June 13, 2001
Education Week, Vol. 20, Issue 40
States
News in Brief: A State Capitals Roundup
- Study in Mass. Finds Payoff in Schools Sensitive to Gays
- N.J. Considers Pre-K Hiring Bonuses
- New State Board Named in Fla.
- Ky. Adopts Performance Standards
Federal
ESEA Bill on Track As Senate Changes Hands
Although the political shakeup in Washington may pose new challenges for President Bush's overall agenda, it seemed to have little more than a cosmetic effect last week on the Senate debate over his plans for education.
Although the political shakeup in Washington may pose new challenges for President Bush's overall agenda, it seemed to have little more than a cosmetic effect last week on the Senate debate over his plans for education.
Education Funding
Advocates Say Bill Leaves Gifted Students Behind
Some advocates for gifted and talented students fear that the Senate version of President Bush's education plan to "leave no child behind" would not help the students with the highest academic ability get ahead.
Education
Federal File
Moore or Less
Doling out billions in federal funding for telecommunications services in thousands of schools and libraries is nothing. Kate L. Moore will now do something really hard: ride herd on a classroom of elementary students.
Student Well-Being
State Journal
Back Talk
The California Assembly wants to commission a study on the health effects on students of carrying overstuffed backpacks, a topic that is attracting growing attention among researchers.
Education
News in Brief: A Washington Roundup
- Supreme Court Lets Stand Sex-Discrimination Ruling
- Student-Loan Interest Rate Lowest Ever
Federal
Bush Adds Texas Lobbyist To Ed. Department Team
The White House has added one more name to its list of choices for the top jobs at the Department of Education.
Education
Administration Eyes New Rules For Blue Ribbon Schools
The popular National Blue Ribbon Schools program run by the Department of Education will survive in its present form—but maybe for just another year.
Education Funding
Maine Settles on Formula To Distribute Aid—Till Next Year
Maine legislators have settled a dispute over how to distribute general aid for schools based on money collected from property taxes. But some participants in the debate say that what has become a rite of spring will result in changes next year.
Education
Citing Instructional Time, N.C. Scraps 3 Assessments
North Carolina's state school board approved a measure last week to eliminate three tests given to more than 270,000 students annually, a change in policy that will save $1.2 million just as state education officials are grappling with how to address a growing budget crisis.
School & District Management
Rural Education
Church and School: Rural high school students who were significantly involved in church activities generally got better grades and were more popular than their less involved counterparts, say researchers who looked at 450 families in north-central Iowa.
School & District Management
Bard To Start Public 'Early College' In N.Y.C.
A New York City public high school managed by Bard College will grant graduating students an associate's degree in liberal arts and sciences, instead of a high school diploma.
Teaching Profession
N.Y.C. Principals' Union Takes Issue With Bonus Plan
Only days after New York City officials announced a merit-pay plan for top school leaders, the administrators' union is threatening to sue to stop part of it from taking effect.
School & District Management
Out-of-School Influences On Learning Debated
Sociologist James S. Coleman ignited a national debate in 1966 when he issued a landmark study concluding that differences in children's academic achievement had more to do with background characteristics, such as family wealth, than with anything that went on in schools.
School & District Management
City Attorney Elected Mayor Of Los Angeles
City Attorney James K. Hahn sailed to a 9-point victory over one-time teachers' union organizer Antonio Villaraigosa last week to become the next mayor of Los Angeles.
Budget & Finance
'Free Market' in Pa. District Wanes As Edison Buys Rival Company
With three different companies running its 10 schools, the Chester-Upland district was supposed to be Pennsylvania's one-of-a-kind laboratory for free-market competition in education.
Education
News in Brief: A National Roundup
- Harassment Increasing for Boys AAUW Says
- Houston Names Superintendent
- Students Charged in Bus Prank
- Two Fla. Schools' Rankings Slip
- Broward Missing Equipment
- New Orleans Sees Gains
- School Accountant Charged
Education
People in the News
The Education Commission of the States has hired Dewayne A. Matthews, the former director of programs and services for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, to be the organization's vice president for state services. Beginning this month, Mr. Matthews, 50, will coordinate efforts by the ecs to provide services and products to state education officials.
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School Climate & Safety
Subtraction by Addition
Taking advantage of some wiggle room in a 1998 federal law designed to reduce class sizes, Denver decided that some of that money might be better spent making better teachers rather than simply more teachers. Congress is moving toward legislation that could have the effect of making the Denver model much more commonplace.
Education
About This Series
This report concludes a two-year examination of leadership issues in education. The series was underwritten by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and in part by the Ford Foundation. Recent articles in the series include:
Education Funding
Lawsuit Claims Montana School Finance System Is Unfair
Two Montana school district trustees have filed a lawsuit contending that the state's method of financing K-12 schools violates the state constitution.
Education
Table: Franco-American Education Publisher
| Franco-American Education Publisher | |
| Houghton Mifflin | Vivendi Universal SA |
| Founded: 1832, as Ticknor & Fields | |
Student Well-Being
Sports League To Reconsider School's Rejection
Officials of a Chicago athletic league for Catholic schools plan to reconsider a widely criticized vote denying membership to a predominantly black grammar school on the city's South Side.
Student Well-Being
Teen Deaths Prompt Mass Vaccinations
The threat posed by a bacterial illness that killed two teenagers prompted at least three Ohio school districts last week to end the school year prematurely, as state health officials distributed preventive antibiotics to thousands of people and prepared to vaccinate nearly 6,000 students and school employees.
Curriculum
Academic Contests Shaping Curricula For the Humanities
Even with little of the publicity and recognition—or public and private funding—that surround the top mathematics and science competitions for students, academic contests in the humanities have had an impact in the classroom, many educators say.
School & District Management
Chicago Schools' Chief Executive Will Step Down
Paul G. Vallas' six-year run as the high-profile chief executive officer of the Chicago public schools ended last week with the much-anticipated announcement that he will resign.