December 5, 2007

International America Idles on International Reading Test

U.S. 4th graders failed to show progress on the 2006 PIRLS, despite spending more time on reading lessons than their peers internationally.

International Against Other Nations, U.S. Below Par in Science

Testing officials said they released the scores early after the results unexpectedly appeared in a Spanish newspaper.

School Climate & Safety Mixed Reactions to Bus Safety Regulations

The federal proposal would require small school buses to be equipped with lap-and-shoulder belts and seat backs to be raised to 24 inches.

Teaching Profession New York City Taps Lawyers to Weed Out Bad Teachers

The program, designed to target incompetent tenured teachers, is under attack from the local teachers’ union who describe it as a “witch hunt.”

Federal Draft From National Math Panel Covers Broad Scope of Topics

The long-awaited report concludes that students’ success in math, and algebra specifically, hinges largely on mastering a clearly defined set of topics in that subject in early grades.

Federal States Clear Initial Hurdle on ELL Tests

A new report finds all states and the District of Columbia have now ushered in new English-language-proficiency tests to comply with NCLB requirements for those still learning the language.