Curriculum and Learning

The latest stories on the application of courses and their content in schools.

School Libraries Seek Relevance Through Virtual Access

Librarians' roles are shifting to address the demand for quality online content. February 9, 2010 – Education Week

'Algebra-for-All' Push Found to Yield Poor Results

A trickle of studies suggest that in practice, getting students past the algebra hump is difficult and in some cases, didn't pay off. February 9, 2010 – Education Week

Commentary

The Cult of Statistical Pyrotechnics

Justin Snider tells why policymakers should be wary of tying teacher tenure and compensation to student test scores. February 9, 2010 – Education Week

Work Begins on 'Next Generation' of Science Standards

A panel led by the National Research Council is trying to identify "core ideas" in each of the major science disciplines. February 9, 2010 – Education Week

ACLU Accuses Science Teacher of Religion Lessons

February 8, 2010 – AP

News Briefs

Tenn. State Board Approves Guidelines on Teaching Bible

Legislation approved in 2008 authorizes a course for a "nonsectarian, nonreligious academic study of the Bible" in public schools. February 9, 2010 – Education Week

Study: More Students Are Taking STEM Courses, But Gaps Remain

A recent study finds that 2005 high school graduates earned more credits in STEM courses than did students who received their diplomas in 1990. February 9, 2010 – Education Week

Community College

An intervention program targeting lower-level mathematics students didn’t improve overall rates of withdrawal or failure, but did make a positive impact for part-time students and students enrolled in remedial math, a report finds. February 9, 2010 – Education Week

Documentary on Schools' Failings Emerges as Hit at Film Festival

A documentary shown last month at the Sundance Film Festival uses the stories of children in several cities to make the case that American public education is failing. February 2, 2010 – Education Week

Children's Author Snared in Mix-Up

In their rush to make sure that the author of a book on Marxism didn’t make it into the state’s new lineup of social studies standards, the Texas board of ed. ended up targeting a similarly named children’s author. February 2, 2010 – Education Week

Early Literacy

January 26, 2010 – Education Week

More News Briefs

Commentary

The Case for Literature

Common standards should not take the joy and power of book reading away from students, Nancie Atwell writes. February 8, 2010 – Education Week

Engineering Class Shows Girls Male-Dominated Field

February 8, 2010 – AP

Despite College-for-All Push, Some Schools Keep Shop Classes

February 8, 2010 – AP

Study Finds Wide Achievement Gaps for Top Students

An analysis of NAEP scores suggests policymakers should consider the needs of gifted students to address a persistent “excellence gap.” Updated: February 9, 2010 – Education Week

U.S. Encyclopedia Sorry for Old Irish Civil War Goof

February 4, 2010 – AP

State School Boards Raise Questions About Standards

Organizers of the initiative to create common standards explain that states must adopt English/language arts and math documents wholesale, or not at all. Updated: February 9, 2010 – Education Week

Miss. Proposes 'Abstinence Plus' Sex Ed. Option

February 3, 2010 – AP

New Critiques Urge Changes in Common Standards

Groups writing the much-anticipated standards want to streamline the latest 200-plus-page draft and make it more user-friendly for educators. February 2, 2010 – Education Week

Ga. Senate Votes to Change Definition of 'Textbook'

February 2, 2010 – AP

Commentary

The Core Standards for Writing: Another Failure of Imagination?

February 1, 2010 – Education Week

Commentary

Community Schools: Reform's Lesser-Known Frontier

February 1, 2010 – Education Week

Some Say Texting, Lack of Instruction to Blame for Failing Students

February 1, 2010 – AP

La. School Puts Real World in the Classroom

February 1, 2010 – AP