June 23, 1999
Education Week, Vol. 18, Issue 41
Education Funding
Federal File
House Majority Leader Dick Armey has given a lot of thought to the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. And, as always, he's more than willing to share his opinions.
Reflecting on values
House Majority Leader Dick Armey has given a lot of thought to the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. And, as always, he's more than willing to share his opinions.
Assessment
Wisconsin Committee Votes To Kill State Graduation Test
Voicing their criticism in the strongest possible terms, members of a key Wisconsin legislative panel voted this month to kill their state's planned high school graduation test.
Equity & Diversity
Lengthy Trial in Charlotte Desegregation Lawsuit Winds Down
A months-long court battle seeking to close the books on 30 years of court supervision of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools has left the North Carolina community torn over whether traces of racial segregation linger.
Education
Legislative Update
The following is a summary of fiscal 2000 state budgets for schools and highlights of education-related action in legislatures. The totals for K-12 education include money for state education administration, but do not include federal, flow-through dollars.
The following is a summary of fiscal 2000 state budgets for schools and highlights of education-related action in legislatures. The totals for K-12 education include money for state education administration, but do not include federal, flow-through dollars.
School Choice & Charters
State Journal
Politeness won out last week in Louisiana, where legislators gave final approval to a bill that would require students to address their teachers with respect.
Yes
Politeness won out last week in Louisiana, where legislators gave final approval to a bill that would require students to address their teachers with respect.
Teaching Profession
Teachers' Contract Hinders N.Y.C. Principals, Report Says
New York City's book-length teacher contract is snarling principals in red tape, compromising their ability to lead their schools in an age of increasing accountability, a report by a university scholar argues.
Student Well-Being
Florida's Four-Pronged Attack on Teen Smoking Pays Off
Dubious scientists, health educators, and politicians have for years said it's impossible to stop young people from smoking. At least not quickly.
School Choice & Charters
Governor's Voucher Proposal Fails To Find Support in Pa. Legislature
Despite a flurry of last-minute activity, Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania was forced to concede early last Thursday morning that his school voucher proposal was dead in the legislature, at least for now.
School Choice & Charters
Florida Governor Poised To Sign Statewide Voucher Bill
Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida was expected this week to sign legislation that will create the first statewide voucher program in the country, setting in motion what will likely be a protracted legal battle that could eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Student Achievement
Programs That Promote Summer Learning Gain Popularity
Like most parents, Patricia Scales wants her children to have the best possible education.
School & District Management
Torch Passes at Elementary Principals' Group
Samuel G. Sava and Vincent L. Ferrandino have some important things in common.
School Choice & Charters
Okla., Ore. Bump Up Charter Law States to 36
As the 1999 legislative sessions wind down, two more states have joined the charter school fold.
Law & Courts
High Court To Hear Case On Title VI
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed last week to hear a Louisiana case involving government aid to religious schools in the form of computers, library books, and other educational materials.
Education
Research Notes
Finding schools' danger zones
Studies on school violence usually focus on children and what can cause them to act violently.
Early Childhood
Teenagers have had a hand in producing several sassy advertisements as part of the anti-smoking "Truth" campaign. Portions of one of the televised ads appear below. In this commercial, four teenage girls have a speaker-phone conversation with a tobacco executive named Bob.
School Choice & Charters
First N.Y. Charters Are Approved
Less than six months after New York state enacted a law authorizing the state's first charter schools, a university panel last week gave its blessing to eight such schools, including three slated to open in September.
Less than six months after New York state enacted a law authorizing the state's first charter schools, a university panel last week gave its blessing to eight such schools, including three slated to open in September.
School Climate & Safety
Slight Gains Found From Calif. Class-Size Program
California's massive effort to reduce class size in grades K-3 brought smaller classes to more than 1.6 million children in 1997-98 and a slight increase in student achievement.
States
Indiana Agency Hopes To Change the Way It Conducts Business
On the heels of a new law that raises the performance bar for Indiana's K-12 students, the state education department is setting higher expectations for itself as well.
School & District Management
Researchers Call for OERI Reforms at Hearing
More money, a clearer mission, and a sharper focus made up the recipe advanced at a congressional hearing last week on improving the Department of Education's major research office.
Education
Business Column
Software Sale: One of the nation's top sellers of educational software will soon be bought by a private-equity investment firm.
School & District Management
Where's the AERA? Critics Say They See A Leadership Void
The American Educational Research Association gives an annual award to a member who does a noteworthy job of relating research to practice.
Curriculum
Calif. Approves Math, English Textbooks Tied to Standards
California's state school board is planning to spend $1 billion on textbooks that match its new mathematics and language arts standards.
Education
Students Spend Year Documenting Goals 2000 Projects
When Carol Utay realized that nothing was being done to track all of the ways Goals 2000 was at work in her state's schools, she decided that she and her students should do something about it.
School Climate & Safety
In Schools, a Sigh of Relief asTense Spring Draws to a Close
More than two months have passed, but Principal James E. Fish is still feeling the shock waves sent forth by the deaths of 14 students and a teacher in a high school 1,700 miles away.