February 6, 2008

Education Week, Vol. 27, Issue 22
Education Funding Funding Formula Revised in N.J.
Just before their 2007-08 legislative session ended in January 2008, New Jersey lawmakers approved a new school funding formula advocated by Gov. Jon Corzine.
Catherine Gewertz, February 5, 2008
1 min read
States State of the States Massachusetts
Gov. Patrick’s first State of the Commonwealth speech included a call for lawmakers to move swiftly on a proposed increase in education spending.
Lesli A. Maxwell, February 5, 2008
1 min read
States State of the States Tennessee
In his sixth State of the State address, Gov. Bredesen announced a $27.8 billion budget plan for fiscal 2009 that would keep spending flat in most areas but give modest increases for some education initiatives.
Lesli A. Maxwell, February 5, 2008
1 min read
Education Book Review New in Print
Arts education, school reform, athletics, and more.
Anne E. Das, February 5, 2008
3 min read
Teaching Profession Contract Stalemate Comes With a Price, Minnesotans Find
Failing to reach a contract agreement with teachers on time can cost a school district.
Vaishali Honawar, February 5, 2008
1 min read
Education Letter to the Editor Public-Service Academy: An Idea Worthy of Support
The academy proposed envisions a very different school and draws attention to the real need for public service, which is not emphasized in the United States at this time.
February 5, 2008
1 min read
Student Well-Being Federal File Bill Would Change Liability Standard in Title IX Cases
A bill recently introduced in Congress seeks to modify the effects of two landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions to give students greater legal protection from sexual harassment.
Mark Walsh, February 5, 2008
2 min read
Education Letter to the Editor What About K-8 Model’s Effect on the Youngest?
Young children deserve a setting in which they can build a foundation for success.
February 5, 2008
1 min read
Education Letter to the Editor When Performance ‘Rewards’ Are Snatched Away
Having taught in North Carolina, and as a current South Carolina teacher, I was interested in the comparisons between the two states in your Quality Counts 2008 special issue.
February 5, 2008
1 min read
Curriculum Report Roundup Sex Education
Thirty percent of sex education teachers in Illinois never received formal sex education training, compared with the national average of 18 percent, says a report.
Mary C. Breaden, February 5, 2008
1 min read
Education Report Roundup After-School Education
After-school programs can improve participants’ literacy by providing intensive lessons several times a week and establishing strong bonds between instructors and participants.
Mary C. Breaden, February 5, 2008
1 min read
Federal Report Roundup Research Report: English-Language Learners
School officials should reach out to parents of English-language learners and encourage both student and parental literacy, says a study.
Mary C. Breaden, February 5, 2008
1 min read
Teaching Profession Report Roundup Teacher Evaluation
Teacher-evaluation systems should assess both the quality of teacher instruction and student achievement.
Mary C. Breaden, February 5, 2008
1 min read
Education Correction Correction
Correction
February 5, 2008
1 min read
Assessment Report Roundup Student Cheating
Reading material that promotes a deterministic viewpoint—a belief that one’s actions are pre-determined—encourages students to cheat, suggests a study.
Mary C. Breaden, February 5, 2008
1 min read
School & District Management Report Roundup Middle School Performance
Higher-performing middle schools share many of the same practices and attributes, concludes a study.
Debra Viadero, February 5, 2008
1 min read
Education Letter to the Editor ‘Business Model’ Thinking Is Outdated—and Wrong
Denis P. Doyle’s Commentary “Why Markets Are Important (and What They Could Do for Public Education)” could have been written as part of a State of the Union address for President Ronald Reagan.
February 5, 2008
1 min read
David M. Steiner chats with students during the Foundations of Education course he teaches at Hunter College.
David M. Steiner chats with students during the Foundations of Education course he teaches at Hunter College.
Roey Yohai for Education Week
Teacher Preparation College and Charter Groups Team Up to Train Teachers
As part of a new program devised by charter schools and Hunter College, teachers work towards earning master's degrees in elementary education.
Bess Keller, February 5, 2008
6 min read
Equity & Diversity News in Brief Parents Lose Federal Challenge on Gay-Tolerant School Materials
A court ruled that a Massachusetts district did not violate the rights of the parents or children by exposing them to books they found objectionable on religious grounds.
Mark Walsh, February 5, 2008
1 min read
Student Well-Being News in Brief Hawaii Board Votes Against Funds for Teacher Drug-Testing Program
The board rejected a proposal to pay $400,000 to get the program going by the end of June.
Linda Jacobson, February 5, 2008
1 min read
International Report Roundup Teacher-Quality Gap Examined Worldwide
In a comparison of 46 countries, the United States ranked 42nd in its ability to provide equity in the distribution of high-quality math teachers to low- and upper-income 8th graders.
Mary C. Breaden, February 5, 2008
1 min read
Equity & Diversity Poor Rural Children Attract Close Study
An ambitious project run by two universities is the largest, most comprehensive and representative study to date of children’s development in rural America.
Debra Viadero, February 5, 2008
7 min read
Teaching Profession Retiree Obligations Cloud Fiscal Horizon
States and districts are struggling to fulfill the pension and health-care promises they made to teachers—and the results are mixed.
Michele McNeil, February 5, 2008
11 min read
Teaching Opinion Closing the Science Gap by Hand
American students can quickly become passionate about STEM topics when they are taught in a hands-on way, Anne Spence argues.
Anne Spence, February 5, 2008
3 min read
School Choice & Charters Bush’s Latest ‘Voucher’ Idea May Face Same Fate as Others
The ‘Pell Grant for Kids’ plan is being criticized by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Alyson Klein, February 5, 2008
5 min read
Gilbert Strang, seated in his office in Cambridge, Mass., is one MIT mathematics professor whose classes can be seen on the new Web site. “I’ve always wanted to make more of a contribution to K-12,” he said.
Gilbert Strang, seated in his office in Cambridge, Mass., is one MIT mathematics professor whose classes can be seen on the new Web site. “I’ve always wanted to make more of a contribution to K-12,” he said.
Steven Senne/AP
IT Infrastructure & Management MIT Orients Course Materials Online to K-12
The site offers free video, audio, and print lectures and course material taken straight from the university's classes.
Sean Cavanagh, February 5, 2008
6 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Laura Costas
School & District Management Opinion ‘Scientific Research’ and Policymaking
Frederick M. Hess and Jeffrey R. Henig advocate 'common sense and humility about what research can provide.'
Rick Hess, February 5, 2008
6 min read
Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm talks with her husband, Dan Mulhern, in her ceremonial office before her State of the State speech.
Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm talks with her husband, Dan Mulhern, in her ceremonial office before her State of the State speech.
Carlos Osorio/AP
States State of the States Schools Get Fresh Focus in Michigan
Without the budget deficits of recent years, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm is pushing a number of major education proposals.
Bess Keller, February 4, 2008
2 min read
Special Education Council Promotes ‘Response’ Idea
The National Council for Learning Disabilities wants universal developmental screening for young children, so that early-literacy or cognitive difficulties can be addressed early.
Christina A. Samuels, February 4, 2008
1 min read