Today's Newsletter: Vouchers, Tracking Students, and Innovative Schools

Here’s a funding crisis story we’re not used to writing about. The Los Angeles Times is reporting today that California schools are about to lose $66 million in vouchers to buy technology before the offer expires next year. Here’s the rub—districts must pay up front then apply for reimbursement. Tough to spend you don’t have. Tight district finances play a part in this story in the New York Times this weekend that looks at a San Antonio district pilot project. The district is using RFID chips to track student attendance and account to the state. The ACLU and others are not enthused. Finally, Microsoft is lauding several new schools as part of their Innovative Schools Program. We’ll be looking at these schools more closely over the next few months. —Kevin Hogan, Editorial Director

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Kevin Hogan is a forward-thinking media executive with more than 25 years of experience building brands and audiences online, in print, and face-to-face. Kevin has been reporting on education technology for more than 20 years. Previously, he was Editor-at-Large at eSchool News and Managing Director of Content for Tech & Learning.