July 18, 2012

Education Week, Vol. 31, Issue 36
Teaching Panel of Scholars Defines '21st-Century Skills'
The modern workplace demands a mix of abilities, says a new consensus report from the National Academies of Science.
Sarah D. Sparks, July 17, 2012
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3 min read
Standards News in Brief Public Not Aware of Common Core
Nearly nine out of 10 public school teachers are now aware of the Common Core State Standards, but the general public is still mostly out of the loop about the new standards.
Catherine Gewertz, July 17, 2012
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1 min read
Reading & Literacy News in Brief Communities Honored for Literacy Efforts
Twenty-five communities have been recognized for their work to ensure that children are reading proficiently by the 3rd grade.
Catherine Gewertz, July 17, 2012
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1 min read
School & District Management Letter to the Editor Harvard Ed.D. Decision Is a Move Forward
To the Editor:
I am an alumna of the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Doctor of Education program and a current faculty member at the University of San Francisco's school of education. I disagree with Ted Purinton's argument in "The Ed.D. Dilemma: Why Harvard's Decision Could Harm the Quest for Teacher Professionalism" (May 16, 2012). I do not believe that Harvard's decision to create a new, distinguished Ph.D. program and eliminate the old Ed.D. will diminish other Ed.D. programs. In fact, it helps clarify the new niche claimed by professional doctoral programs.
July 17, 2012
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1 min read
Equity & Diversity Report Roundup NAEP Math Gaps Widen for Native Americans
American Indian and Alaskan native students are in an academic rut on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Sarah D. Sparks, July 17, 2012
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1 min read
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John Foxx Images/SuperStock, Inc.
Special Education Opinion Improving Special Education in Tough Times
Special education would benefit from the same focus on efficiency found in general education, Stephen Frank and Karen Hawley Miles write.
Stephen Frank & Karen Hawley Miles, July 17, 2012
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6 min read
Early Childhood Report Roundup Child Care
Federal subsidies for child care don't necessarily lead to higher-quality child care for low-income children, a new report concludes.
Julie Rasicot, July 17, 2012
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1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Report Roundup California Exit Exams
California's remedial interventions may be coming too late for high school upperclassmen working to pass the exit exam required for graduation.
Sarah D. Sparks, July 17, 2012
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1 min read
Education Funding Report Roundup School Finance
Local spending on K-12 public education outweighed state spending in fiscal 2010, according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Andrew Ujifusa, July 17, 2012
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1 min read
Education Funding Report Roundup Federal Education Cuts
A pair of new reports raise dire warnings about the impact on school districts and federal education programs from the spending cuts set to hit in January.
Alyson Klein, July 17, 2012
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1 min read
Equity & Diversity Letter to the Editor Readers Respond to Data Omitted in Diplomas Count
To the Editor:
In your article "A 'Demographic Imperative': Raising Latinos' Achievement" (June 7, 2012), you presented graphs that illustrate scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, among white, Latino, and black students, but you exclude Asians and Native Americans from the discussion completely. As an Asian-American and an educational professional, I feel that this was irresponsible reporting on your part.
July 17, 2012
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1 min read
Mathematics Opinion Seizing the Moment for Mathematics
The common-core math standards could revolutionize instruction, but it will depend on the follow-through, writes William Schmidt.
William Schmidt, July 17, 2012
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5 min read
Equity & Diversity Letter to the Editor Center: Ignore Race in Student Assignments
To the Editor:
As school boards and superintendents decide about tweaking student assignments for the fall, they will have to decide how much weight to give to the Obama administration's "Guidance on the Voluntary Use of Race to Achieve Diversity and Avoid Racial Isolation in Elementary and Secondary Schools," which was released jointly late last year by the U.S. Education and Justice departments. The guidance encourages school districts to make student-assignment decisions with an eye on race to ensure more student-body "diversity."
July 17, 2012
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1 min read
Teaching Profession Substitute Teaching Undergoes New Scrutiny
New data on teacher absenteeism are causing schools to re-examine their use of substitute teachers.
Jaclyn Zubrzycki, July 17, 2012
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9 min read
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Chris Whetzel
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion Doublethink: The Creativity-Testing Conflict
Yong Zhao asks how leaders can push for both entrepreneurial thinking and high standardized-test scores in schools.
Yong Zhao, July 17, 2012
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6 min read
Assessment Mastery of Science Standards Long Way Off, NAEP Suggests
Science tests of hands-on and computer-based tasks reveal students are foundering at executing higher-level skills.
Nora Fleming, July 16, 2012
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6 min read
Students enter the Kirkkojärvi School in Espoo, Finland. The school is among those featured in an exhibit that highlights the country's move away from factory-style schools to contemporary campuses built to meet the pedagogical and social needs of their students and teachers.
Students enter the Kirkkojärvi School in Espoo, Finland. The school is among those featured in an exhibit that highlights the country's move away from factory-style schools to contemporary campuses built to meet the pedagogical and social needs of their students and teachers.
Stuart W. Conway
School Climate & Safety Form Meets Function in Finland’s New Schools
A new exhibit highlights efforts in Finland to design schools tailored to the learning needs of students and teachers.
Sarah D. Sparks, July 16, 2012
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3 min read
Federal More Than Half of States Now Have NCLB Waivers
The Obama administration continues to push ahead with big changes to No Child Left Behind Act accountability.
Alyson Klein, July 16, 2012
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4 min read
California Gov. Jerry Brown discusses his state budget plan during a news conference earlier this year in Sacramento, Calif. Brown is staking much of his budget and political capital on a tax increase that California residents will vote on Nov. 6.
California Gov. Jerry Brown discusses his state budget plan during a news conference earlier this year in Sacramento, Calif. Brown is staking much of his budget and political capital on a tax increase that California residents will vote on Nov. 6.
Rich Pedroncelli/AP
States Calif. Districts Wary in Advance of Tax Vote
California school districts shy away from budget commitments that hinge on passage of a tax hike in November.
Andrew Ujifusa, July 16, 2012
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5 min read
International STEM Gender Gap Pronounced in U.S.
Averages on international assessments are at odds with the gender gaps seen between American girls and boys in science and math.
July 13, 2012
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5 min read
Marsha Fabian, a teacher of Lancaster, Pa., claps during the National Education Association's annual convention in Washington.
Marsha Fabian, a teacher of Lancaster, Pa., claps during the National Education Association's annual convention in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Teaching Profession As Membership Plummets, NEA Retools Mission
With a loss of some 100,000 members in the past two years—and more expected—the teachers' union is striving to buttress its political clout.
Stephen Sawchuk, July 13, 2012
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10 min read
Carol Paris of Leonardtown, Md., demonstrates outside the Supreme Court in Washington. The court largely upheld the Affordable Care Act.
Carol Paris of Leonardtown, Md., demonstrates outside the Supreme Court in Washington. The court largely upheld the Affordable Care Act.
Evan Vucci/AP
Student Well-Being Ed. Law Challenges Loom After Health-Care Ruling
States may use the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to challenge federal spending in education and other programs.
Mark Walsh, July 12, 2012
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8 min read
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iStockphoto.com/Steven Foley
School & District Management Opinion Words of Wisdom: 10 Inspirational Graduation Speeches
Education Week shares excerpts from inspiring high school commencement speeches.
July 11, 2012
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6 min read
Equity & Diversity Opinion The 'Wave' of Poverty Flows Through Schools
George Stranahan explores the role of schools in addressing the effects of poverty.
George Stranahan, July 9, 2012
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4 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Realizing the Promise of New Education Technologies
Technology holds incredible promise for schools if educators take simple steps to prepare for it, Gary Natriello writes.
Gary Natriello, July 5, 2012
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5 min read
Assessment NAEP Scores Still Stalled for Native American Students
While achievement scores for other students have risen in recent years, Native American students may be stuck in a rut, a new federal study shows.
Sarah D. Sparks, July 3, 2012
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7 min read
Unified Sports track team members, from left, Shekirah Marzett, Christon Watkins, Elijah Hall and Lamija Spahic enjoy a light moment before practice at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo. Unified Sports teams partner nondisabled student athletes with teammates who have intellectual disabilities. The program has had a recent surge in participation: More than 2,000 schools in 42 states have Unified Sports teams.
Unified Sports track team members, from left, Shekirah Marzett, Christon Watkins, Elijah Hall and Lamija Spahic enjoy a light moment before practice at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo. Unified Sports teams partner nondisabled student athletes with teammates who have intellectual disabilities. The program has had a recent surge in participation: More than 2,000 schools in 42 states have Unified Sports teams.
Nathan W. Armes for Education Week
Special Education Special Ed. Students Get a Spot on the Team
Interest is growing in Unified Sports programs, which enable students with disabilities to play side by side on teams with their nondisabled peers.
July 2, 2012
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6 min read
Federal Opinion Finding Flexibility in Supplemental Services
Colorado's NCLB waiver approach adds more flexibility for targeting supplemental tutoring funds, says state board of education chairman Bob Schaffer.
Bob Schaffer, June 27, 2012
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3 min read
Law & Courts Opinion Charter Schools and the Legacy of Brown v. Board of Education
UNCF's Michael Lomax explores the legacy of desegregation in the rise of charter schools.
Michael Lomax, June 25, 2012
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3 min read
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