FOCUS D.C. Public Charter School Bulletin
January 23, 2009

Beefed Up FOCUS Communications Effort Leads to Major D.C. Public Charter School Media Presence

Beginning in November of last year, FOCUS powered up our communications capabilities with the addition of Barnaby Towns as Communications Director. Since Barnaby joined our burgeoning staff (we expect to be at least ten strong by mid-2009), FOCUS has gotten published or been instrumental in the generation of six editorials, two op-eds, and seven letters to the editor, and has been quoted by journalists in five news stories, one column and two editorials. We also successfully pitched three TV news stories on behalf of two D.C. public charter schools. That makes 26 media hits since Nov. 23rd! Here’s the rundown:

The Washington Post: Op-ed: “The Key To Better Schools: Charters Have Shown That Autonomy Works,” Kevin Chavous and Robert Cane, 12/29/08
The Washington Post: Editorial: “Micromanaging Ms. Rhee,” 01/07/09
The Washington Post: Editorial: “Schools on the block: But why are charters largely shut out of the bidding?,” 01/06/08
The Washington Post: Editorial: “They’re Academic; The success of the District’s charter schools depends on their independence,” 12/20/08
The Washington Post: News: “D.C. Solicits Development For 11 Former School Sites,” *FOCUS quoted, 12/23/08
The Washington Post: News: “Public Role, Private Gain,” *FOCUS quoted, 12/15/08
The Washington Post: Letter: “The Opportunity Charter Schools Offer,” Robert Cane, 12/01/08
The D.C. Examiner: Op-ed: “D.C. Locks Kids Out of Schoolrooms,” Robert Cane, 01/02/09
The D.C. Examiner: Op-ed: “Charter schools advance King’s message on education,” Donald Hense, 01/19/09
The D.C. Examiner: Editorial: “Charter schools show choice works for kids,” *FOCUS quoted, 12/21/08
The D.C. Examiner: Harry Jaffe’s Column: “D.C. charter school boss deserves a full hearing,” *FOCUS quoted, 12/18/08
The D.C. Examiner: Letter: “Obama campaigned for more charter schools,” Ariana Aquinones-Miranda, 12/17/08
The D.C. Examiner: Letter: “Charter schools have involved parents all along,” Robert Cane, 11/24/08
The Washington Times: Editorial: “Fenty, federal law and school choice,” 12/30/08
The Washington Times: Letter: “School violence,” Robert Cane, 12/04/08
The Washington Times: Letter: “School competition,” Naomi Deveaux, 01/22/09
The Current: Editorial: “Space for Charters,” *FOCUS quoted, 01/07/08
The Current: News: “City invites bids for 11 ex-schools,” *FOCUS quoted, 12/31/08
The Current: News: “State Board Approves New Standards, Rules,” *FOCUS quoted, 12/31/08
The Current: Letter: “Charters Have Fewer Attendance Issues,” Robert Cane, 12/24/08
Washington Business Journal: News: “Charter school activist questions D.C. school RFP,” *FOCUS quoted, 01/08/08
Washington Business Journal: News: “Developers, charter schools interested in vacant D.C. Schools,” 01/12/08
The New York Times: Letter: “Rugby Team Teaches More Than Sport,” Robert Cane, 11/23/08
CBS Affiliate: D.C.’s Channel 9 Evening News: News: Hyde Leadership Public Charter School’s rugby team goes to Capitol Hill, 12/09/08
PBS, BBC America: BBC World News: News: School reform in D.C. featuring Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School, 12/16/08
PBS, BBC America: BBC World News: News: The reaction of Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School students to the election of President Barack Obama, 12/16/04

Coming in February’s Bulletin: Update on Council and Administration Actions Affecting Charter Schools.

Friends of Choice in Urban Schools
1530 16th Street, NW #104
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 387-0405 phone
(202) 667-3798 fax
www.focusdc.org