The Dark Side of Charter Schools

With all the rave reviews about the Charter School movement could there be some downside risk? Are people inadvertently handing control over to the "state" through a backdoor?

The Cato Institute presents a compelling argument that all may not be well with the Charter School movement. Read it at the link below.

Charters Kill Private Schools and Add to Taxpayer Burden

Comments on Western Sierra Collegiate Academy

The latest Placer Herald includes opinions from Wendy Boyd and Todd Lowell.

Wendy Boyd's OpEd

Todd Lowell's OpEd

Eric Hogue Addresses School Choice Issue in Rocklin and Placer County

Eric Hogue will be interviewing Dr. David Patterson, Executive Director of Rocklin Academy, and Steve Paul from the Rocklin Unified School District on his "Capital Hour" show at 12:00PM Thursday, KTKZ 1380 AM.

You can also listen online live at:

http://ktkz.townhall.com/ by clicking on the "Listen Live" link in the upper left corner of the KTKZ website.

Important School Choice Meeting

Two main PEER goals from our mission statement are:

Support Quality Education and School Choice - We will work to
promote high quality educational options for all students.
Advocate - Provide support for parents regarding education issues
in the community.

Today you have a chance to make your opinion about school choice
known. As many of you know, Western Sierra Collegiate Academy has
been petitioning for a new charter college prep 7-12 school in the
local area.

The Rocklin Unified School Board denied the charter twice, and now
the decision has been appealed to the Placer County Board of
Education.

Tonight, November 13th, the Placer County Board will make their
decision. If you want your opinion heard, I urge you to
attend this meeting. It will be held at:


Placer County Office of Education
360 Nevada Street, Auburn

Time: 7:00 PM

You can also send your opinions to:

ggarbolino@placercoe.k12.ca.us County Superintendent
Don Brophy; dabrophy@pacbell.net
Rich Colwell; rcolwell@placer.ca.gov
Scott Gnile; scott@gnitech.com
Lynn Oliver; lynnoliver18@gmail.com
Ken Sahl; ken2007@surewest.net
Ken Tokutomi; kentokcar@sbcglobal.net

Educational Freedom in Rocklin

Should parents be free to choose what kind of school their children will attend?

Educational Freedom is the question to be answered on Wednesday, January 15, 2008 at 7:00 pm in Rocklin.

The answer to this question will be given by the Rocklin Unified School District Board of Trustees and will have consequences not only for Rocklin, but the entire Placer County area.

If you are involved in your child's education and believe you should have the freedom to choose, you should attend this meeting.

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical"

Thomas Jefferson

School Choice Lessons in Wisconsin

I ran across an interview with former Milwaukee Mayor John O. Norquist about his experience with school choice.

You can read the interview here.

Are Your Kids Inspired?

The embedded video below is a speech given by Burt Rutan. If you are interested in technology and the future you will probably enjoy the entire video.

The first few minutes should be interesting to everyone with children, including the children themselves. Are we inspiring future generations to push the limits and achieve their full potential? Will they lead our country and our ever shrinking world or are we willing to settle for a few toys that won't mean much in the long run?

Listen in below!

More School Choice for Placer County

There are two developments that expand school choice in the Placer County area.

The first is a new IBO elementary program in the Loomis area. We don't have the contact information for this school, so if anyone has a website or any other information please add it in the comment section. Generic information about the program can be found at www.ibo.org.

The next program is for 7-12 from Western Sierra Collegiate Academy. The school plans on starting in Fall 2008 and they have an information signup on their website. There was an information night on November 13th. We will post any future meeting dates.

Both programs are exciting news for school choice in the local area!

Press Release

Here is the Press Release for Not as Good as You Think

Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice

Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice was just released by the Pacific Research Institute.

If you are concerned and involved in your child's education you should read this book.

The book is available for purchase, but is also available as a free .pdf download at the link above.

We'll be posting more information soon.

Accelerated Reader: Junk Food for the Mind?

If you were interested in the Supplementing Education post and your child is involved in Accelerated Reader, take a look at the links below.

Why Read Shakespeare When Clancy Can Get You a Pizza Party?

Reading for Points Only?

Nancy Drew Outpoints Macbeth

The articles highlight some potential shortcomings with the program.

If your child is in Accelerated Reader are you monitoring what books have actually been read or just looking at points gained?

Are you balancing "just for fun" books with some challenging classics?

Please discuss in the comments.

Supplementing Education

If you're not homeschooling your child but want to ensure a certain level of achievement, supplementing may be for you.

The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to a Classical Education at Home is an excellent book for any parent desiring an academically rigorous, comprehensive education. This is called a "classical education" by the authors, Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer.

If you are not conducting homeschool, the authors suggest the idea of supplementing or reinforcing what your child learns at school.

Supplementing can be a great way to stay involved in your child's education and show your commitment to learning.