October 12, 2011

Education Week, Vol. 31, Issue 07
Federal Flood of Applicants for Promise Neighborhoods Grants
Hopefuls vie for the latest $30 million in awards to help nonprofits and schools pair up on K-12 wraparound services.
Alyson Klein, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Student Well-Being Students No Longer Walking to School, Despite Millions Spent
The Safe Routes to School program has received $820 million in federal aid to promote walking to school and reducing childhood obesity, but changing public behavior has proven challenging.
Bob Shaw, St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 11, 2011
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4 min read
Former Lutheran school teacher Cheryl Perich, center, comments last week after the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case involving her claims that church officials dismissed her after she threatened to bring a lawsuit under federal disability law.
Former Lutheran school teacher Cheryl Perich, center, comments last week after the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case involving her claims that church officials dismissed her after she threatened to bring a lawsuit under federal disability law.
Maria Matveeva/Americans United
Law & Courts Parochial-School Case Gets Airing at Supreme Court
Justices hear arguments pitting employment-discrimination protections against churches' rights to make job decisions.
Mark Walsh, October 11, 2011
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4 min read
Education Funding Bills Show Dueling Priorities on K-12 Spending
House and Senate bills take different stances toward funding formula-grant programs and Obama administration initiatives.
Alyson Klein, October 11, 2011
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8 min read
Education Funding Opinion The Truth About Testing Costs
The cost of testing is a paper tiger; instead, criticism should be leveled at how we assess students, argues Bill Tucker.
Bill Tucker, October 11, 2011
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4 min read
Education Funding News in Brief White House: Bill Would Save 400,000 Ed. Jobs
The American Jobs Act proposed by President Barack Obama would save nearly 400,000 educator jobs if states spent all the money in one year, according to a White House report.
Alyson Klein, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
School & District Management News in Brief Two Advisers Hired to Assist Troubled Philadelphia District
Philadelphia's public schools are getting extra academic and financial support as officials work to restore public confidence in a system buffeted by leadership turnover, a test-cheating scandal, and political turmoil.
The Associated Press, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Equity & Diversity Findings Stoke Concerns Over 'Zero-Tolerance'
New data showing that black and Hispanic pupils are more likely to be expelled adds to a growing critique on school discipline.
October 11, 2011
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7 min read
Mothers arrive to pick up their children from Flowers School in Montgomery, Ala. Hispanic students have started vanishing from Alabama public schools in the wake of a court ruling that upheld the state's tough new law cracking down on illegal immigration. Education officials say scores of immigrant families have withdrawn their children from classes or kept them home, afraid that sending the kids to school would draw attention from authorities.
Mothers arrive to pick up their children from Flowers School in Montgomery, Ala. Hispanic students have started vanishing from Alabama public schools in the wake of a court ruling that upheld the state's tough new law cracking down on illegal immigration. Education officials say scores of immigrant families have withdrawn their children from classes or kept them home, afraid that sending the kids to school would draw attention from authorities.
Dave Martin/AP
Equity & Diversity Ala. Immigration Law Puts Squeeze on Schools
Officials move to reassure parents with new law in effect requiring data collection on immigration status of students.
October 11, 2011
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6 min read
Steve Jobs, then-CEO of Apple Inc., prepares to unveil the iPhone in 2007.
Steve Jobs, then-CEO of Apple Inc., prepares to unveil the iPhone in 2007.
Paul Sakuma/AP-File
Ed-Tech Policy Obituary Apple's Steve Jobs, a Pioneer In Education Technology, Dies
Steven P. Jobs, whose creativity in shaping new platforms for technology has influenced teachers, students, and their schools for more than 30 years, died last week after a battle with cancer.
Ian Quillen, October 11, 2011
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2 min read
Education Correction Corrections
An article in the Oct. 5, 2011, edition on a study of student achievement in the Chicago public schools gave an incorrect name for the local fund headed by Jason Cascarino. The organization is the Chicago Public Education Fund.
October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Equity & Diversity Report Roundup Research Report: Diversity
Students who attend schools that are racially and socioeconomically diverse have better academic outcomes, according to a research brief from the National Coalition on School Diversity.
Christina A. Samuels, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Teaching Opinion The Age of Wonder
Inviting students to engage in the learning process is an important and humbling step to keeping the classroom lively, writes Peter Huidekoper Jr.
Peter Huidekoper Jr., October 11, 2011
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4 min read
Education Funding Report Roundup Hispanic Children
For the first time, the number of Hispanic children living in poverty was greater than the number of non-Hispanic white children living in poverty.
Jaclyn Zubrzycki, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Student Well-Being Report Roundup After-School Programs
Support will continue for after-school programs if they improve their quality by focusing on management, staffing, curriculum, and evaluation, says a report.
Nora Fleming, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Report Roundup Neighborhood Effects
Growing up in a poor neighborhood can sharply reduce a child's chances of graduating from high school, according to a study in the American Sociological Review.
Debra Viadero, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Assessment Opinion Testing and Cheating: A Tragicomedy
The problem of cheating goes deeper than test scores to questions of how well all students are prepared to learn, Ellen Balleisen writes.
Ellen Balleisen, October 11, 2011
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5 min read
School & District Management Report Roundup High School Achievement
A new analysis of state test scores finds that gains in mathematics and English/language arts were less common at the high school level than they were in the 4th and 8th grades.
Catherine Gewertz, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
School & District Management Report Roundup Survey: Bigger Districts Pay Their Leaders More
The average yearly salary of a superintendents varied widely depending on the size of the district, according to a yearly survey of school personnel.
Christina A. Samuels, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Teaching Profession News in Brief 200-Plus School Unions Try to Recertify Under Wis. Law
More than 200 school unions in Wisconsin met a deadline to seek recertification, but it was unclear how many others let it pass and gave up the little bargaining powers they had left under 'Gov. Scott Walker's contentious union-rights law.
The Associated Press, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Education Funding News in Brief Autism Law Provides Millions for Research
President Barack Obama has signed legislation that will allow research about autism to continue for the next three years.
Nirvi Shah, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Education News in Brief More Than 1,800 Buses Recalled
The parent company of High Point, N.C.-based Thomas Built Buses says more than 1,800 buses are being recalled to repair a faulty engine clamp.
The Associated Press, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Teaching News in Brief Nevada Gov. Vows to Copy Florida Education Model
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval says he will follow Florida's education reform model by pushing for laws that promote school choice and end social promotion.
The Associated Press, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Teaching Profession News in Brief Bargaining Limits Upheld in Idaho
Idaho's new education law that weakens some teachers' bargaining rights passes constitutional muster, a state judge ruled in a legal challenge filed by the Idaho Education Association.
The Associated Press, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Teaching Profession News in Brief Iowa Gov. Branstad Unveils Blueprint for Teacher Pay
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is proposing dramatic changes to how teachers advance and are compensated for their work.
Sean Cavanagh, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Equity & Diversity News in Brief ACLU: Campaign Against LGBT Filtering Is Effective
At least 96 schools nationwide have stopped blocking educational websites that favorably depict lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people, according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union, which credits its "Don't Filter Me" campaign for the changes.
Ian Quillen, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Student Well-Being Spuds Lobby Irked at USDA Meal Rules
During a press briefing last week, the National Potato Council made its case for why potatoes should have more of a showing on school lunch trays than the USDA is proposing.
Nirvi Shah, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
Education Best of the Blogs Blogs of the Week
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October 11, 2011
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4 min read
Education Funding News in Brief Problems Mount for Pensions
The Montana Teachers Retirement System needs an infusion of $633 million to avoid running out of money by 2055, consultants hired by the system said.
The Associated Press, October 11, 2011
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1 min read
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