February 14, 2007
Education Week, Vol. 26, Issue 23
Student Well-Being
Under Pressure, State Opens Two Schools In New Orleans
As residents continue to return to the hurricane-battered city, officials struggle to accommodate more students.
Reading & Literacy
On Writing Tests, Computers Slowly Making Mark
Handwritten NAEP tests for 8th and 12th graders might be replaced.
Equity & Diversity
Mich. Charter Awaits Vote on Union
Leaders of the Saulte Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians have said they would shut down the school as a charter entity rather than accept a union.
School & District Management
Members of Two Minds Over Union Leader In D.C.
Washington Teachers' Union members express mixed feelings about President George Parker, who has been leading the organization since 2005.
School & District Management
Unrest Besets Scandal-Scarred Dade Union
President Karen Aronowitz receives mixed reviews for her leadership of the troubled United Teachers of Dade union.
School & District Management
Data-Wise School Systems Seen as Sharing Key Traits
More explicit and targeted goals help drive data-wise decisionmaking in schools, finds a new study.
Education
Opinion
Growing Up With War
These book reviews cover child soldiers, the war diaries of young people, and patriotism in U.S. schools.
Education
Opinion
Also of Note
A roundup of books that tackle school fundraising, Amish and Mennonite schools, the SATs, and more.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Corporate Philanthropy’s Role Needs More Scrutiny
Your Jan. 17, 2007, In Perspective article "Venture Fund Fueling Push for New Schools" provides readers with some sketchy data on how privately managed charters are doing compared to the neighborhood public schools with which they compete.
Education
Letter to the Editor
‘Pilot’ Schools Validate Skills Commission Report
Diane Ravitch’s strongly worded criticism of “Tough Choices or Tough Times,” the report released in December by the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce, doesn’t leave much room for debate.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Good Schools Need Both Family Resolve, Reform
In his Commentary "Good Families Make Good Schools," Saul Cooperman argues that responsibility for student success should be shared equally by schools and families.
Education
Events
12—Independent Schools: Planning Strategically Today for a Profoundly Different Tomorrow, sponsored by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, for faculty and administrators. This is an audio seminar. Contact: Kathleen Straight, 1165 N. Clark St., Suite 311, Chicago, IL 60610; (312) 255-1244; fax: (312) 255-1278; e-mail: kathleen@isacs.org; Web site: www.isacs.org.
March
12—Independent Schools: Planning Strategically Today for a Profoundly Different Tomorrow, sponsored by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, for faculty and administrators. This is an audio seminar. Contact: Kathleen Straight, 1165 N. Clark St., Suite 311, Chicago, IL 60610; (312) 255-1244; fax: (312) 255-1278; e-mail: kathleen@isacs.org; Web site: www.isacs.org.
Education
Honors & Award
Honors & Awards
The National Education Association Foundation
NEA Foundation Awards:
The National Education Association Foundation
Student Achievement
Making Higher Ed. History, Headlines
The University of California made admissions history last spring when, for the first time, Asian-Americans constituted the largest single racial group to receive admission offers across the system’s undergraduate campuses.
Equity & Diversity
The ‘Other’ Gap
The performance of Asian-American students has been largely ignored in the national debate over raising student achievement. But experts say it’s high time for a closer look at a very diverse group.
School & District Management
Maine School Consolidation Plan Under Fire
Critics fear the proposal would sweep aside local control, cost hundreds of administrators their jobs, and force school closures.
States
Michigan Governor Pushing Scholarship Expansion
Under the proposed plan, a portion of property-tax revenue would go to communities that already have committed substantial money to scholarships.
Student Well-Being
Education Groups Noncommittal on Mandatory HPV Vaccinations
Some say it could be a burden for schools to enforce state mandates requiring the vaccine.
School & District Management
Economists Tout Value of Reducing Dropouts
The spread of proven programs would pay dividends, concludes a recent study.
Federal
Senate Panel Begins Examination of NCLB
Witnesses offered ideas for fixing the lowest-achieving schools, including closing failing schools and restarting them from scratch.
Federal
A Washington Roundup
Measure Would Repeal Government-Pension Offset
A bill introduced in Congress would repeal federal rules that reduce Social Security benefits for public school teachers and municipal workers in 13 states.
Federal
A Washington Roundup
Bill in House Would Target Student Lenders’ Incentives
Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, introduced a bill last week aimed at barring private lenders from offering gifts or similar incentives to colleges that agree to promote their loans.
Federal
A Washington Roundup
Ex-Iraq Aide Tapped for Education Post
President Bush last week tapped Williamson Evers to be assistant secretary for planning, evaluation, and policy development at the Department of Education. The position was left vacant when Thomas W. Luce III resigned last summer.
Curriculum
Federal File
Addressing Income Inequality
Ben S. Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, weighs in on the connection between education and income inequality.
Education
A State Capitals Roundup
Florida Governor Outlines Plan for Education Funding Hike
Gov. Charlie Crist's budget proposal would boost per-pupil spending by $500, and bring the state's total education budget to $33.4 billion.
Education
A State Capitals Roundup
Maine Students to Get Help From SAT-Preparation Course
A $4.5 million donation will provide each high school junior with a program that usually costs $300 per student and which includes an online curriculum, a diagnostic test, and practice materials.
Education
A State Capitals Roundup
Colorado’s Commissioner Plans to Step Down in June
Commissioner of Education William J. Moloney, who is expected to leave in June, said political shifts helped prod his move, although he said he made his decision well before the November elections.
Education
A State Capitals Roundup
California Chief Warns of Achievement Gap
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell said in his annual State of Education address that he would lead an effort to narrow disparities, meeting with educators and researchers and holding a summit on the issue.