January 6, 2010
Education Week, Vol. 29, Issue 16
Education
News in Brief
Mississippi Superintendent Calls for Charters in Troubled Districts
Mississippi's incoming superintendent of education says the state should consider allowing the state board of ed to consolidate low-performing districts and to establish charter schools.
Education
News in Brief
Hawaii Governor Opposes Plan to Reduce Furlough Days
The governor said she couldn't agree to a plan that would shorten the school year.
Education
News in Brief
L.A. Union Sues Over Charter Plan
The Los Angeles teachers’ union has sued to block a policy of the Los Angeles Unified School District that will potentially allow outside managers to run dozens of new and existing public schools.
Education
News in Brief
Georgia Districts Scrutinizing Testing Practices
An audit that showed 5th grade math exams were altered after the fact at four public schools in Georgia has had districts across the state scrambling to tighten rules for administering tests.
Education
Report Roundup
Research Report: Education Technology
Fifty-eight percent of U.S. school districts agreed that funding for educational technology is inadequate, according to a survey by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Reading & Literacy
Report Roundup
Reading Curriculum
The What Works Clearinghouse of the U.S. Department of Education explored whether the Reading Recovery short-term tutoring intervention is effective with English-language learners.
School Climate & Safety
Report Roundup
Virtual-World Safety
Nineteen of 27 virtual online worlds evaluated by the Federal Trade Commission contained either sexually or violently explicit content, says a report by the agency.
Education
Report Roundup
Rural Students
Nearly half of all high school students living in rural areas or small towns in the United States attend schools that offer just one to three advanced mathematics courses beyond Algebra 2 or geometry.
Teaching
Reading Aloud to Teens Gains Favor Among Teachers
A practice usually associated with younger students is seen as having benefits for adolescents.
Teaching Profession
Why We Read Aloud
About 300 teachers responded to a reporter’s inquiry posted on listservs run by the English Companion Ning social networking site and the National Council for the Social Studies seeking comments on why and what they read aloud to their middle and high school students. Following are excerpts from the responses:
Federal
'Race to Top' Viewed as Template for a New ESEA
The program pushes principles that officials see as likely cornerstones for the next version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Floating: The New Wave of Teaching
Writer Elizabeth Randall came back to teaching at age 54 and found a whole new world created by economic necessity: that of the “floating” teacher without a home room.
Education Funding
Two State Unions Balking at 'Race to Top' Plans
Teachers’ groups in Minnesota and Florida argue that state officials are taking a ‘top down’ approach in their applications for federal stimulus money.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Kids From Chaos
Alternative school educator Grace Sussman suggests a new category of special-needs students, and offers ways to target instruction to meet their needs.
Education
Report Roundup
Upgrade Careers in After-School Field, Report Says
A report from a New York City-based nonprofit group argues that people who work in the programs need clear job pathways.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Opinion
Making 'Teacher Identifiers' Work
Alex Medler and Robert Reichardt tell how to make data systems that link teachers to their students an easier sell—and a district’s key to better instruction.
States
'Race to Top' Driving Policy Action Across States
Governors and lawmakers are looking to change state laws in hopes of winning coveted stimulus grants amid a gloomy fiscal landscape.
School & District Management
Opinion
Charter Schools: Education's Fox in the Henhouse?
Veteran teacher Burt Saxon is impressed but suspicious of the charter school movement, which he suspects may have privatization as a hidden agenda.
Federal
Scholars Test Emotion-Sensitive Tutoring Software
Computer programs that can detect and respond to students' feelings aim to enhance the educational potential of tutoring technology.
School & District Management
Review Backs New Tool for Principal Evaluation
A look at eight instruments used to assess school leaders finds only one system measures the characteristics sought after today for principals.
Federal
States Struggle to Stitch Together Pre-K-20 Data
More states are taking strides to connect K-12 data systems with postsecondary institutions, but challenges remain.
Federal
State-Level Wrangling Persists on 'Race to Top'
Lawmakers, unions, and school policymakers continue to argue over policy changes in the competition for $4 billion in stimulus funds.
School & District Management
Opinion
Stop Complaining About 'Kids Today'
From his perspective, writes high school history teacher William Gary Cole, the negative stereotypes of this generation of young people are unfair and untrue.
Teacher Preparation
Opinion
Teaching for America
Former Teach For America corps member Kerry Kretchmar writes that, rather than judging teachers based on their form of training, committed educators should work together for change.
Federal
New Jobs Bill Offers $23 Billion for Education
Money in the version passed by the House could be used to stem layoffs; a Senate version has yet to be unveiled.
Federal
Congress OKs Budget With Increase for Education
The appropriations measure gains congressional approval, even as lawmakers and the Obama administration mull the prospect of a new jobs package.