Teachers

Recent news about teacher policies, quality, assessment, and practices.

The Barrow County Schools superintendent put the brakes on a proposed policy that would have limited teacher-student online communications and restricted what teachers can post on social networking sites. November 19, 2009, MCT

N.Y. Regents OK Plan for Preparing Teachers

The proposed reforms are based on the premise that the training, testing, and licensing of new teachers are not directly related to their ability to help students learn. November 18, 2009, MCT

Teacher Broke Law by Posting Top Test Scores

The Minnesota Department of Administration agreed with a parent who complained that posting her son's test results was a violation of state law. November 17, 2009, MCT

Prospect of Health-Plan Tax Draws Union Opposition

Labor leaders and analysts warn that costs would be passed on to workers in the form of higher premiums—or curtailed benefits. November 17, 2009

Hawaii Leaders Working to Reopen Schools

November 17, 2009, AP

News Briefs

Project Offers Teacher Scholarships

Math and science teachers in Michigan will be eligible for stipends to pay for their master's-degree training if they commit to working in high-need schools. November 17, 2009

Washington State Supreme Court Overturns Ruling on Salary Money

Variation in the way Washington state teachers are paid does not pose a constitutional problem, the Washington Supreme Court ruled last week. November 17, 2009

Teacher Quality

A new paper from the National Academy of Education argues that, while weeding out ineffective teachers is important, improving the supply of skilled teachers is "critical." November 10, 2009

Ford Foundation Targets H.S. Reform

The Ford Foundation has committed $100 million to improving high school education in seven cities over the next seven years. November 10, 2009

Hawaii Education Department Found to Have Underpaid Substitutes

A court ruling that held the Hawaii Department of Education underpaid substitute teachers millions of dollars from 2000 to 2005 has been upheld. November 10, 2009

Wisconsin Lawmakers Remove 'Data Firewall'

The Wisconsin State Assembly has passed a bill that removes a ban on using student test results to evaluate teachers in order to be eligible for $4 billion in federal stimulus money. November 10, 2009

More News Briefs

Commentary

Remembering 'Horace,' Too

Ted Sizer may be best remembered for his fictional teacher, Horace Smith, writes Robert Barsanti, who sees Horace's struggles in his own career. November 16, 2009

Commentary

Schools Need a Culture Shift

Stringent testing and accountability measures have taken away the passion, fun, and collaboration that marks effective learning, writes Betty J. Sternberg. November 16, 2009

Education Department to Demand School Pay Data

The goal of the plan is to find out how salary spending differs between schools receiving Title I funds and lower-poverty ones. November 16, 2009

Commentary

The Impact of Alternate Routes to Teaching

Alternative paths to certification have not only proliferated, but have also influenced the way we think about the preparation of teachers, writes C. Emily Feistritzer. November 13, 2009

Hawaii's Teacher Furloughs Called Mind-Boggling

November 13, 2009, AP

Ala. Board Suggests Teachers Pay More for Benefits

November 13, 2009, AP

Teacher Shortage Gives Way to Teacher Glut

November 12, 2009, AP

Peer Review Undergoing Revitalization

An old concept that calls for teachers to assess their own is gaining traction as evaluation comes under the national spotlight. November 12, 2009

Report Calls for Improvements to 'Human Capital' Practices

A national task force says states and districts must pay new attention to the 'people side' of education. November 10, 2009

Decades Later, 'Parents as Teachers' Has Spread Beyond Mo.

November 10, 2009, MCT