April 21, 2010
Education Week, Vol. 29, Issue 29
Education
News in Brief
Katrina Evacuees Improve on Exams
Gulf Coast students who have remained in Texas public schools since fleeing Hurricane Katrina in 2005 have made steady academic gains and now surpass some of their Texas peers, according to a study.
Federal
Rules Urge New Style of Testing
Two types of grants will be awarded—one for "comprehensive assessment systems" and one for high school end-of-course tests.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Web Conferencing Finds Elementary School Niche
Even teachers who aren't tech-savvy are learning to forge virtual links between their students and children in other states and countries.
College & Workforce Readiness
Advocates Press for New Definition of Career Readiness
The Association for Career and Technical Education says policymakers need to focus on career readiness as well as readiness for college.
Teaching Profession
Union Plan for Revising ESEA Differs From Obama Blueprint
The teachers' union says its blueprint for renewing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act offers a fresh approach to the law.
School & District Management
Foundations Would Help Fund D.C. Teachers' Contract
In what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind arrangement, four foundations have committed nearly $65 million for performance pay.
Early Childhood
Obama's Commitment to Early Ed. Cheers Advocates, Despite Setback
Excitement cooled after a high-profile early-education proposal failed to gain traction, but hopes now turn to ESEA reauthorization.
Teaching
Bilingual Education, Immersion Found to Work Equally Well
A randomized study shows students are as successful learning English through English immersion or bilingual education programs.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Rhetorical Confusion on the 'Readiness' Front
To the Editor:
We are hearing a lot about “college- and career-ready standards” in the discussion of the Obama administration’s blueprint for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ("Tests Loom for ESEA in Congress," March 31, 2010). But I haven’t yet read a description of the careers everyone is talking about, especially the ones that don’t require college.
We are hearing a lot about “college- and career-ready standards” in the discussion of the Obama administration’s blueprint for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ("Tests Loom for ESEA in Congress," March 31, 2010). But I haven’t yet read a description of the careers everyone is talking about, especially the ones that don’t require college.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Why Publish a Blog By AEI 'Operative'?
David Marshak,
Bellingham, Wash.
Bellingham, Wash.
Education
Letter to the Editor
'Best Practices': The Two Worst Words in Reform
Gisèle Huff
San Francisco, Calif.
San Francisco, Calif.
Education
Letter to the Editor
'Giftedness': Definitions Have Gone Far
To the Editor:
James R. Delisle makes a very interesting argument about the field of gifted education in his Commentary “What Gifted Educators Can Learn From Sarah Palin” (March 31, 2010). Definitions of giftedness have gone very far afield, causing a great deal of controversy. Mr. Delisle is correct that there is no single, concise description of who the gifted child is, as shown by the examples he provides from the federal government, Joseph S. Renzulli, and Howard Gardner, among others.
James R. Delisle makes a very interesting argument about the field of gifted education in his Commentary “What Gifted Educators Can Learn From Sarah Palin” (March 31, 2010). Definitions of giftedness have gone very far afield, causing a great deal of controversy. Mr. Delisle is correct that there is no single, concise description of who the gifted child is, as shown by the examples he provides from the federal government, Joseph S. Renzulli, and Howard Gardner, among others.
Education
Letter to the Editor
STEAM Acronym Includes the Sources of Creativity
To the Editor:
I'd like to thank Joseph Piro for bringing to light the STEAM acronym—an abbreviation for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education—and explaining its value to the wider public ("Going From STEM to STEAM," Commentary, March 10, 2010).
I'd like to thank Joseph Piro for bringing to light the STEAM acronym—an abbreviation for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education—and explaining its value to the wider public ("Going From STEM to STEAM," Commentary, March 10, 2010).
Education
Letter to the Editor
Don't Cut Counselors; Their Role Is Vital
Los Angeles, Calif.
As a credentialed and highly dedicated school counselor for the Los Angeles Unified School District, I am deeply concerned by the number of counselors being cut from schools, as well as proposed increases in the student-to-counselor ratio.
As a credentialed and highly dedicated school counselor for the Los Angeles Unified School District, I am deeply concerned by the number of counselors being cut from schools, as well as proposed increases in the student-to-counselor ratio.
Federal
Scramble Begins for $650 Million in 'i3' Funding
Nearly 2,500 districts, schools, and nonprofits say they plan to vie for innovation grants to target education's most vexing problems.
Student Achievement
Opinion
What Jaime Escalante Taught Us That Hollywood Left Out
What he accomplished at Los Angeles' Garfield High was spectacular, writes Heather Kirn Lanier, but it wasn't as fast or as easy as "Stand and Deliver" makes it seem.
Education Funding
Pressure Building for More Aid to Save Education Jobs
The education secretary testifies that Congress should act to help states and districts avoid massive layoffs.
Teaching
Opinion
Finding the Student's 'Price Point'
Paul E. Peterson advises educators to find the material students are ready to learn—and the teaching format most likely to reach them.
Education
Education Cases One Facet of Stevens’ High Court Legacy
Opinions involving special education and religious expression were among those authored by the retiring Supreme Court justice.
Education Funding
$3.5 Billion in Turnaround Aid Flowing to States
States and school districts will be under intense pressure to make dramatic—and rapid—changes at their lowest-performing schools.
Law & Courts
9th Circuit Choice Gets Timely Praise
A bipartisan group of education policy experts rally to the defense of appeals court nominee Goodwin H. Liu, who has drawn fire from conservative critics.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Merit Pay for Students Fails to Raise Scores, Study Finds
Research suggests that payments can boost achievement if they reward behavior conducive to learning, rather than test scores themselves.
Teacher Preparation
Future U.S. Teachers Rank in Middle on Math Tests
A new international study of teachers-in-training places Americans in the middle of the pack in elementary and middle school math.
School & District Management
Teacher Training No Boon for Student Math Scores
A major federal study concludes that intensive teacher professional development in math did not immediately improve test scores.
Early Childhood
Opinion
Ending Early Learning's Haphazard Transitions
While the educational benefits of early-learning experiences are now widely recognized, little is being done to connect the links in the provider chain, write Gerald L. Zahorchak, Harriet Dichter, and Robert C. Hughes.
College & Workforce Readiness
Advocates Push New Definition of Career Readiness
The Association for Career and Technical Education says policymakers need to focus on career readiness as well as readiness for college.
Recruitment & Retention
Opinion
Better Ways Than Money to Reward Merit in Teaching
Neither side in the merit-pay debate offers a solution for schools' (or teachers') problems, writes Kent P. Hickey, who suggests four common-sense principles for finding a middle ground.
Teaching Profession
Duncan Urges New Aid to Save Education Jobs
The education secretary testifies that Congress should act to help states and districts avoid massive layoffs.
Assessment
Storm Evacuees Gained in Texas Schools, Study Says
Students who stayed in Texas after Hurricane Katrina made steady improvements, a report says, though questions are raised on methodology.