessee. Under the bill, which escaped a House subcommittee yesterday, nearly three-quarters of Nashville's students would become eligible to attend charter schools. Under present law, only failing students or students who attend failing schools are eligible, along with a limited number of at-risk kids in grades K-3. Dean says the city's failing system could use a couple dozen charter schools

  May 7, 2009

• Morning Roundup: State Budget Mess and Jim Kyle's Twittering

  As budget shortfall grows, the governor weighs layoffs again. "How you go and make additional reductions under those circumstances I think is a difficult thing to contemplate," he said. ... State tax collections down $200 million in April. ... Tennessee economic report sees hope but a long recovery. ... Senate eases path to opening more distilleries in Tennessee. ... Chattanooga's school superintendent sounds the alarm over charter school expansion: "This legislation gives charter schools the o

  May 8, 2009

• Harwell Vows to Keep Fighting on Charter Schools: 'Karl Dean Needs This Tool'

  Rep. Beth Harwell is vowing to revive her bill to expand charter schools in Tennessee. After the House Education Committee adjourned without voting on the legislation this afternoon, the Green Hills Republican told reporters, "In my mind, it should not wait one more year. There are too many children who can benefit." Under the bill, which the House Democratic Caucus secretly voted this morning to oppose, nearly three-quarters of Nashville's students would become eligible to attend charter schoo

  May 20, 2009

• Topsy Turvy: Williams Demands GOP Unity

  OK, we know weird things happen in the final days of every legislative session, but this is ridiculous. Yesterday, House Speaker Kent Williams urged Republicans to stick together in support of Rep. Brian Kelsey. Sorry, what? That's right, Kent Williams, the Republican Judas who crowned himself the House speaker in a secret deal with the Democrats, is demanding Republican unity for Brian Kelsey, the guy who filed ethics charges against Williams for supposedly telling Rep. Susan Lynn that he'd pa

  June 9, 2009

• Morning Roundup: House and Senate Take Up Dueling Budgets Today

  The House and Senate could consider dueling state budgets today. ... The House budget plan calls for more spending than Gov. Phil Bredesen wanted. ... House Speaker Kent Williams: "It's a responsible budget. There are deep cuts in this budget. Even with the deep cuts, I feel it's a compassionate budget. We have added some dollars back ... in the areas we feel like are essential." Bredesen says he's urging Mayor Dean to think about taking over Metro schools. ... Officials say MTSU needs new edu

  June 16, 2009

• State House Revives Charter Schools Bill

  In a defeat for the teachers' union, the House Education Committee held a surprise meeting this morning to approve expanding charter schools in Tennessee. The committee had closed for the year but reopened after successful negotiations on a compromise. The bill still opens charter schools to any student who receives a free or reduced lunch. That's three-quarters of Nashville's students. Under the compromise, students who are failing and attend failing schools are entitled to the first spots in c

  June 17, 2009

• By Grandstanding, Kelsey Almost Kills Charter Schools Deal

  Leave it to House assclown Brian Kelsey to nearly blow up an ironclad, bipartisan deal to pass Republican legislation expanding charter schools in Tennessee. Democrats dropped their opposition this week in exchange for Republican agreement to fund the governor's pre-kindergarten program the way he preferred. The skids were greased! But then Kelsey tosses out a press release trumpeting charter schools in which he made this clever statement: "Our public school system is the last vestige of slavery

  June 18, 2009

• Morning Roundup: Legislature Leaves, Delirious Citizens Party All Night

  One of many rural Tennessee celebrations sparked by news of the legislature's adjournment.Lobbyists and staffers erupt into wild cheers as the legislature finally goes home. The last day is highlighted by the surprise failure in the Senate of legislation delaying installation of voting machines capable of producing paper trails to verify voting results. Also, lawmakers vote to enhance sentences for gun crimes. And in yet another big surprise, the bill to roll back ethics laws by letting Ron Rams

  June 19, 2009

• Kay Simmons: School Board's Manchurian Candidate?

  In this strained analogy, Karl Dean plays the role of Mrs. Iselin, first made famous by Angela Lansbury.Tonight, Metro Council gets a chance to inspect the eight candidates for school board. Judging will be based on three criteria: gait, musculature and fierceness with which they attack a life-size cardboard-cutout of Pedro Garcia. The Blue Ribbon favorite in this crowded field is Kay Simmons, former executive director for the Nashville Alliance. Simmons resume is impressive. With over 35 years

  July 21, 2009