September 16, 2009
Education Week, Vol. 29, Issue 03
Federal
Opinion
From Fear Factor to Peer Factor
Andy Hargreaves and Dennis Shirley look outside the United States to find exceptional education systems and alternative approaches to school improvement.
School & District Management
Opinion
Moving Beyond the Conventional Wisdom of Whole-District Reform
"Pithy phrases such as 'hire great people' fail to capture the complexity of the work," writes Stacey M. Childress.
School & District Management
Fellowships Enable Teachers to Acquire Washington Insights
Teachers advise the policymakers on Capitol Hill and in the federal agencies where the fellows are posted.
Teaching
Opinion
The Value of Negative Learning
Alfie Kohn explores how nontraditional educators can rise above bad schooling by regarding it as a chance to figure out what not to do.
Federal
How Obama's Pep Talk Became a Publicity Headache
A fierce response from critics to suggested lesson plans may signal deeper concern over about the department's agenda.
Federal
Evidence Is Limited on Charters' Effect on ELL Achievement
Massachusetts debates academic merits of charter schools for that student group as lawmakers consider their expansion.
Teacher Preparation
Growth Model
Long criticized for the short duration of its training, Teach for America invests heavily in the professional growth of its teachers.
School & District Management
Opinion
Obama the 'Socialist'
“Matters have reached a sorry state when a president’s proposal to speak to the young people of the nation is turned into such a political football,” write Carol Choye and Les Omotani.
Federal
Opinion
The President’s Teachable Moment
U.S. Rep. John Kline writes that perhaps it’s time to look deeply into the outcry surrounding President Barack Obama’s speech to schoolchildren, rather than chalking it up to simple partisanship.
School & District Management
Harkin's New Hat Boosts His Sway Over K-12
The five-term Iowa Democrat will now have broad authority over both policy and money for education issues in the Senate.
Federal
Potholes Ahead on Innovation Fund
The Education Department will face logistical hurdles and worries about favoritism in awarding $650 million in stimulus grants to school districts, nonprofits, and others.
Federal
Opinion
Growing ‘Authentic’ College Applicants
“A rigorous and supportive approach to self-assessment, practiced early and often in high school, can help students explore what they really seek from the college experience and what institutional qualities will contribute to an optimal fit,” writes Dan Golden.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Swine-Flu Plans Put E-Learning in the Spotlight
The U.S. government and schools have plans to step up virtual learning if the H1N1 flu causes heavy student absences or building closures.
Budget & Finance
California Faces a Curriculum Crisis
Extensive changes to the state’s curriculum policies have raised concerns that educators will not have the guidance to pick the best texts.
Federal
Graduation Rates on ELLs a Mystery
Many states and districts don’t track the rate for English-learners, or if they do, they don’t share the information with the public.
Federal
Panel Wants Engineering Integrated Into Curriculum
The National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council committee recommends integrating engineering into other subjects.
Federal
Officials Move to Quell Furor Over Obama Speech
Tuesday’s planned address to schoolchildren will stress personal responsibility—not politics—White House and federal education officials say.
Federal
Opinion
Why Not Count Them All?
“Students are better off graduating late than never graduating at all, and schools should be recognized—even applauded—for keeping them in the pipeline,” writes Jim Hull.
Federal
Proposed 'Race to Top' Rules Seen as Prescriptive
In formal comments, many states, school districts, and unions appear wary of a tight federal leash on the $4 billion in competitive stimulus grants.
Teaching Profession
Multi-City Study Eyes Best Gauges of Good Teaching
The research, involving New York City, Charlotte, N.C., and elsewhere, is part of a Gates Foundation push on teacher effectiveness.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Effective Teachers Found to Improve Peers' Performance
A new study’s findings have implications for how schools are staffed and educators are paid, researchers say.
School & District Management
Obama Education Views Can Sway Public, Poll Says
The president’s popularity can strongly influence opinion on charter schools, merit pay, and other hot-button topics, according to a nationwide survey.