October 1, 2008
Education Week, Vol. 28, Issue 06
Federal
U.S. Education Budget Roiled by Financial Crisis
A multi-billion-dollar federal plan to assist the financial markets may leave the next president with very little room for major increases for K-12 schools, perhaps for the foreseeable future.
Federal
Finding the Language to Teach Science
Teachers of the early grades often admit to feeling lost in science, since many themselves have taken little college coursework in the subject.
Teaching Profession
Standards for Teacher Evaluation Mulled
With the pressure on to increase student learning, Georgia and Idaho states are in the process of overhauling what analysts say is among the most neglected pieces of the teacher-quality continuum: evaluation.
Assessment
Opinion
‘Special’ Education
Lawrence M. Knowles, a parent, reflects on singling out exceptional children.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Despite Its Flaws, NCLB Has Raised Expectations
To the Editor:
As the country ushers out President Bush, who has been abandoned by Republicans and pilloried by Democrats, we should remember that America’s most recent “education president” proposed the most sweeping changes to our national education policies that the country had ever seen. Our next president should reaffirm the principles of the No Child Left Behind Act and once again make education a national priority.
As the country ushers out President Bush, who has been abandoned by Republicans and pilloried by Democrats, we should remember that America’s most recent “education president” proposed the most sweeping changes to our national education policies that the country had ever seen. Our next president should reaffirm the principles of the No Child Left Behind Act and once again make education a national priority.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Quotes and Campaign Ads
To the Editor:
You really should speak out publicly against Sen. John McCain’s dishonest attack ad against Sen. Barack Obama in which one of Education Week’s articles is quoted out of context (“McCain, Obama Spar on Education,” Sept. 17, 2008). You probably have grounds for a lawsuit.
You really should speak out publicly against Sen. John McCain’s dishonest attack ad against Sen. Barack Obama in which one of Education Week’s articles is quoted out of context (“McCain, Obama Spar on Education,” Sept. 17, 2008). You probably have grounds for a lawsuit.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Advanced Placement Becomes ‘Advanced Topics’
To the Editor:
I read with interest the Commentary by Paul Von Blum (“Are Advanced Placement Courses Diminishing Liberal Arts Education?,” Sept. 3, 2008), in which he argues that the level of preparation he regularly sees in students who have taken Advanced Placement courses is not adequate for college study. I especially took note of his statement that “it is unrealistic to advocate the abolition of Advanced Placement courses in high schools.”
I read with interest the Commentary by Paul Von Blum (“Are Advanced Placement Courses Diminishing Liberal Arts Education?,” Sept. 3, 2008), in which he argues that the level of preparation he regularly sees in students who have taken Advanced Placement courses is not adequate for college study. I especially took note of his statement that “it is unrealistic to advocate the abolition of Advanced Placement courses in high schools.”
Federal
Opinion
Salvaging Accountability
Thomas Toch and Douglas N. Harris outline what the next president (and Congress) could do to save education reform.
Federal
Texas Move to Tighten GPA Formula Sparks Backlash
A formula that all high schools would have to use to calculate GPAs is encountering strong resistance from educators who fear it could discourage teenagers from taking challenging courses.
Federal
NCLB Debate at the Sidelines
The No Child Left Behind Act has been the subject of intense debate in school board meetings, state legislatures, and Washington policy circles. Everywhere, it seems, but the presidential campaign.
Federal
Districts' Borrowing May Face Hit From Continued Financial Crisis
The situation could have its biggest long-term impact on districts’ capital projects, as the upheaval in the credit and stock markets threatens to drive up the cost of borrowing money.
Federal
Schools Found Likely to Miss NCLB Targets
A pair of new studies cast doubt on schools’ ability to make the academic improvements required under the main federal education law.
Federal
NCLB Testing Said to Give 'Illusions of Progress'
A Harvard testing expert argues that teaching to the test, strategic reallocation of teaching talent, and other factors are producing scores on state tests that are substantially better than students’ actual mastery of the material.