Virginia Rising

By Craig Carper A year after Virginia passed voter ID legislation, state Republicans are proposing more changes to the rules by which Virginians cast their ballots. Read more here.

By Julian Walker Among the measures pending in the General Assembly are bills to require photo ID at the polls to cast a regular ballot and to reduce the types of identification now accepted, such as utility bills and paychecks. Tram Nguyen of Virginia New Majority, a left-leaning advocacy group, said voter ID policies disproportionately disenfranchise African Americans, Latinos and …

By Mark Tenia The voter card you used back in November may be obsolete. You may need a photo I.D. the next time you head to the polls. Read more here.

A grassroots movement in opposition to new voting legislation is cropping up in Richmond. Advocates gathered at the General Assembly building Thursday, speaking out against bills requiring photo identification at the polls on Election Day. Read more here.

By Errin Haines RICHMOND — Voting rights advocates are expressing concerns about what they see as a renewed effort by Republicans this legislative session to make it harder for Virginians to cast a ballot. At a press conference held Thursday, Tram Nguyen, associate director of Virginia New Majority, said that pending legislation that would require voters to show proof of …

By Michael Lee Pope The plight of the nonviolent felon has been a losing cause in Northern Virginia for decades. Year after year, Democrats introduce a bill that would restore voting rights for nonviolent felons. And year after year, the effort fizzles in Richmond. So when Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell announced his support for automatic restoration of civil rights for …

Still Neither Fair Nor Accurate October 6, 2011 by rethinkingschoolsblog by Kris Collett President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have another “reformy” idea.  Surprised?  No, me neither. Illustration: J.D. King Now, in addition to using high-stakes standardized test scores to evaluate teachers and push merit pay schemes, they have a released a plan which will in part, use …

Originally posted here. Challenging Corporate School Reform and 10 Hopeful Signs of Resistance On Oct. 1, 650 people attended the 4th annual Northwest Teachers for Social Justice conference in Seattle.  Rethinking Schools editor Stan Karp gave a well-received talk on “Challenging Corporate Ed Reform.” He ended on an uplifting note with “10 hopeful, tangible signs of organizing resistance and alternatives …

So many schools struggle to fulfill their core mission: to educate youth in this country and prepare them to fully participate in building a better future. They need more and better-trained teachers, and more resources to build better school buildings and equip classrooms. Yet, the reforms that some lawmakers pursue have far more to do with making schools unsafe for …

Originally posted here. Highest Wage Earners Gained More in one Year than Lowest Wage Earners did in 30 Gap between highest and lowest wage earners now at 30-year high RICHMOND, VA – The top 10 percent of wage earners now make at least 5.7 times more than Virginians in the bottom 10 percent. The wage gap between the highest and …