Readers of the New York Times learned this week that school choice works better than busing to improve students’ academic performance, thanks to a guest column from John Locke Foundation Director of Education Studies Terry Stoops. The News & Observer‘s “WakeEd” blog highlighted Stoops’ Times op-ed, along with his earlier N&O column dissecting a recent Brookings Institution report. The “WakeEd” blog also cited JLF this week while discussing the Wake County school board’s discussion of its transparency policy.
In other research news, WLOS Television interviewed Director of Research and Local Government Studies Michael Sanera about a crony capitalism scheme involving an Asheville-based solar company. Sanera headed to Boston this week to speak to the “Cable Academy” sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association.
A Charlotte Observer letter writer and the N.C. Family Policy Council highlighted Director of Fiscal Policy Studies Fergus Hodgson‘s most recent report on state government spending growth. Hodgson will discuss state spending Saturday during a presentation for an Americans for Prosperity audience in Winterville.
A Charlotte Observer editorial cited JLF’s new report urging lawmakers to consider shifting 16-year-old offenders from adult courts to the state’s juvenile justice system. The Heritage Foundation’s “Insider Online” and N.C. Senate Republicans’ daily press email highlighted that report. Heritage’s “Insider Online” also promoted the latest JLF research linked to Wake County’s transit plan. The Mooresville Tribune published Research Publications Coordinator Julie Gilstrap‘s recent column on public schools’ pursuit of an environmentalist agenda.