March 31, 2010
Education Week, Vol. 29, Issue 27
Education
Letter to the Editor
Civil Rights Enforcement: 'Impact' or 'Treatment'
To the Editor:
The U.S. Department of Education has promised to use “disparate impact” claims to ramp up its anti-discrimination enforcement ("Duncan Vows Tougher Civil Rights Action", March 17, 2010). Such claims are brought against practices that lead to politically incorrect racial results, even if the practices are nondiscriminatory by their terms, in their design, and in their application.
The U.S. Department of Education has promised to use “disparate impact” claims to ramp up its anti-discrimination enforcement ("Duncan Vows Tougher Civil Rights Action", March 17, 2010). Such claims are brought against practices that lead to politically incorrect racial results, even if the practices are nondiscriminatory by their terms, in their design, and in their application.
Education
Letter to the Editor
The Turning of Diane Ravitch
To the Editor:
Diane Ravitch’s flip-flop on educational ideas and institutions is symptomatic of a larger problem exhibited by the university professoriate in the academic study of education ("Ravitch Lays Out Change of Heart on Earlier Ideas", March 10, 2010).
Diane Ravitch’s flip-flop on educational ideas and institutions is symptomatic of a larger problem exhibited by the university professoriate in the academic study of education ("Ravitch Lays Out Change of Heart on Earlier Ideas", March 10, 2010).
Federal
Schools Chiefs Give Duncan Earful on ESEA, Race to Top, Standards
State superintendents pose tough questions about flexibility and rural education, but generally support the ESEA-renewal blueprint.
School & District Management
Boys Trail Girls in Reading Across States
In reading proficiency, boys lag by at least 10 percentage points in some states, while girls have caught up in math, a study finds.
Classroom Technology
National Broadband Plan Emphasizes E-Learning, Revisions to the E-Rate
The new FCC report recommends changes to the E-rate program and removal of policy barriers to online learning.
Assessment
Little Progress Seen in Student Results on Reading NAEP
In the latest administration of the test, 8th graders gained 1 point, while 4th graders' scores were unchanged from 2007.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Principal-Training Portal Aims for Ease of Use
New Leaders for New Schools offers a range of online professional-development resources through its Effective Practice Incentive Community.
School & District Management
Study: High School Choices Elude Phila. Students
A new report shows that many middle school students do not end up attending their top-choice high schools.
Education Funding
Stimulus Aid Yanks States' Spending Leash
Badly needed federal cash requires states to maintain education funding at levels that may be tough to meet.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
Common Ground on Gender
Lise Eliot and Richard Whitmire, two writers with different perspectives, agree that in learning needs boys and girls are more alike than different.
School & District Management
Opinion
The Evidence on Race to the Top
Criticism of the federal initiative has been heated and widespread, writes Douglas N. Harris, but are the naysayers right?
Education Funding
Student-Lending System Made Over in Health Law
Savings will go to shore up the Pell Grant program, but new early-education money failed to make the cut.
Education
Opinion
Transforming High Schools: Three Forces, Three Ideas
Bill Coplin and Adam Patrick propose three changes that they say could help any high school become a dynamic hub of activities that prepare students for college and careers.
Education
Unions Object to Proposals on Teachers, Principals
The focus on teacher and principal effectiveness in the Obama administration’s plan for a new ESEA has drawn fire from teachers' unions.
Federal
ESEA's Effect on Rural Areas, ELLs, Spec. Ed. Eyed
Rural students, English-language learners, and students with disabilities are drawing interest as Congress weighs rewriting NCLB.
Education
ESEA Plan Would Add 'Well-Rounded Education' Fund
The competitive grants for subjects such as the arts, foreign languages, and history would augment other programs for STEM and literacy.
Education
ESEA Renewal Blueprint Faces Legislative Hurdles
The Obama administration's plan has drawn some early praise, though federal lawmakers have qualms about specific points.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Principal-Training Portal Aims for Ease of Use
New Leaders for New Schools offers a range of online professional-development resources through its Effective Practice Incentive Community.
Social Studies
History a Flash Point as States Debate Standards
As Texas, North Carolina, and Ohio rewrite their social studies standards, the expectations around history are stirring controversy.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Is Firing Teachers the Answer?
There's never a school in which every teacher is incompetent, argues Paul Kelleher, so wholesale dismissals risk losing valuable experience and know-how.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Better Mentoring, Better Teachers
Selecting the right teachers, training them well, and giving them the time they need are the keys to mentoring success, writes Dara Barlin.
Assessment
NAEP Reading Results Deemed Disappointing
In the latest administration of the test, 8th graders gained 1 point, while 4th graders’ scores were unchanged from 2007.
Teaching
Opinion
Big Ideas and Reform Fatigue
The transformation of schooling as we know it is inevitable, writes Lisa Petrides, but it will have to be led by those who experience daily the problems of the current system.
School & District Management
Chiefs Press Education Secretary on ESEA Issues
State superintendents pose tough questions about flexibility and rural education, but generally support the ESEA-renewal blueprint.
Teaching Profession
Better Mentoring, Better Teachers
Selecting the right teachers, training them well, and giving them the time they need are the keys to mentoring success, writes Dara Barlin.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Homegrown Talent Keeps Tech. Repairs In-House
School IT workers earn money for their districts doing computer warranty repairs under company-sponsored programs.
Assessment
Big-City Test Scores on Rise, Report Says
A new report from a Washington-based advocacy group for urban districts sees progress among big-city students on state tests and NAEP.
Science
U.S. Gets Poor Grades in Nurturing STEM Diversity
Two new reports focus on ways to spur more females and students from minority groups to pursue studies leading to STEM-related careers.
Teaching
Opinion
It's the Classroom, Stupid
Schools will need "a form of shock treatment" to break the cycle of mismanagement in the design and delivery of classroom instruction, writes Kalman R. Hettleman.