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