The Center for School Options (CfSO) has released a Report that takes a hard look at the relationships between special interest groups such as teachers unions, and the most vocal critics of online public schools.

"A Closer Look at Critics of Online Public Schools," showcases the grim reality that as beneficial as digital learning has been for a quarter of a million students in 30 states, especially children with learning disabilities or issues with bullying, the educational option is increasingly under attack by well-organized and vocal opponents.

Many of these individuals and groups, which are singled out by name, have financial ties to, and in many cases are openly funded by teachers unions.  The report also raises questions around the motivations of other critics of online schools, including specifically named elected officials and school administrators in five states.

AMES, Iowa - More than 6,669 Iowa State University undergraduates have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the 2012 fall semester Dean's List. Students named to the Dean's List must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work.

Bettendorf, IA
Michelle Lee Anderson, Open Option (LAS);
Jamie Marie Blaser, Event Management;
Stephanie Ann Blaser, Dietetics (H SCI);
Jessica Marie Blaum, English;
James Dewey Boddie, Software Engineering;
Kimberly Ann Booe, Chemical Engineering;
Molly Rebecca Bryant, Journalism and Mass Communication;
Sarah Anne Buck, Psychology;
Kailey Victoria Bueker, Elementary Education;
Brittney Corrine Carpio, Political Science;
Griffen Gerald Clark, Mechanical Engineering;
Elizabeth Rose Coffman, English;
Stephen F. Cramond, Agricultural Engineering;
Spencer Owen Crane, Finance;
Shayla Michelle Cudd, Performing Arts;
Emily Marcene Doerder, Music;
Gabriel S. Domingues, Agricultural Systems Technology;
Nicholas Joseph Downey, Pre-Business;
Madeline Skye Duque, Pre-Business;
Dillan P. Dwyer, Mechanical Engineering;
Brendan David Elizondo, Interdisciplinary Studies;
Safwan Elkhatib, Kinesiology and Health;
Katherine E. Finnegan, Animal Ecology;
Taylor Marikey Finney, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design;
Christopher Joseph Foss, Mechanical Engineering;
Rylan J. Freidhof, Pre-Computer Science;
Elizabeth Anne Fry, Kinesiology and Health;
Jenna Corinne Fussell, Biology;
Patrick John Garrity, Interdisciplinary Studies;
Jeremy Thomas Gillam, Mechanical Engineering;
Andrew Russell Healey, Construction Engineering;
Natalie S. Heiderscheit, History;
Kelly Marie Hering, Psychology;
Morgan Dale Hoke, Computer Engineering;
Ashley A. Holmes, Psychology;
Carolyn Anne Johnson, Animal Science;
Megan Michelle Johnson, Kinesiology and Health;
Jordan Graham Kerr, Kinesiology and Health;
Rachel E. Kirkpatrick, Child, Adult, and Family Services;
Christopher Ross Lamphier, Pre-Business;
Elizabeth Ilene Larsen, Psychology;
Jesse William Leonard, Mechanical Engineering;
Samantha Ann Matt, Open Option (LAS);
Thomas Ray McGee, Industrial Engineering;
Alexander C. Menke, Mechanical Engineering;
Tyler Benjamin Meseke, Biology;
Amanda Lauren Miller, Kinesiology and Health;
Matthew Henderson Miller, Political Science;
Brock Robert Mills, Psychology;
Emily Jeanne Misak, English;
Catherine Helen Mullen, Biology (AGLS);
Jared Paul Mumford, Psychology;
Haley Brooke Nellis, Pre-Interior Design;
Lauren A. O'Brien, Pre-Business;
Emily M. Oswald, Psychology;
James Vance Park, Biology;
Camille Elizabeth Perk, Industrial Engineering;
Katelynn E. Piotter, Open Option (LAS);
Lexie Renee Reed, Animal Science;
Erin Kathleen Robinson, Chemical Engineering;
Raena Lynn Sampson, Interior Design;
Keaton Michael Sandeman, Environmental Science (AGLS);
Caleb D. Schulze, Electrical Engineering;
Grant Bradley Sherrard, Animal Science;
Amrinder Singh, Biology (AGLS);
Patrick Hadley Smith, Chemical Engineering;
Benjamin Timothy Stecker, Kinesiology and Health;
Jason Marcellus Stewart, Pre-Business;
Sarah Fae Tank, History;
Emma Grace Thompson, Kinesiology and Health;
Joshua C. Thompson, Physics;
Erin Cathleen Toohey, Biology (AGLS);
Emory Stephen Traicoff, Engineering;
Sara Ann Turke, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design;
Kelly Ann Wagner, Dietetics (H SCI);
Paige Nicole Wear, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design;
David Clay Weinstein, Software Engineering;
Robert W. Wright, Industrial Engineering;
David Thomas Zimmerman, Industrial Engineering;
Samantha Christine Zust, Kinesiology and Health;


Davenport, IA
Grant L. Albansoder, Civil Engineering;
Heather Nicole Bennett, Sociology;
Bethanie Marie Blake, Architecture-Professional Degree;
Callie Renee Blake, Elementary Education;
Adam James Brandt, Industrial Engineering;
Molly E. Bridges, Elementary Education;
Fabian Andres Briesmoore, Computer Engineering;
Rebecca Joy Briesmoore, Civil Engineering;
Matthew Allen Burmeister, Mechanical Engineering;
Margaret Marie Carlin, Community and Regional Planning;
Abigail Nicole Clevenger, Animal Science;
Neal Robert Crooks, Aerospace Engineering;
Elizabeth Ann Davis, Dietetics (H SCI);
Elizabeth Marie Doebel, Mathematics;
Trevor Murphy Fennelly, Finance;
Ashley Nicole Freese, Marketing;
Marinda R. Gacke, Biology (AGLS);
Christopher Thomas Harre, Civil Engineering;
Kathleen Marie Hoil, Performing Arts;
Zachary Matthew Howell, Music;
Christine Nicole Jensen, Aerospace Engineering;
Kayla Marie Kaasa, Biology (AGLS);
Malcolm Andrew Kelly, Mechanical Engineering;
Lance David Keltner, Civil Engineering;
Emily Marie Kenneke, Elementary Education;
Joseph Valarius Kern, Construction Engineering;
Danielle Marie Kimler, Electrical Engineering;
Nicholas Aaron King, Landscape Architecture;
Austin Miles Laugen, Computer Engineering;
Amanda Margaret Malin, Music;
Megan Elizabeth Maller, Music;
Alex Clay Mallonee, Communication Studies;
Michael Webster Mulvihill, Technical Communication;
Nolan Garbutt Murray, English;
Sarah Maria Neighbour, Graphic Design;
Emily Mary Neubauer, Elementary Education;
Trang Thi Thuy Ngu, Mechanical Engineering;
Kara Nhu Nguyen, Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management;
Claudia Nicole Nuci, Early Childhood Education;
Tyler Jeffrey Patzner, Civil Engineering;
Alex James Pogue, Computer Science;
Bailey Christine Randone, Communication Studies;
Brittany Michelle Redmond, Biochemistry;
Erin Bates Sickels, Kinesiology and Health;
Brian Vincent Skalak, Advertising;
Aaron Wayne Stechmann, Industrial Technology;
Amanda Michelle Trammell, Animal Science;
Jeramie Lee Vens, Electrical Engineering;
Sylvina Marie Walk, History;
Katherine Michelle Walton, Psychology;
Kelsie Deanne Witt, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design;
Connor S. Young, Biology;
Jordan Thomas Youngerman, Interdisciplinary Studies;


Moline, IL
Brandon James Coopman, Industrial Design;
Brant Alan Mosley, Materials Engineering;
Amy Katharine Schaefer, Pre-Business;
Hans William Schaeffer, Mechanical Engineering;
Danika Marie Schroeder, Linguistics;
Caleb Jack Spiegel, Architecture-Professional Degree;


Riverdale, IA
Samantha Nicole Gerken, Advertising;


Rock Island, IL
Derrick J. Anderson, Electrical Engineering;
Ryan Joseph Bush, Industrial Design;
Taylor Marie Downing, Food Science (AGLS);
Charles T. Eagle, Mechanical Engineering;
Joseph Michael Johnson, Mechanical Engineering;
Jennifer T. Kirk, Microbiology;
Ashlen Kate Lincoln, Kinesiology and Health;
Benjamin T. Payne, Open Option (LAS);
Rachel Lee Storjohann, Elementary Education;

LeClaire Resident Receives MSLS Degree

CLARION, PA (01/28/2013)(readMedia)-- Bianca Sierra of LeClaire, IA, received a MSLS degree in Library Science MSL during commencement ceremonies Dec. 15 at Clarion University.

Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.

On the web: http://readabout.me/achievements/Bianca-Sierra-Graduates-from-Clarion-University/5466000.

DES MOINES, IA (01/25/2013)(readMedia)-- The following local residents received a grade point average of 4.0 and have been named to the Drake University President's List for the Fall 2012 semester:

Erika Milas of Bettendorf

Sydney Schermer of Bettendorf

Matthew Van of Coal Valley

Hayley Thomson of Davenport

Megan Engel of Delmar

Cameron Christoff of Donahue

Taylor Bender of Eldridge

Stephanie Merrick of Eldridge

Jordan Porter of Eldridge

Robert Cobert of Fenton, IL

Claire Vandercar of Port Byron

Nicole Ervin of Wilton

The following local residents achieved a GPA of 3.5 or above and were named to the Drake University Dean's List for the Fall 2012 semester:

Krista Allbee of Bettendorf

Leah Christensen of Bettendorf

Shelby Crane of Bettendorf

Thomas Fisher of Bettendorf

Halli Meyer of Bettendorf

Steven Soseman of Bettendorf

Phong Duong of Clinton

Taylor Wiebers of Clinton

Taylor Larson of Coal Valley

Jared Simmer of Coal Valley

Eric Hartmann of Davenport

Kaylyn Maher of Davenport

Jake Powers of Davenport

Chelsea Rink of Davenport

Eric Marsh of De Witt

Kyle Schrader of De Witt

Beth Engel of Delmar

Hannah Sauer of Fenton, IL

Taylor Odegard of Le Claire

Kayla Pearson of Milan

Sarah Marlier of Moline

Andrea Munson of Moline

Andrew Howell of Muscatine

Zachary Pace of Muscatine

Tori Groves of Port Byron

Ryan Hendricks of Rock Island

Drake University is a private, independent university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an enrollment of approximately 3,400 full-time undergraduate students and 1,900 graduate students from 49 states and 50 countries. Drake University's mission is to provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. The Drake experience is distinguished by collaborative learning among students, faculty, and staff and by the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation.