On the latest Midweek Monitor, RiShawn Biddle analyzes the Philadelphia traditional district’s decision to close 23 schools, looks at the battle in Alabama over a school choice bill opposed by the National Education Association’s Cotton State local, and checks out the progress of proposed Parent Trigger laws in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Watch the Midweek Monitor on the site, download, or watch on RiShawn Biddle’s video page. You can also subscribe to this series and to the overall Dropout Nation Podcast series. It is also available on iTunes, Blubrry, Zune Marketplace, Stitcher, and PodBean. Also download to your phone with other mobile software.

On this week’s Midweek Monitor, RiShawn Biddle takes a look at Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s successful effort to pass a school takeover bill; provides analysis on the latest pension deficit numbers for Chicago’s teachers’ pension, checks out Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s plan to eliminate degree- and seniority-based pay scales; and chats about discussions at National Indian Education Association’s legislative event about efforts to leverage Common Core reading and math standards.

Watch the Midweek Monitor on the site, download, or watch on RiShawn Biddle’s video page. You can also subscribe to this series and to the overall Dropout Nation Podcast series. It is also available on iTunes, Blubrry, Zune Marketplace, Stitcher, and PodBean. Also download to your phone with other mobile software.

On the first episode of this year’s Midweek Monitor, RiShawn Biddle takes a look at efforts in Florida and Georgia to pass Parent Power legislation, the Obama administration’s Equity and Excellence Commission report, and the battle between Detroit Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts and the district’s dysfunctionally incompetent board over the future of the school system.

Watch the Midweek Monitor on the site, download, or watch on RiShawn Biddle’s video page. You can also subscribe to this series and to the overall Dropout Nation Podcast series. It is also available on iTunes, Blubrry, Zune Marketplace, Stitcher, and PodBean. Also download to your phone with other mobile software.

On this week’s Midweek Monitor, RiShawn Biddle chats about the lessons for school reformers from Scott Walker’s victory over NEA and AFT affiliates seeking his recall; looks at the implications of Education Next’s recent poll on teachers’ union popularity; and considers the discussions over expanding choice in the Tarheel State.

Watch the Midweek Monitor on the site or download. You can also subscribe to this series and to the overall Dropout Nation Podcast series. It is also available on iTunes, Blubrry, Zune Marketplace and PodBean. Also download to your phone with BlackBerry podcast software, Google Reader, BeyondPod, DoggCatcher and other mobile software.

On this week’s Monitor, RiShawn Biddle notes the House Education and the Workforce subcommittee’s hearing on Parent Power and Family Engagement featuring Connecticut Parents Union President Gwen Samuel; checks out the lawsuit filed by StudentsFirst, Parent Revolution and others against California’s state government over tenure and reverse-seniority layoffs; and looks at efforts in Missouri to expand charter schools and inter-district school choice.

Watch the Midweek Monitor on the site or download. You can also subscribe to this series and to the overall Dropout Nation Podcast series. It is also available on iTunes, Blubrry, Zune Marketplace and PodBean. Also download to your phone with BlackBerry podcast software, Google Reader, BeyondPod, DoggCatcher and other mobile software.