September 22, 2010

Education Week, Vol. 30, Issue 04
Education Best of the Blogs Blogs of the Week
| VIEWS | BRIDGING DIFFERENCES
September 21, 2010
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2 min read
Education Funding News in Brief Kansas Pulls Funds From High School Journalism
Kansas journalism teachers are worried that changes in the way the state finances high school programs could spell the end for student newspapers and yearbooks.
The Associated Press, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Education News in Brief Pearson Pays for FCAT Delays
Florida has collected $14.7 million in penalties from a contractor that delivered standardized-test results more than a month late.
The Associated Press, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Early Childhood Report Roundup Early Childhood
Children's behavior when they first enter school can affect their progress throughout the elementary years, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background, says a new study.
Sarah D. Sparks, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Ed-Tech Policy News in Brief Publisher Launches Innovation Fund
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt unveiled a $100 million innovation fund last week for projects that spur student achievement and technology integration.
Ian Quillen, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
School & District Management Report Roundup Gender and Education
Research has long found a gender gap favoring boys in spatial ability—considered vital to fields like engineering and physics—but a new study suggests that formal training in spatial ability can help girls catch up.
Sarah D. Sparks, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Report Roundup GED Diploma
A new study suggests that the General Educational Development, or GED, program offers a key pathway to college for those who didn’t finish high school.
Catherine Gewertz, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Teaching Profession Report Roundup Teacher Pay
Teacher and staff salaries and benefits made up 80 percent of 2010 school expenses, and a new report by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics gives a more focused picture of how teachers get paid.
Sarah D. Sparks, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Education News in Brief Hawaii, Kansas Get Schools Chiefs
The interim state superintendents of Hawaii and Kansas were hired for their respective top jobs last week.
The Associated Press, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
School & District Management Report Roundup Student Suspensions
Middle schools are suspending black male students at nearly three times the rate of white male students, according to a report from the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Debra Viadero, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
School & District Management News in Brief Atlanta Board Ousts Top Leaders
The Atlanta school board voted to replace its chairwoman and vice chairwoman after approving a policy that allows it to remove its leaders by a simple majority vote.
The Associated Press, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
School & District Management Report Roundup District Turnarounds
A report released last week by the Center for American Progress examines the educational, political, and organizational shortcomings that undermine states’ stabs at turning around low-performing schools.
Sean Cavanagh, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Curriculum News in Brief Texas Board Measure Aims to Curb Islam in Textbooks
The Texas state board of education is expected to consider a resolution that would urge textbook publishers to limit what they print about Islam in world history books.
The Associated Press, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
School & District Management News in Brief New Orleans Schools Await Return of Local Control
Paul Pastorek recommended returning New Orleans public schools to local control, but not until the 2012-13 school year and only after they meet certain grading benchmarks.
The Associated Press, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
School Climate & Safety Report Roundup Survey Finds Most Teens Have Had Sex Education
Instruction on how to say no is more prevalent than lessons on birth control, according to the federal survey.
The Associated Press, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Federal Amid Celebration, Race to Top Winners Eye Challenges
Officials from 11 states and the District of Columbia met in Washington as they prepare to implement the stimulus grants.
Alyson Klein, September 21, 2010
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3 min read
Law & Courts News in Brief Pledge of Allegiance Debate Heard by Federal Court
A federal appellate panel heard arguments in a case challenging a New Hampshire law that requires schools to reserve time each day for students to voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mark Walsh, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Standards News in Brief Groups Release Standards on Data
A collaborative of K-12 and higher education organizations announced the creation of a set of voluntary common data standards.
Dakarai I. Aarons, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Education Funding News in Brief ACLU Challenges Legality of Public School Fees
A lawsuit backed by the ACLU challenges hundreds of fees for classroom materials and extracurricular activities, claiming that the fees violate the California Constitution's guarantee of free public education.
Mark Walsh, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Freshman Aliza Goldberg attends Barnard College in New York City. She deferred her enrollment for a year in order to volunteer at an art museum in Vietnam, travel, and study languages and maritime history. She says her "gap year" experience influenced most of her course selections this year.
Freshman Aliza Goldberg attends Barnard College in New York City. She deferred her enrollment for a year in order to volunteer at an art museum in Vietnam, travel, and study languages and maritime history. She says her "gap year" experience influenced most of her course selections this year.
Emile Wamsteker for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness Research Suggests a 'Gap Year' Motivates Students
A pair of Australian studies finds that taking a year off may help spur students to complete college.
Sarah D. Sparks, September 21, 2010
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4 min read
Deiontai Gordon, a 4th grader at Overton Elementary School in Chicago, works on an estimation lesson on MIND Research Institute's ST Math Software.
Deiontai Gordon, a 4th grader at Overton Elementary School in Chicago, works on an estimation lesson on MIND Research Institute's ST Math Software.
Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune/MCT
Classroom Technology Chicago Schools Place Virtual Ed. Initiatives High on Priority List
The Chicago district now offers a battery of online programs, ranging from math and reading enrichment to a virtual charter school with students learning almost entirely from home.
Azam Ahmed, Chicago Tribune (MCT), September 21, 2010
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5 min read
School & District Management 'i3' Grant Winners All Come Up With Matching Funds
Despite some last-minute jitters, all those in line for the high-profile innovation grants secure private matching funds.
Alyson Klein, September 21, 2010
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1 min read
Education Funding Federal After-School Funding Bill Divides Community
Extra money would go to after- and before-school and summer programs, but it could be used to extend the school day and year, too.
Mary-Ellen Phelps Deily, September 21, 2010
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3 min read
Federal Expert Panels Tackle Ways to Improve STEM Education
Two federal advisory groups have issued reports on preparing and nurturing students in science, technology, engineering, and math.
September 21, 2010
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5 min read
Maria Federico Brummer, center, teaches American government from a Mexican-American perspective at Tucson High Magnet School. State school officials want to shut down such classes in December.
Maria Federico Brummer, center, teaches American government from a Mexican-American perspective at Tucson High Magnet School. State school officials want to shut down such classes in December.
David Sanders for Education Week
Teaching Tucson Students Aren't Deterred by Ethnic-Studies Controversy
An Arizona state law restricting ethnic-studies classes hasn't kept students at Tucson High Magnet from signing up for the courses this fall.
Mary Ann Zehr, September 21, 2010
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8 min read
School & District Management Civil Rights Group Seeks a 'National Conversation'
Shunned by some civil rights leaders and some of its own members, the status of the Republican-led U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is unclear under President Obama.
Mary Ann Zehr, September 20, 2010
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3 min read
Professional Development Opinion The Misuse of Professional Development
When it comes to professional development, writes Hayes Mizell, everyone supports it, but nobody knows if it works.
Hayes Mizell, September 20, 2010
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4 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Nip Rogers
Teaching Profession Opinion Why Pay Incentives Are Destined to Fail
They have disappointed in industry, writes author and educator Andrea Gabor, and in schools they could undermine reform.
Andrea Gabor, September 20, 2010
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6 min read
Classroom Technology Virtual-Teacher Training Seen to Lack Consistency
But some long-running virtual school programs have learned much about what online teachers need to know to succeed.
Katie Ash, September 20, 2010
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7 min read
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