March 2, 2011

Education Week, Vol. 30, Issue 22
Federal Opinion For Federal Turnaround Funds, Think Locally
More federal dollars should be focused on individual schools since they are at the heart of real reform, Gary Galluzzo argues.
Gary R. Galluzzo, March 1, 2011
6 min read
School & District Management NASSP Unveils a New Logo, Broader Focus
The National Association of Secondary School Principals says its changes are a response to shifting trends in school leadership—and declining membership.
Christina A. Samuels, March 1, 2011
4 min read
School & District Management In War of Words, 'Reform' a Potent Weapon
Key phrases provide powerful shorthand for those with a particular policy bent.
Sean Cavanagh, March 1, 2011
15 min read
School & District Management Opinion What Is Behind the Discrediting of Michelle Rhee?
Richard Whitmire examines the motives of Michelle Rhee's detractors.
Richard Whitmire, February 28, 2011
6 min read
Student-teacher Angela Bradbury works with a student at Escalante Elementary School in Salt Lake City. She is getting a grounding in RTI in all her core classes at the University of Utah.
Student-teacher Angela Bradbury works with a student at Escalante Elementary School in Salt Lake City. She is getting a grounding in RTI in all her core classes at the University of Utah.
Trent Nelson for Education Week
Teaching RTI Makes Few Inroads Into the Nation's Education Schools
One exception is the University of Utah, where aspiring urban teachers get exposed to 'tiered-instruction' techniques in all their core classes.
Stephen Sawchuk, February 28, 2011
7 min read
Nine-year-old Ian Tomanelli, a 4th grade student at Marlborough Elementary School in Marlborough, Conn., pauses in his home. Because of his continuing problems with reading and writing, Ian became a candidate for a version of response to intervention being tried out in his school district.
Nine-year-old Ian Tomanelli, a 4th grade student at Marlborough Elementary School in Marlborough, Conn., pauses in his home. Because of his continuing problems with reading and writing, Ian became a candidate for a version of response to intervention being tried out in his school district.
Christopher Capozziello/AEVUM for Education Week
Special Education Some Parents Remain Leery of RTI's Benefits
While response to intervention has won over some parents, others complain the schooling approach has delayed needed services for children with learning problems.
Maureen Kelleher, February 28, 2011
7 min read
Special Education An Instructional Approach Expands Its Reach
Response to intervention began as a way to identify and teach struggling readers and special education students. It's fast becoming a way to change schooling for everyone.
Christina A. Samuels, February 28, 2011
4 min read
IT Infrastructure & Management RTI's Growth Helps Buoy Education Marketplace
While curriculum developers seek to capitalize on response to intervention's popularity, experts fret about an overreliance on canned approaches.
Christina A. Samuels, February 28, 2011
5 min read
Eighth grader Andro Benard, 14, reviews his behavior ratings at the end of Shawna A. Moore’s language arts class at Sylvester Middle School in Burien, Wash. As part of the school’s PBIS program, each day teachers rate 20 students, including Andro, on how well they demonstrate “five P’s”: being prompt, positive, polite, prepared, and productive.
Eighth grader Andro Benard, 14, reviews his behavior ratings at the end of Shawna A. Moore’s language arts class at Sylvester Middle School in Burien, Wash. As part of the school’s PBIS program, each day teachers rate 20 students, including Andro, on how well they demonstrate “five P’s”: being prompt, positive, polite, prepared, and productive.
Josie Liming for Education Week
School Climate & Safety School Enlists Tiered Approach to Discipline
A middle school in Washington state uses Positive Behavior Supports, or PBIS, to curb behavior problems.
Mary Ann Zehr, February 28, 2011
8 min read
School psychologist Anna Quintanilla works with 1st grader Martin Salazar at Lone Star Elementary School in the Sanger Unified School District near Fresno, Calif., where response-to-intervention techniques are being incorporated districtwide. Educators in the district say the new approach has expanded the role of counselors like Ms. Quintanilla.
School psychologist Anna Quintanilla works with 1st grader Martin Salazar at Lone Star Elementary School in the Sanger Unified School District near Fresno, Calif., where response-to-intervention techniques are being incorporated districtwide. Educators in the district say the new approach has expanded the role of counselors like Ms. Quintanilla.
Manny Crisostomo for Education Week
Special Education Calif. District Uses RTI to Boost Achievement for All
Educators in the Sanger, Calif., schools credit response to intervention for the district's dramatic test-score turnaround.
Christina A. Samuels, February 28, 2011
10 min read
Special Education Experts Say RTI's Use May Outrun Its Research Base
While use of response to intervention is expanding in schools across the country, evidence is limited on how to use it best.
Sarah D. Sparks, February 28, 2011
7 min read
Escorted by law enforcement officers, Wisconsin Assembly Republicans exit the state Capitol after cutting off debate and rapidly voting to pass a controversial budget repair bill in the state Assembly in Madison, Wis., on Feb. 25.
Escorted by law enforcement officers, Wisconsin Assembly Republicans exit the state Capitol after cutting off debate and rapidly voting to pass a controversial budget repair bill in the state Assembly in Madison, Wis., on Feb. 25.
M.P. King/Wisconsin State Journal/AP
School & District Management Money, Policy Entangled in Wisconsin Labor Dispute
Some local school leaders question whether curbing collective bargaining for public workers will compensate for budget cuts.
Sean Cavanagh, February 25, 2011
10 min read
Garrison Middle School 6th grade math teacher Mr. Rommel Soriano, right, hands a smart board marker to 6th grader Imani Johnson during class on Feb. 24. Last summer, the management of Garrison Middle School was taken over by Global Partnership Schools, a private company charged with turning the formerly underperforming school around. Mr. Soriano was one of the teachers who, after reapplying for his job, got it back.
Garrison Middle School 6th grade math teacher Mr. Rommel Soriano, right, hands a smart board marker to 6th grader Imani Johnson during class on Feb. 24. Last summer, the management of Garrison Middle School was taken over by Global Partnership Schools, a private company charged with turning the formerly underperforming school around. Mr. Soriano was one of the teachers who, after reapplying for his job, got it back.
Matt Roth for Education Week
School & District Management Few Big-Name Charter Operators Opt for Federal 'Restart' Grants
The "restart" option in the federal school turnaround program offered new opportunities for charter school operators, but few of the best-known companies took the government up on them.
Mary Ann Zehr, February 25, 2011
8 min read
School & District Management Studies Show Stuttering Has Complex, Interrelated Roots
While an award-winning film is drawing attention to stuttering, experts say research is just beginning to shed light on the disorder's complicated causes.
Sarah D. Sparks, February 25, 2011
5 min read
Teaching Profession AFT Presses Need for Curriculum Linked to Standards
The union has set up a committee to explore what it can do to ensure that the common standards are translated with fidelity.
Catherine Gewertz, February 24, 2011
5 min read
Assessment Urban Districts Trail Nation on Science NAEP
The overall average for the 17 large-city districts fell about 14 points behind the nation as a whole.
February 24, 2011
3 min read
Teaching Profession Protesting Teacher Accused of Endangering Students
An outspoken critic of the School district of Philadelphia's plan to convert her school into a charter, Hope Moffett, 25, has been removed from her classroom.
Benjamin Herold, February 24, 2011
8 min read
A common bedbug is engorged with blood after feeding. While bedbugs rarely infest schools, they often hitchhike in on students' clothing or backpacks.
A common bedbug is engorged with blood after feeding. While bedbugs rarely infest schools, they often hitchhike in on students' clothing or backpacks.
University of Florida/AP-File
Student Well-Being Experts Warn Schools to Be Ready for Bedbug Sightings
Even though schools aren't hospitable environments for bedbugs, experts say school administrators should know what to do when the tiny creatures show up on campus.
Nirvi Shah, February 24, 2011
4 min read
Derek Briggs, the chairman of the research and evaluation methodology program in the school of education at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has found a positive—but slight—bump in students' scores as a result of courses that prepare students to take the SAT.
Derek Briggs, the chairman of the research and evaluation methodology program in the school of education at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has found a positive—but slight—bump in students' scores as a result of courses that prepare students to take the SAT.
Nathan W. Armes for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness Value of College-Admissions Test-Prep Classes Unclear
Those in the business claim students will improve their performance, but research shows coaching has minimal positive effects.
Caralee J. Adams, February 24, 2011
9 min read
Equity & Diversity African-Centered Charters on Sidelines in Turnaround Effort
Even as the School District of Philadelphia actively shops for successful charter operators to manage its lowest-performing schools, African-centered school operators are being left out of the mix.
Benjamin Herold, February 23, 2011
6 min read