A weekly report on education news and commentary you won’t find anywhere else — from the nation’s leading voice on education innovation and opportunity.

Trust parents. Not a complicated idea, but one that the unions flee from like Dracula from a cross... Kids are the losers — but some schools are riding to the rescue with innovation...Special hostility toward Catholic Schools?

PARENTS ARE A CHILD’S FIRST TEACHERS. As such, CER’s Jeanne Allen argues in Forbes that it’s time they are given the power to develop or buy the education of their choosing for their kids. Parents, particularly those of color, low income and special needs parents or searching for the right school for their child are most strongly in agreement with her. And from New York comes a powerful plea from a public school parent — let my children learn in school.

LOOK FOR THE UNION LABEL - “IT’S ALL ABOUT US”. Not the students or parents. Think we’re exaggerating? Take a look at teachers fight to keep kids out of school, or schools open for child care but not teaching or the unions coordinating blatantly illegal "sick-outs." Sadly, these are just the tip of the iceberg. Even sadder is the fact that these are the folks who are supposed to instruct our kids on being good citizens.

SPECIAL ANIMUS TOWARD CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. The threat posed by COVID to Catholic Schools continues to grow, as noted in National Catholic Register. From the opponents’ legal efforts to block aid to private schools to

union efforts to prevent Catholic schools from opening even though they are ready to start educating kids — today — fully compliant with all health mandates, the attacks border on the absurd. As the Bible says — suffer the little children.

GOOD THINGS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. Even if largely unreported by much of the national media, schools with the freedom to innovate continue to educate and care for their students — and the students’ parents. The Villages Charter School in

Florida, stimulated both minds and bodies in their summer camp. In Arlington, VA, newly created St. Isidore of Seville will be serving its students 100% online. Minneapolis, MN saw Harvest Best Academy move its 70 kindergartners outside in tents, while the balance of its K-8 students continue virtual learning.

STRAIGHT A’s FOR ARIZONA. A new Expansion & Innovation Fund also shows the power of thinking outside the box. In need of examples? Check out this incredible array of unique and innovative approaches to serving very diverse students.

Another reward for reading this far!

We hope there’s still time for you to enjoy some needed R & R during the remaining days of summer. To help with that, here’s a remarkable duet between two unforgettable vocal geniuses, Nat King and Natalie Cole, singing "Unforgettable". So turn your speakers

up, hum or sing along maybe, and have happy memories of the unforgettable people in your life.

And as always — please let us know how we can help you, your students and your school.

Founded in 1993, the Center for Education Reform aims to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans — particularly our youth — ensuring that conditions are ripe for innovation, freedom and flexibility throughout U.S. education.