The Local – Staff Writer

“Germany’s ruling coalition is still undecided on Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen’s plan to introduce education vouchers for the children of people on long-term unemployment benefit. ”(more)

The Star-Ledger – Staff Writer

“Political wrangling has stalled passage of a bill that would provide New Jersey’s first school vouchers program, according to a report on NJSpotlight.com.”(more)

Education Next – Paul Peterson

“Seventy percent of those who were not offered a school voucher made it through high school. . . 91 percent of those who used vouchers to go to private school eventually received a high school diploma. Most people would be thrilled to learn about a new way to lift the graduation rates of students from low income families by 21 percentage points—especially if it costs the taxpayer nothing at all. Indeed, the school voucher program actually saved money, because vouchers cost only about half the cost per pupil per pupil of going to District of Columbia public schools.”(more)

Education Next – Paul E. Peterson

“But the larger goal, advanced by both vouchers and charters, is to give parents and students meaningful educational choice, and new advances in technology have opened up another, perhaps even more effective, avenue for attaining that goal. So I now propose that students be given the option of blending middle and high school courses taken at brick-and-mortar schools with courses being offered online.”(more)

Education Next – Michael B. Henderson

“In the fall, 870 students in kindergarten through 3rd grade whose families earned less than two and a half times the federal poverty level and who would otherwise attend some of the worst schools in the city received vouchers worth up to $6,000 to attend private schools of their choice. In the second year, 2009–10, the maximum voucher amount rose to more than $7,000. . . . How did the Louisiana legislature pass this proposal when so many other states were rejecting similar programs?”(more)

Outside the Box – Juliann Talkington

Is Louisiana setting the precedent for vouchers in other states? Let’s hope so.

Washington Post – Nick Anderson

“Education Secretary Arne Duncan called Hurricane Katrina “the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans” because it forced the community to take steps to improve low-performing public schools, according to excerpts from a television interview made public Friday.”(more)

Education Next – Paul Peterson

“Michael Henderson talks with Education Next about how Louisiana managed to pass a voucher law.”(more)

New York Times – David Halbfinger

“TRENTON — The man once described by teachers’ union leaders as “the antithesis of everything we hold sacred about public education” was chosen to serve as state education commissioner by Governor-elect Christopher J. Christie on Wednesday.”(more)

Examiner.com – Donna Gundle-Krieg

“Hundreds of low-income children in Washington, D.C. have a major request this holiday season: that the grinches on Capitol Hill decide not to kill the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program that offers them vouchers to attend private schools. “(more)

Washington Post – Anthony A. Williams and Kevin P. Chavous

“Plain and simple, the position of Obama, Durbin and Serrano is to let the program die. Continued funding for only current participants would deny entry to their siblings, as well as to those children of low-income parents stuck in or slated to go to the worst-performing D.C. schools.”(more)