‘What passes for acceptable school choice rhetoric is frightening’

This past week was School Choice Week with no less than 16,140 events held across all 50 states, according to the School Choice Week websites. They took place in 13,224 schools, with 1,012 chambers of commerce and 808 homeschooling groups staging events too. Twenty seven governors and more than 200 mayors/county leaders issuing proclamations to recognize School Choice Week, and, to top it off, there were rallies and special events at 20 state house buildings.

What is the purpose of the week? According to the website, to shine "a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child." (Of course School Choice Week wouldn’t want to shine a spotlight on the many problems with school choice, including poorly operated charter schools and voucher programs that allow kids to go to sub-par schools.)

By Valerie Strauss

Full Story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/01/30/what-passes-for-acceptable-school-choice-rhetoric-is-frightening/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_answer-choice-810am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

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Why Doesn’t Greg Gianforte’s Petra Academy Welcome Students with Disabilities?

Petra Academy is not staffed to handle students with severe learning disabilities or those who have trouble behaviorally. For your child’s best interest, please be candid when you answer the following questions. (If more than one child is applying please consider each one when answering.) If you answer ‘yes’ to 13-20, please explain below. Further elaboration of your answers may be required during an interview.

By Don Pogreba @dpogreba

Full Story: http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2016/01/27/why-doesnt-greg-gianfortes-petra-academy-welcome-students-with-disabilities/

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Gianforte clarifies stance on protection of LGBT rights

Gianforte told Bozeman leaders the ordinance would be bad for business, advice Democrats are drumming into campaign messaging. Last week, Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock went to a Bozeman coffee shop to extend non-discrimination rights based on gender identity or gender expression.

By TOM LUTEY [email protected]

Full Story: http://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/gianforte-clarifies-stance-on-protection-of-lgbt-rights/article_4cef80e6-f5f0-5f2a-88a1-99571513f718.html