September 20, 2006
Education Week, Vol. 26, Issue 04
Law & Courts
S.C. to Allow Credit for Off-Campus Religious Study
In a major victory for religious advocates, the South Carolina legislature approved a law this summer allowing high schools to give credit to students for off-campus religious study during the school day.
Education
A National Roundup
Principals Win National Honors
Recipients of the 2007 National High School Principal of the Year award and the 2007 National Middle Level Principal of the Year award were announced this month.
Education
A National Roundup
Former Cincinnati Superintendent to Run Hartford, Conn., Schools
Continuing a long-running series of changes in management and governance, Connecticut’s largest school district has chosen a well-known education leader as its new superintendent.
Education
A National Roundup
Gates Foundation Gives Grants for Instruction In 3 City Districts
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation last week announced more than $6 million in new grants to help three urban districts continue efforts to improve high schools.
Education
A National Roundup
Efforts to Combat Childhood Obesity Seen as Inadequate
One-third of American children are either obese or at risk of becoming obese, but programs to prevent childhood obesity are too fragmented and small-scale, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Science.
Education
Dallas Opens Integrity Office
The Dallas school district, which has kept federal investigators plenty busy over the past decade, has launched a new effort to root out corruption and—its leaders hope—polish the system’s tarnished image.
Federal
Groups Press for Enforcement on NCLB Choice Option
With few students taking advantage of their school choice options under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, advocates are increasing the pressure on officials at all levels to meet the letter of the law.
Federal
Ed. Dept. Won’t Force HOUSSE Closure Now
In the federal government’s give-and-take with states over improving the nation’s teaching corps, the latest move appears to be a give to the states.
Education
A State Capitals Roundup
ECS Gets Interim Director
The Education Commission of the States has named Roderick G.W. Chu, a chancellor emeritus of the Ohio board of regents, as its temporary chief executive.
Education
A State Capitals Roundup
Mich. Could Require Vaccine for Sexually Transmitted Virus
Michigan girls entering 6th grade next year would have to be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus, under a bill introduced in the state Senate by a bipartisan group of female lawmakers.
Education
A State Capitals Roundup
Former Texas Governor Dies; New School Part of Legacy
Although former Gov. Ann Richards of Texas was perhaps best known for her quick wit and feisty spirit, the Democratic leader, who died last week at the age of 73, also left her mark on the state’s schools.
Education
A State Capitals Roundup
Tenn. Governor Targets Graduation Rates
Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee announced a proposal last week to raise the state’s high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2012—a move he had promised in his State of the State Address earlier this year.
School & District Management
Big Challenges Await Ky. Education Chief As New CCSSO Leader
A former social studies teacher who has led the education departments in Kentucky and Arkansas will take the helm of the Washington-based organization that represents state schools chiefs.
Education
Performance Indicators
Parents in New York state will soon have more information on how their children are performing on state tests, and schools will be able to use the data to target students’ trouble areas and identify weak teachers.
School & District Management
Opinion
What’s a Principal to Do?
Former teacher and central-office administrator Kim Marshall offers advice on instructional leadership, writing that minimizing activities that don't contribute to teaching and learning is the key to success.
Teacher Preparation
Prominent Teacher-Educator Assails Field, Suggests New Accrediting Body in Report
In a new study that has already raised some hackles, a noted expert on teacher education paints the field as a troubled one in which a majority of aspiring teachers are educated in low-quality programs that do not sufficiently prepare them for the classroom.
Federal
Spellings Issues Final Regulations for Testing of English-Learners
The Department of Education published final rules for testing English-language learners under the No Child Left Behind Act and including those scores in accountability decisions that differ little from proposed regulations published more than two years ago.