May 25, 2011
Education Week, Vol. 30, Issue 32
Education Funding
California Windfall Clouds K-12 Debate
An improving economy has brought a surge of tax revenue into the state coffers in cash-strapped California, which could mean that schools stand a better chance of avoiding deep budget cuts.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Success for All Founder Rebuts Critic's Assertions
To the Editor:
In a recent letter to Education Week (May 11, 2011), Stanley Pogrow makes a claim that he has made many times in the past: that Success for All, our whole-school-reform approach for Title I elementary schools, is ineffective or harmful to children. Mr. Pogrow dismisses the fact that Success for All recently received the highest score in the federal Investing in Innovation, or i3, scale-up competition, which required strong, replicated, scientifically valid evidence of effectiveness. He dismisses the fact that the What Works Clearinghouse gives high ratings to the evidence base for Success for All. He does not mention that numerous independent studies of Success for All, including a recently released study of more than 130 schools by the University of Michigan, have found positive effects of Success for All. He does not mention the fact that numerous published, independent reviews of research on comprehensive school reform have all supported the effectiveness of Success for All.
In a recent letter to Education Week (May 11, 2011), Stanley Pogrow makes a claim that he has made many times in the past: that Success for All, our whole-school-reform approach for Title I elementary schools, is ineffective or harmful to children. Mr. Pogrow dismisses the fact that Success for All recently received the highest score in the federal Investing in Innovation, or i3, scale-up competition, which required strong, replicated, scientifically valid evidence of effectiveness. He dismisses the fact that the What Works Clearinghouse gives high ratings to the evidence base for Success for All. He does not mention that numerous independent studies of Success for All, including a recently released study of more than 130 schools by the University of Michigan, have found positive effects of Success for All. He does not mention the fact that numerous published, independent reviews of research on comprehensive school reform have all supported the effectiveness of Success for All.
Education
Letter to the Editor
We Need to Empower, Encourage Teachers
To the Editor:
National Teacher of the Year Michelle Shearer made this statement: “I’m a Princeton grad, and people like to remind me that I could have done whatever I wanted [as opposed to teaching]” (“2011 Teacher of the Year Sees ‘Abilities, Not Disabilities,’” Education Week, May 11, 2011). This condescending statement highlights a huge problem in our country that gets very little notice: Top students at first-tier colleges are often discouraged from becoming teachers of children. Teaching adults is acceptable for these high-achievers, but teaching the under-18 set is not.
National Teacher of the Year Michelle Shearer made this statement: “I’m a Princeton grad, and people like to remind me that I could have done whatever I wanted [as opposed to teaching]” (“2011 Teacher of the Year Sees ‘Abilities, Not Disabilities,’” Education Week, May 11, 2011). This condescending statement highlights a huge problem in our country that gets very little notice: Top students at first-tier colleges are often discouraged from becoming teachers of children. Teaching adults is acceptable for these high-achievers, but teaching the under-18 set is not.
Education
Letter to the Editor
Tenure Must Reflect Where Teachers Work
To the Editor:
Gary M. Chesley’s Commentary on teacher tenure (“Now Is the Time to Redefine Teacher Tenure,” April 27, 2011) suggests that we should redefine the concept. We can begin by considering the following realities:
Gary M. Chesley’s Commentary on teacher tenure (“Now Is the Time to Redefine Teacher Tenure,” April 27, 2011) suggests that we should redefine the concept. We can begin by considering the following realities:
Education
Letter to the Editor
AVID Director Calls Article Disappointing
To the Editor:
The article “Popular AVID Program Yields Mixed Results in Chicago” (Education Week, May 11, 2011) was extremely disappointing in that it highlighted a study based only on academic data on students completing one year of AVID’s multiyear, systemic program. The notion of improving standardized-test scores after one year of exposure to AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is something we neither expect nor suggest will occur.
The article “Popular AVID Program Yields Mixed Results in Chicago” (Education Week, May 11, 2011) was extremely disappointing in that it highlighted a study based only on academic data on students completing one year of AVID’s multiyear, systemic program. The notion of improving standardized-test scores after one year of exposure to AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is something we neither expect nor suggest will occur.
Standards & Accountability
New Rating System Targets Media's Education Potential
Common Sense Media plans to expand its current rating system to evaluate the learning benefits of popular and educational digital content.
Education Funding
Delaware Pushes to Meet Race to Top Promises
The scramble is on to meet ambitious goals as Race to the Top implementation ramps up.
School & District Management
State Legislatures Notch Major K-12 Policy Changes
From teacher issues to vouchers, the 2011 state legislative season saw widespread action on education.
Standards & Accountability
Opinion
Why Attention Will Return to Nonschool Factors
Jeffrey R. Henig and S. Paul Reville write that the future health of American schools depends on attending to nonschool factors.
School & District Management
Renaissance Schools Feature Youth, Inexperience, Some Progress
One-third of teachers at Promise Academies are intern- or emergency-certified, and 22 percent of teachers at externally managed charters are not certified at all.
Law & Courts
Ga. Ruling Leaves Charters' Fate Uncertain
Georgia's high court rules a panel set up to create and oversee charter schools is unconstitutional.
Special Education
Studies Home In on 'Quieter' ADD Students
Researchers are exploring ways to better identify students with attention deficit disorder who are not necessarily disruptive in class.
College & Workforce Readiness
Experts Call for Expanding Boys' Career Options
While more girls have entered traditionally "male" careers in the nearly four decades since Title IX was passed, more encouragement is needed for boys interested in female-dominated careers, experts say.
Standards & Accountability
Specialists Weigh Common Social Studies Standards
Talks reflect concern that social studies is being marginalized by NCLB and common standards in math and English/language arts.