September 2, 2009
Education Week, Vol. 29, Issue 02
Standards & Accountability
Letter to the Editor
Common-Standards Process: Rigged From the Beginning?
To the Editor:
The national-standards-development timeline of the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Governors Association, and Achieve Inc., a key player in the endeavor, is a dead giveaway to the closed, predetermined nature of the process ("Openness of Common-Standards Process at Issue," Aug. 12, 2009).
The national-standards-development timeline of the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Governors Association, and Achieve Inc., a key player in the endeavor, is a dead giveaway to the closed, predetermined nature of the process ("Openness of Common-Standards Process at Issue," Aug. 12, 2009).
Teaching Profession
Letter to the Editor
Make Teacher Incentives Part of Improvement Plan
To the Editor:
Based on more than 50 years of experience as a teacher, superintendent, state director of research, and consultant, I offer these basic comments on the Center for American Progress’ proposal to eliminate paying teachers extra for earning master’s degrees ("Halt Urged to Paying Teachers for Earning Master's Degrees," Aug. 12, 2009):
Based on more than 50 years of experience as a teacher, superintendent, state director of research, and consultant, I offer these basic comments on the Center for American Progress’ proposal to eliminate paying teachers extra for earning master’s degrees ("Halt Urged to Paying Teachers for Earning Master's Degrees," Aug. 12, 2009):
School & District Management
Rural Areas Perceive Policy Tilt
Some see a policy tilt at the U.S. Department of Education, though federal officials vow to be balanced.
School & District Management
Kennedy Gone; Power Shuffles Likely on K-12
Both chambers of Congress must move to fill a leadership vacuum on education issues—and that could bring a cascade of changes.
School & District Management
Opinion
'Race to the Top' Lessons From New Orleans
"It does not require a natural disaster to enact reforms like those under way in New Orleans," write Paul G. Vallas and Leslie R. Jacobs.
Federal
Opinion
Turnaround Schools That Work
"An exclusive focus on changing the principal and teachers misses two-thirds of the larger school community, which also includes students and parents," writes Richard D. Kahlenberg.
Equity & Diversity
Report Probes Educational Challenges Facing Latinas
'Alarming' dropout rates are attributed to factors including stereotyping and poor academic preparation.
Federal
Tight Leash Likely On Turnaround Aid
School closures, staff firings, and other dramatic steps would be the ticket to a share of $3.5 billion in new Title I aid.
School & District Management
Kennedy Mourned as Education Champion
The Massachusetts Democrat, who died Tuesday, put an indelible stamp on education policy, from Head Start to NCLB, earning respect across the political aisle.
School & District Management
L.A. Board OKs School-Management Plan
After a four-hour debate, the school board of the nation’s second-largest district votes to open the management of some 250 schools to outside groups.
School & District Management
Obama School Ideas Getting Good Grades
The annual check of American’s attitudes toward public schools also finds backing for common academic standards and tests.
School & District Management
NEA at Odds With Obama Team Over 'Race to the Top' Criteria
The union says it cannot support core pieces of the Race to the Top Fund, such as the linking of test scores and teacher evaluation.
Federal
Science Panel Seeks Ways to Fan Student Innovation
The National Science Board is working on recommendations on how schools can produce more elite innovators in the “STEM” fields.
Federal
2009 SAT Scores Declined or Stagnated, College Board Reports
The pool of test-takers has continued to grow more diverse, but wide gaps remain in scores, the organization says.