January 30, 2013
Education Week, Vol. 32, Issue 19
School Choice & Charters
School Choice Advocate to Lead Private Schools' Group
The decision to hire John E. Chubb stirs heated reaction from some members of the National Association of Independent Schools.
Federal
Inauguration 2013
President Barack Obama touched on education issues and schools in his Jan. 21 Inaugural Address in Washington.
Education
State of the States
State of the States: Calif., Ga., Hawaii, Ind., Mass., Miss., N.M., R.I., Wis.
Here are summaries of recent annual addresses by governors around the country. In this roundup: California, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Researcher Questions Report's Methodology
To the Editor:
As a senior evaluation specialist and research methodologist for a large Southeastern urban school district, I specialize in literacy, public policy, and school reform. I am writing to question the validity of the rankings in your annual Quality Counts report (Jan. 10, 2013).
As a senior evaluation specialist and research methodologist for a large Southeastern urban school district, I specialize in literacy, public policy, and school reform. I am writing to question the validity of the rankings in your annual Quality Counts report (Jan. 10, 2013).
Education
Letter to the Editor
Change Now Under Way in Language Programs
To the Editor:
U.S. students absolutely need a strong language education they can use to be active citizens in our global community. Thanks to David Young and J.B. Buxton ("Language Education We Can Use," Commentary, Jan. 9, 2013) for their message that language learning must emphasize real-life relevance and authentic connections to language and culture.
U.S. students absolutely need a strong language education they can use to be active citizens in our global community. Thanks to David Young and J.B. Buxton ("Language Education We Can Use," Commentary, Jan. 9, 2013) for their message that language learning must emphasize real-life relevance and authentic connections to language and culture.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Graduation Rates Skew Analysis of Data
To the Editor:
I just read an article on 247wallst.com, a news and opinion website, about America's worst schools, which was based on information from Education Week's Quality Counts (Jan. 10, 2013).
I just read an article on 247wallst.com, a news and opinion website, about America's worst schools, which was based on information from Education Week's Quality Counts (Jan. 10, 2013).
Law & Courts
Letter to the Editor
On Hazelwood Ruling and Student Journalism
To the Editor:
Thank you for reporting on the Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier case, 25 years after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed itself on free-speech protection for secondary school students ("Student-Press Ruling Resonates From 1988," Jan. 9, 2013).
Thank you for reporting on the Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier case, 25 years after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed itself on free-speech protection for secondary school students ("Student-Press Ruling Resonates From 1988," Jan. 9, 2013).
Equity & Diversity
Report Roundup
Research Report: Diversity
Economic imbalances among North Carolina's public schools have grown since the 1990s, even as racial school segregation flattened, finds a study.
Assessment
Report Roundup
High School Transition
New research presented at the American Economic Association conference this month suggests mentoring, even near the end of high school, can push students to go on to college.
School Climate & Safety
Report Roundup
Student Engagement
More middle and high schools offered business and financial education classes in 2012 than in 2011, according to a new survey, but fewer students are interested in entrepreneurship.
School Climate & Safety
Report Roundup
Underage Drinking
School-based alcohol-prevention programs that help teenagers understand their personality strengths and weaknesses can reduce teenagers' drinking problems, according to a study.
School & District Management
Report Roundup
Common Core Spurs Changes
Most urban districts plan to fully implement the Common Core State Standards by the 2014-15 school year, according to a new report from the Council of the Great City Schools.
School & District Management
News in Brief
Wyo. House to Decide on State Chief's Role
It's decision time in the Wyoming House of Representative on whether to make major changes in the duties and responsibilities of the state superintendent of public instruction.
College & Workforce Readiness
News in Brief
Dartmouth Won't Grant Credit for AP Classes
Dartmouth College has decided to stop the practice of granting college credit based on Advanced Placement test scores.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Businesses Encouraged to Partner With Schools
Partnerships between businesses and schools pairings have the potential to raise student achievement and more closely align the work of educators with workforce demands, according to new report.
Assessment
News in Brief
ACLU Claims ELLs Not Served in California
More than 20,000 English-learners in California are not receiving English-language instruction required under state and federal law.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Detroit to Shut Down Dozens More Schools
The historic enrollment decline in Detroit public schools will continue to worsen, leaving the district with about 13,000 fewer students and 28 fewer schools by 2016.
Education Funding
News in Brief
Iowa Studies Options for District Mergers
A group of Iowa educators and lawmakers is exploring alternatives to school district consolidation, and one potential option is an increased reliance on online learning.
Law & Courts
News in Brief
Appeals Court Upholds Wis. Curb on Unions
A federal appeals court has upheld a Wisconsin law curtailing the collective bargaining rights of public-employee unions, including teachers' unions.
School Climate & Safety
News in Brief
Gun-Control Measure Introduced in Senate
Sen. Dianne Feinstein has introduced legislation prohibiting the sale of more than 150 types of military-style weapons and large-capacity magazines.
Federal
News in Brief
Mental-Health Bill to Address Students
U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., said last week that he plans to introduce legislation that would codify many of the Obama administration's recommendations on improving student mental health.
Special Education
News in Brief
Guidance Issued on Athletes With Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidance detailing the obligation schools have to ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in school athletics.
Federal
Graduation Rate Reaches Highest Peak in Decades
Some 78 percent of the class of 2010 got a high school diploma, says a new federal report, while the dropout rate fell to 3.4 percent.
Education
Correction
Correction
In an article about colleges graduating more elementary school teachers than are needed, in the Jan. 23, 2013, issue of Education Week, a quote from Kim Walters-Parker of the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board should have read: "If we overproduce teachers, and they're working as paraprofessionals making a lower wage, earning less money, less likely to repay student loans or pay taxes, we're not getting our investment back."
School & District Management
GOP Players in Congress Step Forward on K-12
Two Republicans ascend to key education roles as the 113th Congress kicks off in earnest.
Standards
Digital Learning Fuels K-12 Market Trends
New opportunities are opening for education companies as schools implement the common-core standards and prepare for the rollout of related online assessments.
Reading & Literacy
Interpretations Differ on Common Core's Nonfiction Rule
Teachers' understanding varies over how to balance fiction and nonfiction to meet the English/language arts standards.
Standards
States Soon to Weigh Science-Standards Adoption
Hot issues, such as evolution and climate change, as well as legislative mandates and logistics of the process, could waylay approval.