November 13, 2002
Education Week, Vol. 22, Issue 11
School & District Management
A Small World
The silent hand of the global economy has rocked the foundations of rural Henry County, Va.—including its schools. The district's plight is increasingly common in manufacturing communities.
Education
State Journal
It's a perennial question: Could the average adult pass the high-stakes tests that so many states put before their students?
Back to School
It's a perennial question: Could the average adult pass the high-stakes tests that so many states put before their students?
School Choice & Charters
Alliance Hopes to Serve As Voice for Charter Schools
Organizers are putting the finishing touches on their plans to start a new national association of state-level charter school groups in early 2003.
Education
Children & Families
Parents say they are falling short when it comes to teaching their children "absolutely essential values," concludes a recent survey from Public Agenda, a nonpartisan opinion-research organization.
Values Gaps
Parents say they are falling short when it comes to teaching their children "absolutely essential values," concludes a recent survey from Public Agenda, a nonpartisan opinion-research organization.
School & District Management
Budget Shortfall Fuels Dissension in Seattle Over Superintendent
Joseph Olchefske, the superintendent of the Seattle public schools, is on trial in the court of public opinion, following revelations of accounting errors that are forcing the district to make deep budget cuts.
Assessment
Struggling Edison 'Reversioning' Its School Expertise
Edison Schools Inc. is rolling out a new line of services revolving around student assessment, professional development, and what it calls "achievement management systems."
Edison Schools Inc. is rolling out a new line of services revolving around student assessment, professional development, and what it calls "achievement management systems."
Education
People in the News
Joseph P. Keeney has been appointed the president of the charter schools division of Edison Schools Inc.
Education
News in Brief: A National Roundup
- Urban League President Announces Resignation
- Nine-Week Strike Ends in Ohio School District
- Camden, N.J., School Closed After Structural Flaws Found
- Boston Charter School Raises $1.6 Million for Instruction
- Ex-N.J. Mayor Sentenced for Defrauding Schools
- Ky. Students Skip Class to Protest Gay Group
- Music Teacher Reinstated After Remark About Guns
- Calif. District Faces Takeover
Education
Voters Send Varied Signals In Local Races
Voters in Cleveland and in Hartford, Conn., extended or expanded their mayors' control of the cities' schools last week, while voters in Los Angeles and Houston agreed to pay higher taxes to rebuild or repair school buildings.
Voters in Cleveland and in Hartford, Conn., extended or expanded their mayors' control of the cities' schools last week, while voters in Los Angeles and Houston agreed to pay higher taxes to rebuild or repair school buildings.
Federal
Dept. of Education To Hike Oversight Of Reading Grants
The Department of Education is warning states that the agency will more closely monitor how they are spending money under a waning federal reading initiative, after reports that local grant recipients may not be following "scientifically based" principles or other requirements.
Education
Education Measures
Voters approved major spending items in several states in last week's elections. Not every education-related issue passed, however. Following are the descriptions for 17 ballot measures that sought to affect school policy. The measures that failed to pass are labeled.
Education
Federal File
Several members of the Senate's incoming freshman class haven't always been exactly enamored with the Department of Education.
Change of Heart?
Several members of the Senate's incoming freshman class haven't always been exactly enamored with the Department of Education.
Federal
Republicans Back in Education Driver's Seat
President Bush will soon find Republicans running every committee in Congress. The GOP expanded its slim majority in the House by several seats and wrested control of the Senate from Democrats after the Nov. 5 elections. Includes "Changes on Capitol Hill."
President Bush will soon find Republicans running every committee in Congress. The GOP expanded its slim majority in the House by several seats and wrested control of the Senate from Democrats after the Nov. 5 elections. Includes "Changes on Capitol Hill."
Education
Gubernatorial Outcomes
The known winners in the 36 races for governor during last week's general elections are highlighted in red. If the Republican candidate in Alabama withstands a challenge to his apparent win, the GOP will have a 26-24 majority in governorships.
Education
News in Brief: A State Capitals Roundup
- Study Disputes Texas on Dropout Statistics
- Embattled Charter School Gets Reprieve in Nevada
- Paper: Many Voucher Pupils Return to Fla. Public Schools
States
Governors Elected on Mixed School Agendas
Voters in 36 states sent a powerful mix of messages last week when they selected governors who back a blend of more money for schools, softer tones on high-stakes tests, and greater support for expanded school choice. Includes "Gubernatorial Outcomes."
Voters in 36 states sent a powerful mix of messages last week when they selected governors who back a blend of more money for schools, softer tones on high-stakes tests, and greater support for expanded school choice. Includes "Gubernatorial Outcomes."
Education
Chiefs' Elections
Voters in seven states went to the polls last week to pick their top education officers. Following are the results from the Nov. 5 general election.
Student Well-Being
Safety Issues Prompt Aluminum-Bat Ban in Mass.
Massachusetts is poised to become the first state to ban aluminum baseball bats in high school play because of safety concerns.
States
Strong Platforms Help State Schools Chief Winners
The seven state schools chiefs elected last week make for a diverse group of officials who will guide local education policies, including the crucial requirements of the federal "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2001, for the next four years. Includes "Chief's Elections."
Curriculum
Study Identifies Benefits Of Arts Curriculum
Making the arts a central part of the curriculum, and teaching the subject with the same rigor as math or science, not only can improve arts learning, but also can bolster other efforts to improve schools, an evaluation of a major arts pilot program concludes.
Student Well-Being
Researchers See Promising Signs In DARE's New Drug Ed. Program
Early evaluation results of an overhauled version of the DARE curriculum are giving its advocates new hope for the program's future.
School & District Management
Business Group Merges With Education Center
The National Alliance of Business has merged with another group and will now continue it education improvement efforts under the National Center for Educational Accountability.
English-Language Learners
Colo. Extends Bilingual Ed., But Mass. Voters Reject It
Bilingual education will live on in Colorado, following a rare win at the ballot box for bilingual education supporters. But it faces near-extinction in Massachusetts in the wake of last week's elections.
Education
Schools to See Big Windfalls From State Ballot Measures
Despite the nation's rocky economy and a national tilt toward conservative candidates, voters in several states gave the go-ahead for generous new education spending in last week's elections. Part of our extended election coverage.