In Case You Missed It: State orders mediator to oversee City teacher evaluation negotiation; PEP approves 19 co-locations

Here on EdVox we’re excited to bring you the latest news about education issues and policies affecting our communities. It can be hard to keep up with all of the events and happenings, so – in case you missed it… Here is a recap of the latest stories in NYC education news, starting with the oldest news:

MONDAY

• A parent at popular P.S. 261 in Boerum Hill op-eds in the Times that aggressive “poaching” of parents from her family’s school by the newly approved nearby Success Academy charter school will unbalance diversity at the school, and if the Bloomberg Administration’s ultimate goal is to “privatize” the school system: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/opinion/how-charter-schools-can-hurt.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

TUESDAY

• The endorsement of the United Federation for Teachers is a big prize up for grabs in the 2013 race for mayor: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/nyregion/michael-mulgrew-teachers-union-chief-is-wooed-by-mayor-candidates.html?_r=2&hp
• Gov. Cuomo and state lawmakers are proposing a 13 percent increase to religious and private school funding to cover state requirements such as standardized testing and immunization programs: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304636404577293941502489380.html?mod=WSJ_NY_LEFTTopStories
• A state labor board ordered a mediator to rule over the negotiations between the United Federation of Teachers and Bloomberg Administration over teacher evaluations; the City immediately promised legal action to reverse the decision: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304636404577294102569335684.html?mod=WSJ_NY_LEFTTopStories
• Students forming the Brooklyn Youth Advisory Council presented a report on school co-locations to community members and the City’s Department of Education after 10 weeks of interviews at three formerly large high schools now split into smaller schools: http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/03/20/brooklyn-students-propose-ways-to-improve-relations-at-shared-campuses/?partner=rss&emc=rss

WEDNESDAY

• The Panel for Educational Policy approved 19 co-locations at its monthly meeting, including shared space for 10 charter schools, a co-location at a school proposed for closure by the Bloomberg Administration, and at a special needs school–some of the parents from which were reduced to tears after the vote: http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/education/158047/panel-for-educational-policy-approves-19-school-co-locations
• A second series of votes on contracts were delayed at the meeting when three mayoral appointees to the Panel suddenly recused themselves because of their connections to CUNY, a potential beneficiary of the contracts; the recusals followed protests the week before from parents and students who questioned the impartiality of mayoral appointees who also work for City-funded institutions: http://gothamschools.org/2012/03/22/pep-okays-slate-of-co-locations-but-tables-some-contract-votes/
• DOE announced it will not force low-income students to pay the fee for their AP exams this spring after all: http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/03/21/low-income-students-wont-have-to-pay-more-for-a-p-exams/
• Gov. Cuomo said he would negotiate over his proposal to direct $250 million in state education funding to his “competitive grants” program: http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/political_news/157973/albany-still-working-out-state-budget-s-education-funds

THURSDAY

• Two charter schools slated for closure won victories, while Satellite III in Brooklyn gained political support in its fight to stay open with a letter to the state’s education commissioner from elected officials arguing that DOE “derailed and sabotaged the school’s ability to serve its students well”:http://gothamschools.org/2012/03/22/fight-for-life-not-over-at-three-schools-slated-for-closure-this-year/

FRIDAY

• In a Daily News op-ed, former Chancellor Joel Klein said we must continue the push for “school choice”, even though it is “too early to determine the full effect”: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/harness-power-school-choice-article-1.1049166