February 14, 2001
Education Week, Vol. 20, Issue 22
Education
Events
February 2001 | March 2001 ** marks events that have not appeared in a previous issue of Education Week.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Teacher-Training Programs Turn To Cyberspace
A growing number of prospective and practicing educators are logging on to computers to earn teaching credentials or bachelor's and master's degrees in a field that ordinarily prizes face-to-face interaction.
Early Childhood
Districts Utilize Title I Flexibility To Prepare Little Ones for School
A growing number of schools throughout the country are using Title I aid to address learning problems before children start elementary school.
Law & Courts
Newark Sues State, District Over Losses
In what is believed to be the first lawsuit of its kind involving a state takeover of a district, the city of Newark, N.J., has taken its state-run public school system to court, alleging financial mismanagement.
Education
Federal File
Snuffing Out Drugs
In his first interview since his Feb. 1 confirmation, Attorney General John Ashcroft said he plans to make curbing drug use among youths one of his top three priorities.
In his first interview since his Feb. 1 confirmation, Attorney General John Ashcroft said he plans to make curbing drug use among youths one of his top three priorities.
Education
No Lack of Policy Advice For New President, Congress
While President Bush already has some clear ideas about federal education policy, it hasn't deterred an onslaught of advice for him and his congressional counterparts. Includes "A Paper for Every Position."
Federal
New Secretary Has a Playbook For Motivating Students
To Rod Paige, testing students every year in academics is a lot like coaching football players. "The whole point is receiving results," the new secretary of education says. Includes "Off to a Quick Start," a look at Secretary Paige's doctoral dissertation.
Education
Off to a Quick Start
Secretary of Education Rod Paige earned his doctorate in physical education from Indiana University in 1969. His 123-page dissertation was titled "The Effect of Pre-Foreperiod Preparation and Foreperiod Duration Upon the Response Time of Football Linemen."
Education
A Paper for Every Position
Here's what some prominent think tanks and education groups are recommending to President Bush and the new Congress:
Reading & Literacy
Anxious Educators Await Details of Bush Reading Initiative
President Bush's $5 billion sketch for putting "Reading First" is winning widespread praise from educators for highlighting what many see as the most critical factors in students' overall academic success: early-literacy skills and teacher training.
Federal
Watchdog Agency Faults Ed. Dept. For Financial Mismanagement
The Department of Education has grossly mismanaged its financial systems and caused a substantial risk of undermining its mission, according to an independent federal watchdog agency.
States
N.H. Governor Proposes Sales Tax To Pay for Schools
Breaking with tradition, Gov. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire has proposed the state's first sales tax as a way to solve its long-running problems over how to pay for schools.
Education Funding
State Budget Woes Hit Schools In Deep South
As leaders in a growing number of states scramble to cut their budgets in the face of declining tax revenues, schools in at least two states—Alabama and Mississippi—are already feeling the pinch.
Education Funding
State Journal
A Question of Fairness
Rep. Joe Balyeat is no fan of Montana's system for financing its schools. So the Republican state lawmaker has decided to get right to what he views as the root of the problem: the state constitution's guarantee of an "equal educational opportunity for every person."
Education
A State Capitals Roundup
- North Carolina Postpones
High School Exam - Minnesota Testing Program Encounters
Another Glitch
School & District Management
Indiana Urged To Switch To Appointed State Schools Chief
A comprehensive evaluation of Indiana's education system by two national associations urges the state to do away with its elected chief state school officer in favor of a schools chief appointed by the state board of education.
States
State of the States 2001: Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee
Calling the school improvement initiatives that Georgia enacted last year a good foundation, Gov. Roy E. Barnes says the time has come to take them a step further and end social promotion in the state.
Education
Colorado Leaders Clash Over How To Spend Extra Money
Colorado voters were in a generous mood last November, approving a state constitutional amendment that guaranteed a significant jump in spending on public schools over the next 10 years.
School & District Management
Districts Said To Lack 'Enlightened' Leaders
School district leaders should get paid more and receive more training if they're going to keep pace with ever-increasing demands, a report argues.
Federal
Advocates Eye Bush's Education Technology Vision
Washington insiders and education technology advocates are predicting that the new administration's approach to education technology is likely to be different from that of the previous administration.
Washington insiders and education technology advocates are predicting that the new administration's approach to education technology is likely to be different from that of the previous administration.
States
Alaska Schools Need More Money To Meet Standards, Panel Finds
Alaska needs to spend $100 million over the next five years—including $42.4 million in the coming fiscal year alone—to help students reach new academic standards mandated by the state's accountability law, a governor's task force says.
Curriculum
About This Series
This is the second installment of a three-part series about Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic, a program run by the National Science Foundation.
This is the second installment of a three-part series about Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic, a program run by the National Science Foundation.
Assessment
Ore. Special-Needs Students To Get Testing Assistance
The settlement of a landmark class action in Oregon will allow students with learning disabilities to use electronic spell-check, dictation machines, and other forms of assistance deemed appropriate on a case-by-case basis to take statewide tests.
Education
Recruitment Pinch Fuels Global Trade In K-12 Teachers
The dearth of U.S. educators in some specialty areas—and a shortage of those willing to work in urban schools—is helping to create a growing global market for teachers.
The dearth of U.S. educators in some specialty areas—and a shortage of those willing to work in urban schools—is helping to create a growing global market for teachers.
Education
News in Brief: A National Roundup
- Teens Accused of Plot To Blow Up
High School - Gay Student Sues Calif. District
- Boston Police 'Sweep' Schools
- Md. Targets 4th Baltimore School
- Principal Fends off Knife Attack
- Arizona Teacher Avoids Trial
- Judge Removed From Case
School Climate & Safety
Portable Cafeteria Table Topples, Killing Phila. Boy
Philadelphia public school officials ordered the inspection of thousands of portable cafeteria tables last week, after one of the fold-up tables toppled over and crushed a 5-year-old boy.
Ed-Tech Policy
People in the News
The California Teachers Association has re-elected Wayne Johnson as its president. The state council of the 300,000-member cta voted unanimously last week to keep Mr. Johnson for a second two-year term.
Education
Honors & Awards
The Association for Career and Technical Education, based in Alexandria, Va., announced several teachers' awards at the ACTE convention last month. Those recognized and their awards are as follows: