Wednesday, September 23, 2020
About
About the Media Bullpen
America’s future, its short and long term viability, is wholly dependent on how we educate our children.
The Media Bullpen is a dynamic, virtual newsroom that covers the news and the news of education. It’s a sophisticated and unique technological environment that allows everyone to get in the game on the greatest discussions of our day. To understand those discussions, we need great information and reporting on all the issues relating to education—all the time.
Each day nearly 500 stories—and sometimes many more—are produced in the media about education, but they often lack the context for the public to get engaged.
The Bullpen reporters—the umpires—react and respond in real time to the press as it rolls out its coverage in print, online or broadcast, at the local, state or national levels. They score the coverage using the metaphors of that favorite American pastime, baseball. Articles are given strike outs, pop flies, singles, doubles, triples, and home runs, reflecting a particular story’s objectivity, proper context, its exploration of data, and search for accuracy.
In so doing, the Media Bullpen provides a critical eye to help the public better understand the complexity of the issues being reported.
More than anything else, the Bullpen allows readers to be their own umpires. A full suite of social media applications allows readers to get engaged by sharing the Bullpen’s content with friends, family, other media outlets, activists, and school leaders. Readers can help to make education great only by demanding greater education reporting.
The Media Bullpen is an entirely separate, editorially independent division of the Center for Education Reform, and the strategic evolution of its pioneering and well-known media relations and news monitoring work.
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By having your own account, you can quickly browse information of most importance to you and see the top trends in education reporting. Plus:
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Plus, by joining the Media Bullpen, you can create your own personalized news feed daily by issue, state, region, and more, and it will be delivered to you as often as you ask.
The Media Bullpen. Because education is no longer a spectator sport.
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- Trump, DeVos raise school choice in appeal to vexed parents (CER in the news)
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Sep 14, 8:16 AM, Associated Press:
As millions of American children start the school year online, the Trump administration is hoping to convert their parents’ frustration and anger into newfound support for school choice policies that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has >
- State laws have declined in their capacity to serve charter school students
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Sep 14, 8:10 AM, The Center Square:
State laws have declined in their capacity to serve charter school students, according to a new report published by the Center for Education Reform (CER).
- Latest national charter school law rankings and scoreboard released (CER)
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Sep 10, 8:58 AM, CER:
The Center for Education Reform (CER) today released its 2020 ranking of charter school laws in the United States, revealing that charter school laws in the U.S. have declined in their capacity to serve students.
- DeVos appears to be under investigation for violating Hatch Act
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Sep 22, 7:15 AM, Washington Post:
A watchdog group has filed a complaint alleging that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos violated the Hatch Act when she criticized Democrat Joe Biden on TV, and the Office of Special Counsel appears to be investigating the matter.
- As Schools Go Remote, Finding ‘Lost’ Students Gets Harder
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Sep 22, 7:13 AM, New York Times:
Early data for the new school year suggests that attendance in virtual classrooms is down, possibly because students are working or caring for siblings.
- As families deal with coronavirus, new federal dollars should follow the student
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Sep 21, 7:36 AM, The Hill:
As every parent takes a bigger and bigger role in ensuring their children receive a quality education, the debate has been focused on buildings, systems, and institutions, and not about what families and students need.
- Editorial: Covid Crisis Opens a Schools Voucher Moment for Trump
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Sep 21, 7:35 AM, New York Sun:
Given the failures of our school systems, the time is right for vouchers. Particularly since no crisis should be wasted.
- Parents and Teachers Favor Slow Return to In-Person Learning
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Sep 17, 8:54 AM, U.S. News & World Report:
A NEW POLL SHOWS THAT parents and teachers are both equally cautious about returning to in-person learning, citing overwhelming concern for student and staff safety as their main reason for favoring a slow, phased in approach.
- The latest crisis: Low-income students are dropping out of college this fall in alarming numbers
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Sep 17, 8:31 AM, Washington Post:
As fall semester gets into full swing in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, schools are noticing a concerning trend: Low-income students are the most likely to drop out or not enroll at all, raising fears that they might never get a >
- Biden: Charter Schools Are ‘Very Misguided’
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Sep 17, 8:30 AM, Washington Beacon Journal:
Biden's campaign website does not mention charter schools under his "plan for educators, students, and our future." He has received endorsements from NEA, the American Federation of Teachers, and other major teachers' unions, which >
- Maine school choice lawsuit replicated in New Hampshire, Vermont By Jacob Posik
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Sep 17, 8:28 AM, Maine Wire:
The Institute for Justice (IJ), which represents the three Maine families who are challenging the sectarian exclusion within Maine’s town tuitioning program, also represents the plaintiffs of the cases originating in New Hampshire and >
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- This Philly charter school is trying to grow the ranks of Black male teachers
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Sep 22, 6:10 AM, Philadelphia Inquirer:
Launched this fall, the program establishes teaching positions for Black men interested in careers in education. Three residents, including Fletcher, are teaching at Boys’ Latin while also taking classes at Drexel University — with costs >
- Philly charter school launches "The Boys' Latin Teaching Fellowship" to address the lack of Black male educators
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Sep 17, 7:25 AM, WPVI:
According to recent statistics, only two percent of teachers in American public schools are Black men. In Philadelphia, only four percent of Black men are educators.
- Our view: Teachers union must also consider interests of students, parents
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Sep 10, 8:14 AM, Press of Atlantic City:
Last week the teachers union mischaracterized the district’s reopening plan as including a “blanket refusal” to allow any teacher to work from home. It put this bogus claim into the media while calling for a big protest against the >
- Nearly 300 Kenosha teachers report absent Monday, forcing 7 schools to transition to online learning
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Sep 22, 6:30 AM, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The Kenosha school district is transitioning to online learning at seven middle and high schools after 276 teachers reported absent Monday.
- State pushing 16 school districts in low-risk COVID-19 areas to return to in-person learning
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Sep 22, 6:29 AM, WWLP:
Massachusetts education officials are pushing schools to bring back students in low-risk COVID-19 communities.
- Proposed LGBTQ charter school scored high marks. Alabama rejected it anyway.
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Sep 22, 6:26 AM, The Birmingham News:
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission rejected an LGBTQ-friendly school proposal, even though it has approved schools with lower scores on evaluations.
- Charter school head, Savannah-Chatham superintendent trade blows on school’s zero COVID-case claim
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Sep 22, 6:20 AM, Savannah Morning News:
At least one charter school is not happy with District Superintendent Ann Levett’s remarks near the end of last Wednesday’s school board meeting.
- Opinion: Giving At-Risk Kids Priority in Lottery for D.C. Charter Schools Can Help Integration
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Sep 22, 6:17 AM, The 74 :
This week, the D.C. Council will take up the “Expanding Equitable Access to Great Schools Act of 2020,” legislation that would authorize public charter schools to voluntarily give priority in D.C.’s public school lottery to students >
- Pennsylvania Cyber School Sees Huge Increase In Enrollment
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Sep 22, 6:05 AM, KDKA:
With many school districts still working on plans for the new year, one program is seeing a huge spike in interest. In its 20 years, Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School has never seen so much interest and new enrollments.
- Harding Charter Prep Finds Success In Virtual, In-Person Learning
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Sep 22, 6:01 AM, News on 6:
Harding Charter Prep in northeast Oklahoma City feels virtual learning is best when teachers are in the classroom. Teachers teach virtually for 5 hours of the day from classrooms during 35-minute classes.
- Virtual learning concerns prompt parents, students to turn to private school
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Sep 22, 5:56 AM, KSNB:
Some parents in the district tell 41 Action News they are noticing an increase in parents pulling their children from the district and enrolling them in private schools.
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- State pushing 16 school districts in low-risk COVID-19 areas to return to in-person learning
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Sep 22, 6:29 AM, WWLP:
Massachusetts education officials are pushing schools to bring back students in low-risk COVID-19 communities.
- This Philly charter school is trying to grow the ranks of Black male teachers
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Sep 22, 6:10 AM, Philadelphia Inquirer:
Launched this fall, the program establishes teaching positions for Black men interested in careers in education. Three residents, including Fletcher, are teaching at Boys’ Latin while also taking classes at Drexel University — with costs >
- Pennsylvania Cyber School Sees Huge Increase In Enrollment
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Sep 22, 6:05 AM, KDKA:
With many school districts still working on plans for the new year, one program is seeing a huge spike in interest. In its 20 years, Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School has never seen so much interest and new enrollments.
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- Nearly 300 Kenosha teachers report absent Monday, forcing 7 schools to transition to online learning
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Sep 22, 6:30 AM, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The Kenosha school district is transitioning to online learning at seven middle and high schools after 276 teachers reported absent Monday.
- Virtual learning concerns prompt parents, students to turn to private school
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Sep 22, 5:56 AM, KSNB:
Some parents in the district tell 41 Action News they are noticing an increase in parents pulling their children from the district and enrolling them in private schools.
- Students are getting too much screen time while remote learning in Chicago Public Schools, but in-person services still pose COVID-19 risk, CTU says
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Sep 22, 5:03 AM, Chicago Tribune:
A group of educators, clinicians, clerks and Chicago Teachers Union brass on Monday shared what they think is and isn’t working with remote learning — including the concern that students are spending too much time in front of >
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- Proposed LGBTQ charter school scored high marks. Alabama rejected it anyway.
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Sep 22, 6:26 AM, The Birmingham News:
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission rejected an LGBTQ-friendly school proposal, even though it has approved schools with lower scores on evaluations.
- Charter school head, Savannah-Chatham superintendent trade blows on school’s zero COVID-case claim
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Sep 22, 6:20 AM, Savannah Morning News:
At least one charter school is not happy with District Superintendent Ann Levett’s remarks near the end of last Wednesday’s school board meeting.
- Opinion: Giving At-Risk Kids Priority in Lottery for D.C. Charter Schools Can Help Integration
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Sep 22, 6:17 AM, The 74 :
This week, the D.C. Council will take up the “Expanding Equitable Access to Great Schools Act of 2020,” legislation that would authorize public charter schools to voluntarily give priority in D.C.’s public school lottery to students >
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- Justice Department sees bias in limits on private schools
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Sep 22, 5:18 AM, Associated Press:
The U.S. Justice Department sided Monday with the father of a seventh-grade prep school student in a lawsuit that challenges pandemic-related limits on classroom capacity at private schools in New Mexico as more restrictive than public >
- Prop. 208 will decide if wealthiest Arizonans should pay more taxes for schools
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Sep 21, 7:22 AM, Arizona Daily Star:
Opponents of Proposition 208 say it could put some dollars into the pockets of administrators, but Arizona schools, on average, spend less on administrative expenses than the rest of the country, an average of $903 per student.
- La Jolla Parents Are Opting Out of San Diego Unified
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Sep 21, 7:17 AM, Voice of San Diego:
Enrollment at La Jolla Elementary is down 20 percent. Parents at other La Jolla public schools say they’ve also unenrolled or are considering doing so unless San Diego Unified resumes in-person learning soon.
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- This Philly charter school is trying to grow the ranks of Black male teachers
-
Sep 22, 6:10 AM, Philadelphia Inquirer:
Launched this fall, the program establishes teaching positions for Black men interested in careers in education. Three residents, including Fletcher, are teaching at Boys’ Latin while also taking classes at Drexel University — with costs >
- Philly charter school launches "The Boys' Latin Teaching Fellowship" to address the lack of Black male educators
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Sep 17, 7:25 AM, WPVI:
According to recent statistics, only two percent of teachers in American public schools are Black men. In Philadelphia, only four percent of Black men are educators.
- New charter school in Wesley Chapel uses special technology to work around COVID-19 pandemic
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Sep 4, 7:23 AM, WFTS:
Students have several options — they can attend in-person classes, go fully online with special technology that mimics a classroom atmosphere, or a mix of both.
- Nearly 300 Kenosha teachers report absent Monday, forcing 7 schools to transition to online learning
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Sep 22, 6:30 AM, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The Kenosha school district is transitioning to online learning at seven middle and high schools after 276 teachers reported absent Monday.
- Proposed LGBTQ charter school scored high marks. Alabama rejected it anyway.
-
Sep 22, 6:26 AM, The Birmingham News:
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission rejected an LGBTQ-friendly school proposal, even though it has approved schools with lower scores on evaluations.
- Charter school head, Savannah-Chatham superintendent trade blows on school’s zero COVID-case claim
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Sep 22, 6:20 AM, Savannah Morning News:
At least one charter school is not happy with District Superintendent Ann Levett’s remarks near the end of last Wednesday’s school board meeting.
- Harding Charter Prep Finds Success In Virtual, In-Person Learning
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Sep 22, 6:01 AM, News on 6:
Harding Charter Prep in northeast Oklahoma City feels virtual learning is best when teachers are in the classroom. Teachers teach virtually for 5 hours of the day from classrooms during 35-minute classes.
- Virtual learning concerns prompt parents, students to turn to private school
-
Sep 22, 5:56 AM, KSNB:
Some parents in the district tell 41 Action News they are noticing an increase in parents pulling their children from the district and enrolling them in private schools.
- Richmond families, teachers share concerns about length of virtual school day
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Sep 22, 5:31 AM, Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Families and teachers who largely described feeling drained and concerned by a virtual school day they said stretches on too long wrote en masse to the Richmond School Board, ahead of Monday’s meeting, hoping to affect change.
- School districts face challenges with rollout of remote-only classes
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Sep 22, 5:11 AM, Press Herald:
While in-person learning in many schools has been underway for at least a week, some remote-only options have been slower to start as districts work through technical problems, staffing challenges and access to devices.
- Students are getting too much screen time while remote learning in Chicago Public Schools, but in-person services still pose COVID-19 risk, CTU says
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Sep 22, 5:03 AM, Chicago Tribune:
A group of educators, clinicians, clerks and Chicago Teachers Union brass on Monday shared what they think is and isn’t working with remote learning — including the concern that students are spending too much time in front of >
-
- This Philly charter school is trying to grow the ranks of Black male teachers
-
Sep 22, 6:10 AM, Philadelphia Inquirer:
Launched this fall, the program establishes teaching positions for Black men interested in careers in education. Three residents, including Fletcher, are teaching at Boys’ Latin while also taking classes at Drexel University — with costs >
- Philly charter school launches "The Boys' Latin Teaching Fellowship" to address the lack of Black male educators
-
Sep 17, 7:25 AM, WPVI:
According to recent statistics, only two percent of teachers in American public schools are Black men. In Philadelphia, only four percent of Black men are educators.
- Trump, DeVos raise school choice in appeal to vexed parents (CER in the news)
-
Sep 14, 8:16 AM, Associated Press:
As millions of American children start the school year online, the Trump administration is hoping to convert their parents’ frustration and anger into newfound support for school choice policies that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has >
- DeVos appears to be under investigation for violating Hatch Act
-
Sep 22, 7:15 AM, Washington Post:
A watchdog group has filed a complaint alleging that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos violated the Hatch Act when she criticized Democrat Joe Biden on TV, and the Office of Special Counsel appears to be investigating the matter.
- As Schools Go Remote, Finding ‘Lost’ Students Gets Harder
-
Sep 22, 7:13 AM, New York Times:
Early data for the new school year suggests that attendance in virtual classrooms is down, possibly because students are working or caring for siblings.
- Nearly 300 Kenosha teachers report absent Monday, forcing 7 schools to transition to online learning
-
Sep 22, 6:30 AM, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The Kenosha school district is transitioning to online learning at seven middle and high schools after 276 teachers reported absent Monday.
- State pushing 16 school districts in low-risk COVID-19 areas to return to in-person learning
-
Sep 22, 6:29 AM, WWLP:
Massachusetts education officials are pushing schools to bring back students in low-risk COVID-19 communities.
- Proposed LGBTQ charter school scored high marks. Alabama rejected it anyway.
-
Sep 22, 6:26 AM, The Birmingham News:
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission rejected an LGBTQ-friendly school proposal, even though it has approved schools with lower scores on evaluations.
- Charter school head, Savannah-Chatham superintendent trade blows on school’s zero COVID-case claim
-
Sep 22, 6:20 AM, Savannah Morning News:
At least one charter school is not happy with District Superintendent Ann Levett’s remarks near the end of last Wednesday’s school board meeting.
- Opinion: Giving At-Risk Kids Priority in Lottery for D.C. Charter Schools Can Help Integration
-
Sep 22, 6:17 AM, The 74 :
This week, the D.C. Council will take up the “Expanding Equitable Access to Great Schools Act of 2020,” legislation that would authorize public charter schools to voluntarily give priority in D.C.’s public school lottery to students >
- Pennsylvania Cyber School Sees Huge Increase In Enrollment
-
Sep 22, 6:05 AM, KDKA:
With many school districts still working on plans for the new year, one program is seeing a huge spike in interest. In its 20 years, Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School has never seen so much interest and new enrollments.
-
- This Philly charter school is trying to grow the ranks of Black male teachers
-
Sep 22, 6:10 AM, Philadelphia Inquirer:
Launched this fall, the program establishes teaching positions for Black men interested in careers in education. Three residents, including Fletcher, are teaching at Boys’ Latin while also taking classes at Drexel University — with costs >
- Philly charter school launches "The Boys' Latin Teaching Fellowship" to address the lack of Black male educators
-
Sep 17, 7:25 AM, WPVI:
According to recent statistics, only two percent of teachers in American public schools are Black men. In Philadelphia, only four percent of Black men are educators.
- Trump, DeVos raise school choice in appeal to vexed parents (CER in the news)
-
Sep 14, 8:16 AM, Associated Press:
As millions of American children start the school year online, the Trump administration is hoping to convert their parents’ frustration and anger into newfound support for school choice policies that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has >
- DeVos appears to be under investigation for violating Hatch Act
-
Sep 22, 7:15 AM, Washington Post:
A watchdog group has filed a complaint alleging that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos violated the Hatch Act when she criticized Democrat Joe Biden on TV, and the Office of Special Counsel appears to be investigating the matter.
- As Schools Go Remote, Finding ‘Lost’ Students Gets Harder
-
Sep 22, 7:13 AM, New York Times:
Early data for the new school year suggests that attendance in virtual classrooms is down, possibly because students are working or caring for siblings.
- Nearly 300 Kenosha teachers report absent Monday, forcing 7 schools to transition to online learning
-
Sep 22, 6:30 AM, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The Kenosha school district is transitioning to online learning at seven middle and high schools after 276 teachers reported absent Monday.
- State pushing 16 school districts in low-risk COVID-19 areas to return to in-person learning
-
Sep 22, 6:29 AM, WWLP:
Massachusetts education officials are pushing schools to bring back students in low-risk COVID-19 communities.
- Proposed LGBTQ charter school scored high marks. Alabama rejected it anyway.
-
Sep 22, 6:26 AM, The Birmingham News:
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission rejected an LGBTQ-friendly school proposal, even though it has approved schools with lower scores on evaluations.
- Charter school head, Savannah-Chatham superintendent trade blows on school’s zero COVID-case claim
-
Sep 22, 6:20 AM, Savannah Morning News:
At least one charter school is not happy with District Superintendent Ann Levett’s remarks near the end of last Wednesday’s school board meeting.
- Opinion: Giving At-Risk Kids Priority in Lottery for D.C. Charter Schools Can Help Integration
-
Sep 22, 6:17 AM, The 74 :
This week, the D.C. Council will take up the “Expanding Equitable Access to Great Schools Act of 2020,” legislation that would authorize public charter schools to voluntarily give priority in D.C.’s public school lottery to students >
- Pennsylvania Cyber School Sees Huge Increase In Enrollment
-
Sep 22, 6:05 AM, KDKA:
With many school districts still working on plans for the new year, one program is seeing a huge spike in interest. In its 20 years, Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School has never seen so much interest and new enrollments.