January 24, 2007
Education Week, Vol. 26, Issue 20
Teaching Profession
Texas Enlists Vanderbilt to Study Pay Initiative
Texas has awarded researchers at Vanderbilt University a $380,000 grant to study whether the state’s merit-pay plan for teachers has helped improve student achievement and retain teachers.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Teacher-Pay Clearinghouse Launched on Internet
James R. Carlson has helped negotiate some out-of-the-ordinary salary schedules for teachers over the years, with what he believes are promising results for both parties to the contracts.
States
State of the States
Consolidate Districts, S.C. Executive Suggests
Gov. Mark Sanford's speech to the state legislature this year included a call for school choice and “market-based solutions to education,” but he didn’t endorse a specific program.
States
State of the States
Mississippi Governor Wants Hike in School Funding
Gov. Haley Barbour called for increased teacher pay, expanded early-childhood education, and full funding for the formula intended to equalize school spending throughout Mississippi.
Science
Interest in Physics Growing Steadily at Secondary Level
The number of students taking high school physics continues to climb, and that growth is occurring across a broad spectrum of courses with different levels of rigor, new research shows.
States
State of the States
Bonuses for Schools Sought in Minnesota
Gov. Pawlenty's initiative would give schools a 2 percent bonus for reaching and maintaining proficiency on state tests in reading and mathematics.
States
State of the States
Indiana Governor Seeks Big Pre-K Upgrade
The full-day kindergarten initiative, the centerpiece of Gov. Mitch Daniels' education platform, flopped when pitched by the two previous governors.
States
State of the States
Change at All Levels Proposed in Delaware
Gov. Ruth Ann Miller said her budget proposal would fully finance full-day kindergarten for Delaware's regular public and charter schools.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
Chat Wrap-Up: College and Career Readiness
David S. Spence answered questions on a topic he addressed in depth in a special Commentary for Quality Counts 2007.
States
State of the States
Cut State's Dropout Rate, Urges Colorado Leader
Gov. Ritter also called for reducing by half over the next decade the achievement gap on state test scores between poor and some minority students and better-performing groups.
Curriculum
Letter to the Editor
Missing ‘Quality’ Factor: Impact of Libraries
Your Quality Counts issue included a lot of interesting and useful information about education from early childhood through adulthood.
Federal
Letter to the Editor
What Blocks Innovation in Reading Instruction
Your article "Reading Law Fails to Bring Innovations" seems to overlook the fact that the aim of the No Child Left Behind Act was not to encourage innovation in reading instruction, but rather to ensure that the methods used to teach reading in American schools were well researched and evidence-based.
States
State of the States
Alaska Executive Seeks ‘Stability’
Gov. Sarah Palin's proposed budget would increase educational funding by 17 percent.
Federal
Letter to the Editor
Let Systemic Changes Replace NCLB Sanctions
It is disheartening to see political proposals from on high that are more likely to worsen than solve No Child Left Behind's many flaws.
School & District Management
Teachers’ Children Can’t Get Leg Up
To help attract top-notch teachers, some charter schools would like to offer guaranteed slots in those schools for employees’ children.
States
New Mexico Governor Pushing a Wide Array of Ideas for Education
Gov. Bill Richardson is proposing to relieve overcrowding, double prekindergarten enrollment, and give a tax credit to some highly qualified teachers.
Education
Closed Sessions Draw Scrutiny
School board members in the Jordan school district in Sandy, Utah, could meet soon to discuss security-personnel issues that they discussed behind closed doors last fall.
Federal
A Washington Roundup
Subcommittee Chiefs Named for House Education Panel
Rep. George Miller, D-Calif, the new chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, announced his subcommittee chairmen last week, including those whose jurisdiction includes education.
School & District Management
A National Roundup
Mayor Releases Plan to Raise Achievement in L.A. School District
While a new California law to give him partial authority over the Los Angeles public schools remains in legal limbo, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa last week outlined six broad strategies that he said are crucial to making the city’s schools successful.
Law & Courts
A Washington Roundup
Mich. Affirmative Action Ban Under Review By Stevens
Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court last week was considering an emergency motion to suspend a Michigan law that bars the state’s universities from using affirmative action in admissions.
Law & Courts
A Washington Roundup
Court Urged to Back District in Speech Case
The Bush administration argues that a school principal was justified in disciplining a student who unfurled a “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” banner at a parade near his high school’s campus, according to a friend-of-the-court filed in the U.S. Supreme Court last week.
School Choice & Charters
Federal File
Choice Location
The Alliance for School Choice will move its headquarters from Phoenix to the nation’s capital and has hired a new president and added a lobbyist to represent the 3-year-old group in federal policy.
States
Historic Snubbing or Streamlining?
Schools in New Jersey will no longer be required to commemorate certain holidays.
School & District Management
Opinion
What Cities Can Do to Turn the Dropout Crisis Around
Feather O. Houstoun offers a framework for communities to help struggling students and out-of-school youths.
Families & the Community
Opinion
Good Families Make Good Schools
Too often, writes Saul Cooperman, parents of urban school students are part of the problem, rather than the solution to raising student performance.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Panel Favors Extended View of Learning
After-school programs, extended days, mentoring, and student internships are some of the recommendations for school reform.
School Choice & Charters
La. Agency OKs Storm Aid for Private Schools
Schools would get about $10 million in federal funds to rebuild after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
School & District Management
Worldwide Education Achievable, Study Says
The goal of universal primary education by 2015 will not be met unless political and financial aid increases.
Teaching Profession
Bonuses for NBPTS-Certified Teachers at Risk in S.C.
Lawmakers argue there is little evidence that board-certified teachers improve student performance more than their peers.