November 24, 2004
Education Week, Vol. 24, Issue 13
Education
A National Roundup
Elementary Schools in N.Y.C. Slated to Receive New Libraries
Dozens of New York City elementary schools will have new libraries, under an agreement between the city’s department of education and the Robin Hood Foundation.
Education
A National Roundup
Takeover Upheld
An Alameda County, Calif., circuit court judge last week dismissed a legal challenge to the state’s 2003 takeover of the Oakland public schools.
Education
A National Roundup
Gains for Students Equal Big Bonus for Fla. District’s Superintendent
A Florida superintendent has reaped $28,250 in bonuses after his district met a series of student-performance targets spelled out in his contract.
Education
A National Roundup
U.S. Justice Department to Help Washington District on Race Issues
The U.S. Department of Justice has offered mediation services to a school district in Washington state that has seen three racially tinged incidents this fall.
Education
Correction
Corrections
A story about U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige in the Nov. 17, 2004, issue of Education Week gave an incorrect age for him ("A 2nd Term for Paige Remains Uncertain," Nov. 17, 2004.) He is 71.
Education
People in the News
Bernadette Grey
Bernadette Grey recently became the editor in chief of Scholastic Inc.’s Instructor magazine, as well as the associate publisher for Instructor and Scholastic Administr@tor, which are based in New York City.
Education
A National Roundup
Chicago Agrees to Provide More Money for Small Schools
A host of new, small schools opening in Chicago will get more money than regular district schools, officials have decided.
Teaching Profession
St. Louis Catholic School Teachers Seek Union
Roman Catholic elementary school teachers in St. Louis are directing more than 2,000 letters to the Vatican from community members supporting the teachers’ efforts to form a union.
Student Well-Being
N.Y.C. Renews Physical Education Efforts
At a time when many schools are making large cuts to physical education to make more time for academic priorities, the largest school district in the nation has embarked on an ambitious plan to rebuild its physical education program.
School & District Management
Opinion
Middle Mismanagement
Reform efforts in urban school districts need to coordinate better with those in the real position to implement them—the midlevel staffers—says Diana Nelson, executive director of the Cross City Campaign for Urban School Reform in Chicago.
College & Workforce Readiness
Michigan Considers Scrapping Its High School Test
Michigan’s high school achievement test, in place since 1978, could be on its way out to make way for a set of new tests that would measure students’ college readiness.
Education
‘Open Sector’
Ted Kolderie doesn’t just believe that state leaders are starting to think outside the proverbial box. He thinks they are beginning to throw that box out altogether and create whole new systems for educating the nation’s young people.
School & District Management
Arranged Marriage
With their single-district days behind them, leaders of the new merged Two Rivers school district in rural Arkansas are looking for ways to make the relationship work.
School & District Management
Boston University-Chelsea Match Endures
The Chelsea school district, which serves mainly low-income Latino students, is one of only three urban districts in Massachusetts that met goals for adequate yearly academic progress under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The district is managed by Boston University.
School & District Management
President Picks a Trusted Aide for Secretary
President Bush’s decision to nominate Margaret Spellings, his chief domestic-policy adviser, as the new U.S. secretary of education signals a steady course on education policymaking from the administration, analysts say.
Education
Opinion
Not Just a Necessary Evil
When properly embraced, standards and testing can become powerful tools in a teacher's arsenal, argues education consultant Tim DeRoche.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Blame, Credit, and Urban School Reform
Teachers' unions and superintendents need not act as opposing forces, believes Larry Cuban, drawing on lessons learned during the reformation of the San Diego school district.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Implementation Crucial to ‘Weighted’ Funding
To the Editor:
As a longtime Seattle schoolteacher, I was somewhat disappointed to read your front-page article "‘Weighted’ Funding of Schools Gains Favor" (Nov. 3, 2004), in that it gave little coverage to what is most crucial to the topic of “weighted student” funding: the implementation of this budget strategy. As your article points out, this practice, also called “student based” budgeting, in which a school district’s money shifts from one school to another as it follows the more needy student, is often closely linked with the policy of site-based management. This is the case in Seattle.
As a longtime Seattle schoolteacher, I was somewhat disappointed to read your front-page article "‘Weighted’ Funding of Schools Gains Favor" (Nov. 3, 2004), in that it gave little coverage to what is most crucial to the topic of “weighted student” funding: the implementation of this budget strategy. As your article points out, this practice, also called “student based” budgeting, in which a school district’s money shifts from one school to another as it follows the more needy student, is often closely linked with the policy of site-based management. This is the case in Seattle.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Is NCLB Contributing to Children’s Obesity?
To the Editor:
This year our school district banned morning recesses for grades 3, 4, and 5. Because we need to meet the No Child Left Behind Act’s requirements, the district believes we need to focus every available minute on academics. Naturally, I stated my disappointment with this decision, recognizing how vitally important exercise is to the mind and body. In addition to this dilemma, our elementary students have physical education only once every six days.
This year our school district banned morning recesses for grades 3, 4, and 5. Because we need to meet the No Child Left Behind Act’s requirements, the district believes we need to focus every available minute on academics. Naturally, I stated my disappointment with this decision, recognizing how vitally important exercise is to the mind and body. In addition to this dilemma, our elementary students have physical education only once every six days.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Ownership of Assessment Brings ‘Joyful Learning’
To the Editor:
Both Alfie Kohn ("Feel-Bad Education," Commentary, Sept. 15, 2004) and Massachusetts Commissioner of Education David P. Driscoll ("Mass. Schools Chief Offers ‘Feel-Bad Education’ Cure," Letters, Oct. 27, 2004) hit the nail on the head, but failed to drive it home. The “cure” for “feel-bad education” is primarily dependent upon two key factors: (1) a national focus on the strengths of our teachers, and (2) continuous use of data, by teachers, to inform daily instruction.
Both Alfie Kohn ("Feel-Bad Education," Commentary, Sept. 15, 2004) and Massachusetts Commissioner of Education David P. Driscoll ("Mass. Schools Chief Offers ‘Feel-Bad Education’ Cure," Letters, Oct. 27, 2004) hit the nail on the head, but failed to drive it home. The “cure” for “feel-bad education” is primarily dependent upon two key factors: (1) a national focus on the strengths of our teachers, and (2) continuous use of data, by teachers, to inform daily instruction.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Teacher-Educators Belong in Schools
To the Editor:
In her articulate Commentary "Time, for a Change" (Nov. 3, 2004), Suzanne Kaback says what teachers have been trying to say for years: If you want to bake a better educational cake, you have to spend more time in the kitchen. Or, to put it another way: Student learning happens in real classrooms with real teachers. Any theory, practice, or innovation that doesn’t connect to the teacher who stirs the batter won’t change the flavor of the cake. The universities have served the valuable function of training the inexperienced on how to use the appliances and how to light the fire and where to store the sugar. But once a teacher closes the door on the classroom, she must face the heat alone.
In her articulate Commentary "Time, for a Change" (Nov. 3, 2004), Suzanne Kaback says what teachers have been trying to say for years: If you want to bake a better educational cake, you have to spend more time in the kitchen. Or, to put it another way: Student learning happens in real classrooms with real teachers. Any theory, practice, or innovation that doesn’t connect to the teacher who stirs the batter won’t change the flavor of the cake. The universities have served the valuable function of training the inexperienced on how to use the appliances and how to light the fire and where to store the sugar. But once a teacher closes the door on the classroom, she must face the heat alone.
Education
Letter to the Editor
S.D. Is Latest to Reject Aid for Private Schools
To the Editor:
You provided excellent coverage of the state ballot measures before voters this past Nov. 2. You reported South Dakota’s referendum defeat of Amendment B, which would have authorized some limited forms of tax aid for faith-based schools. But there is more to the story ("Table: Ballot Measures," Nov. 10, 2004).
You provided excellent coverage of the state ballot measures before voters this past Nov. 2. You reported South Dakota’s referendum defeat of Amendment B, which would have authorized some limited forms of tax aid for faith-based schools. But there is more to the story ("Table: Ballot Measures," Nov. 10, 2004).
Education
Letter to the Editor
Teacher Education
To the Editor:
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education welcomes Vartan Gregorian’s call to make teacher education the highest priority for the nation’s colleges and universities ("No More Silver Bullets," Commentary, Nov. 10, 2004). Similar calls by countless commissions and government-sponsored summits, citizen committees, and association initiatives have gone unanswered. Perhaps Mr. Gregorian’s call to action will make the difference. We hope so.
The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education welcomes Vartan Gregorian’s call to make teacher education the highest priority for the nation’s colleges and universities ("No More Silver Bullets," Commentary, Nov. 10, 2004). Similar calls by countless commissions and government-sponsored summits, citizen committees, and association initiatives have gone unanswered. Perhaps Mr. Gregorian’s call to action will make the difference. We hope so.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Two Learning Centers Support All AP Students
To the Editor:
Thank you for your superb front-page article on the expanding role of Advanced Placement coursework ("Advanced Placement Courses Cast Wider Net," Nov. 3, 2004.) Your coverage seemed to grasp that students’ decisions to either take or avoid AP courses have fundamental effects on their college attendance. Undeniably, access to a robust AP curriculum is rapidly becoming the national “gold standard” for parents, students, and school administrators who have dreams of acquiring a first-rate education.
Thank you for your superb front-page article on the expanding role of Advanced Placement coursework ("Advanced Placement Courses Cast Wider Net," Nov. 3, 2004.) Your coverage seemed to grasp that students’ decisions to either take or avoid AP courses have fundamental effects on their college attendance. Undeniably, access to a robust AP curriculum is rapidly becoming the national “gold standard” for parents, students, and school administrators who have dreams of acquiring a first-rate education.
Education
A Washington Roundup
Bush Awards Medals in the Humanities
Educator Marva N. Collins, whose life became the subject of a television movie, and the author Madeleine L’Engle, who is famed for her books for young people, are among the recipients of the National Humanities Medal. President Bush honored Ms. Collins and others at a Nov. 17 ceremony in the Oval Office. Ms. L’Engle was represented by her granddaughter.
Law & Courts
A Washington Roundup
High Court Declines Religion Case Appeal
A New Hampshire couple who alleged that the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act violated their rights to religious freedom lost their bid last week for a hearing in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Assessment
Governing Board Looks to Marketing to Sell NAEP to Seniors
Seeking to overcome “senioritis,” the board that oversees the nation’s benchmark of academic skills is studying ways to encourage 12th graders to take the tests more seriously, from forming partnerships with corporations to using celebrities in promotional pitches.
School Choice & Charters
Federal File
Parental Choice
She is a product of public schools herself, but Margaret Spellings has exercised parental choice when it comes to her own children.
Federal
Analysts Worry NCLB Won’t Solve Teacher Issues
As the No Child Left Behind Act is being implemented, it is unlikely to solve the problems of inadequately prepared teachers or low-performing schools, panelists at a meeting here last week contended.