June 20, 2007
Education Week, Vol. 26, Issue 42
Education
Events
15-18—Health and safety: Annual National Conference 2007, sponsored by the School Nutrition Association, for school food service professionals, educators, and administrators, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Contact: SNA, 700 S. Washington St., Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 739-3900; fax: (703) 739-3915; e-mail: servicecenter@schoolnutrition.org; Web site: www.schoolnutrition.org.
July
15-18—Health and safety: Annual National Conference 2007, sponsored by the School Nutrition Association, for school food service professionals, educators, and administrators, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Contact: SNA, 700 S. Washington St., Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 739-3900; fax: (703) 739-3915; e-mail: servicecenter@schoolnutrition.org; Web site: www.schoolnutrition.org.
School & District Management
Opinion
Education Research Could Improve Schools, But Probably Won’t
Research rarely leads to significant change because it is often expensive to apply or is a threat to the status quo, says Ronald A. Wolk.
School & District Management
Newly Named Head of ECS Pledges Transformation of Group’s Mission
Alaska schools chief Roger Sampson wants the group to work to implement successful education policies across the country.
Early Childhood
Project to Probe Preschool Programs for Autistic Children
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has received an $8 million grant to conduct research on teaching children with autism spectrum disorders.
School Climate & Safety
Long Road Ahead for New Orleans
A new report urges the Recovery School District to focus on opening schools and hiring teachers
International
Targeted for Violence, Schools Still Making Strides in Afghanistan
Work on rebuilding Afghanistan’s school system has been challenged by insurgents who have made schools one of their primary targets.
School & District Management
Mayor Takes Control, Picks Novice to Lead Troubled D.C. District
Washington Mayor Adrian M. Fenty assumed power over the city's schools last week and immediately named Michelle A. Rhee as his schools chief.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Technology ‘Rush’ Leaves Needed Research Undone
Your May 23, 2007, article "Cheap Laptops Getting Tryouts in Small Pilot Projects" offers another example of educators rushing headlong into technology areas that need a lot more research.
Federal
Federal Audit Finds Illinois Title I Faults
A federal audit has faulted the Illinois state board of education for failing to adequately monitor how two school districts used their Title I money.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Forcing Out Teachers Lowers a School’s Morale
Your article "Accords Designed to Turn Around Troubled Schools" highlights a “unique” contract arrangement between the teachers’ union and school district in Anne Arundel County, Md.
Education
Letter to the Editor
No ‘Split in Civil Rights Community’ Over NCLB
We write to correct James Crawford’s mischaracterizations of our organizations’ positions with respect to the No Child Left Behind Act and English-language learners.
States
Maine Moving Ahead on School Consolidation Plan
The new law aims to slash number of districts—a move that state officials project to save tens of millions of dollars each year in administrative costs.
Recruitment & Retention
California Could Tap Industry for Teachers
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing a proposal to recruit professionals from the fields of math, science, and technology into teaching positions.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Include Internet Skills in Reading NAEP Revisions
How satisfying to read that the National Assessment of Educational Progress in reading is being revised.
Special Education
Team Teaching Key to Turnaround
If student data guide the ship at the North East Independent School District here, teachers are the invaluable crew.
Special Education
Texas District Makes Gains With Spec. Ed.
The North East Independent School District in Texas says a focus on data and team teaching have raised scores.
Law & Courts
UNESCO Report Outlines Corrupt Educational Practices
Efforts to offer schooling to all children around the world are hindered by corruption among local political and education leaders, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
Reading & Literacy
Reading Is Fundamental Tackles Achievement Gap
A prominent literacy organization is launching a campaign to tackle the achievement gap between minority youngsters and their white peers.
Teaching Profession
Teacher Incentive Fund Awards Its Last Grants for Fiscal Year
Another dozen school districts have landed federal Teacher Incentive Fund grants, including one that will focus on paying principals and assistant principals for their performance.
Teaching Profession
Alliance Provides ‘Core Principles’ for Media Literacy
The Alliance for a Media Literate America is providing some direction to teachers in media-literacy education.
Federal
A Washington Roundup
Accountability Forum Backs Local Tests
Schools should be permitted to use multiple, locally created assessments instead of “one shot” tests to measure student progress, according to a report.
Education Funding
A Washington Roundup
House Panel OKs Boost in Math, Science Funding
Spending on education programs at the National Science Foundation would increase by $72 million in fiscal 2008.
Federal
A Washington Roundup
The Next Education President
A journalist group plans to hold briefings for reporters with the 2008 presidential candidates on education issues.
Reading & Literacy
A Washington Roundup
Spellings Criticizes ‘Reading First’ Cuts
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said the 61 percent reduction in funding would hurt the "nation's neediest students."
Federal
Federal File
Spellings Pans U.S. Standards
In a Washington Post op-ed, the secretary said national tests would violate U.S. educational tradition.
Education Funding
Vermont Lawmakers Approve Cost-Containment Measure
The measure will require residents of high-spending school districts to endorse significant budget increases by means of a separate vote.
Education Funding
Cigarette-Tax Increase to Raise School Funds
Much of the revenue is to be spent at schools that serve high numbers of children deemed at risk of failure.