June 15, 2011

Education Week, Vol. 30, Issue 35
Education Funding K-12 Budgets Hurting Amid Slack Recovery
Four years after the national economy first started to tank, the state-level recovery remains sluggish, and K-12 education is still taking a beating.
Michele McNeil, June 14, 2011
1 min read
Families & the Community News in Brief PTA Gets New President
Former Tennessee PTA President Betsy Landers, who helped devise the states Parent Involvement Act, takes over as president of the National PTA this week.
Stacy Morford, June 14, 2011
1 min read
Teacher Karyn Hall celebrates after a student completes a lesson in the computer lab at Hillcrest Elementary School in Chattanooga, Tenn., during a summer learning session that uses computers to help students retain more of what they learned. Summer educators across the country are seeing the use of technology as a promising strategy for keeping students engaged in learning and sharpening academic skills.
Teacher Karyn Hall celebrates after a student completes a lesson in the computer lab at Hillcrest Elementary School in Chattanooga, Tenn., during a summer learning session that uses computers to help students retain more of what they learned. Summer educators across the country are seeing the use of technology as a promising strategy for keeping students engaged in learning and sharpening academic skills.
Shawn Poynter/Education Week
Classroom Technology Summer Educators 'Mix Up' Learning with Technology
Summer programs are harnessing technology to try to improve students' academic proficiency.
Ian Quillen, June 14, 2011
4 min read
Education Funding California Data System Threatened by State Budget Squeeze
Gov. Brown's plan to end funding follows years of developing work on the longitudinal data system for students and teachers.
Katie Ash, June 14, 2011
3 min read
Education Best of the Blogs Blogs of the Week
June 14, 2011
2 min read
Education Letter to the Editor Association Adds Caution to Article on Spec. Ed. Costs
To the Editor:
I write in response to the article titled “Mass. For-Profit Helps Schools Trim Special Education Costs” (Education Week, May 25, 2011). The American Speech-Language Hearing Association, or ASHA, is the professional association for 145,000 individuals who are speech-language pathologists; audiologists; and speech, language, and hearing scientists. More than 53,000 of our members, including Peter Bittel, the chief executive officer of Futures Education, which was featured in your article, work in our nation’s schools. ASHA members are acutely aware of shrinking school budgets and the costs of providing special education.
June 14, 2011
1 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Ian Kim
IT Infrastructure & Management Opinion My Nine 'Truths' of Data Analysis
Data analysis has an important instructional role in the classroom, explains Ronald S. Thomas.
Ronald S. Thomas, June 14, 2011
5 min read
School & District Management Study Finds Few Learning Gains from Gifted Services
Researchers find that students nearest the eligibility cut-offs for gifted services don't get much of a learning boost from gifted classes.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 13, 2011
6 min read
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Virtual manipulatives, seen here, in software by DreamBox Learning, are able to provide the same benefits as physical manipulatives with less of the mess.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Virtual manipulatives, seen here, in software by DreamBox Learning, are able to provide the same benefits as physical manipulatives with less of the mess.
Curriculum Math Educators See the Right Angles for Digital Tools
The math world is bursting with technologies that visualize concepts, adapt to students' strengths and weaknesses, and align with state academic standards.
Ian Quillen, June 13, 2011
8 min read
Artwork created by Aubrey Arneson in Kevan Nitzberg’s class at Anoka High School. Digital tools are being used in classrooms to create art, music, and films.
Artwork created by Aubrey Arneson in Kevan Nitzberg’s class at Anoka High School. Digital tools are being used in classrooms to create art, music, and films.
Aubrey Arneson/Education Week
Curriculum Art and Music Learning Emphasize Interactivity, Real-World Relevance
Digital tools can be key to engaging more students in art and music and preparing others for careers in those fields.
Katie Ash, June 13, 2011
8 min read
WHITEBOARD LESSONS: Sandra Simoneaux uses an interactive whiteboard to teach math to her 3rd and 4th graders at Parker Elementary School in Oakland, Calif. Ms. Simoneaux says she uses the whiteboard in one manner or another for 90 percent of her daily teaching. The board allows her to connect students to digital content on the Internet.
WHITEBOARD LESSONS: Sandra Simoneaux uses an interactive whiteboard to teach math to her 3rd and 4th graders at Parker Elementary School in Oakland, Calif. Ms. Simoneaux says she uses the whiteboard in one manner or another for 90 percent of her daily teaching. The board allows her to connect students to digital content on the Internet.
Ramin Rahimian for Education Week
Teaching Profession Teachers Hold the Real Keys to Whiteboard Effectiveness
Experts say educator skill is the key determinant of the impact that interactive whiteboards have on student learning.
Mary Catherine O'Connor, June 13, 2011
7 min read
Dominique Miller, a senior at the Science Leadership Academy, edits a multi-camera shot in Final Cut software for Rough Cut Productions, the school’s videoproduction company.
Dominique Miller, a senior at the Science Leadership Academy, edits a multi-camera shot in Final Cut software for Rough Cut Productions, the school’s videoproduction company.
Jessica Kourkounis/Education Week
Ed-Tech Policy Film Students Power Video-Production Business
Students at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia are the employees in a school-based production company that provides video services.
Michelle R. Davis, June 13, 2011
5 min read
IT Infrastructure & Management 'Safe' Social Networking Tailored for K-12 Schools
In the age of Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, some schools instead turn to social networks designed specifically for education.
Michelle R. Davis, June 13, 2011
7 min read
HISTORY COLLABORATION: In Ken Halla’s Advanced Placement U.S. Government class at Hayfield Secondary School in Fairfax County, Va., students use netbooks to work on a federal budget project.
HISTORY COLLABORATION: In Ken Halla’s Advanced Placement U.S. Government class at Hayfield Secondary School in Fairfax County, Va., students use netbooks to work on a federal budget project.
Nicole Fruge for Education Week
Curriculum Digitized Historical Documents Give Students Direct Access to the Past
Students can now review thousands of perspectives from key historical figures faster and more easily than ever before.
Katie Ash, June 13, 2011
8 min read
STUDENT BLOGGER: Jose Arroyo, 18, above far right, gets help from teacher Ted Nellen during a Cyber English class at Edward A. Reynolds West Side High School in New York City.
STUDENT BLOGGER: Jose Arroyo, 18, above far right, gets help from teacher Ted Nellen during a Cyber English class at Edward A. Reynolds West Side High School in New York City.
Emile Wamsteker for Education Week
Reading & Literacy Language Arts Educators Balance Text-Only Tactics With Multimedia Skills
Teaching students to read and write with depth and understanding should be a high priority no matter what approach is being used, experts say.
Katie Ash, June 13, 2011
10 min read
SCIENTIFIC MODELING: Jeff Piontek is the principal and founder of the Hawaii Technology Academy in Waipahu. The K-12 high-tech charter school uses 3-D modeling and works with experts in the field to help students understand complex scientific concepts.
SCIENTIFIC MODELING: Jeff Piontek is the principal and founder of the Hawaii Technology Academy in Waipahu. The K-12 high-tech charter school uses 3-D modeling and works with experts in the field to help students understand complex scientific concepts.
Elyse Butler & Matt Mallams of Education Week
Science Technology Evolves to Offer a Clearer View of Science
Schools are incorporating computer simulations and 3-D modeling to help students visualize and understand complex concepts.
Ian Quillen, June 13, 2011
8 min read
Krysta Randolph, 17, a junior in Advance Placement U.S. History class, starts up a netbook during a joint session with seniors in Ken Halla's AP U.S. Government class at Hayfield Secondary on May 23 in Alexandria, Virginia.
Krysta Randolph, 17, a junior in Advance Placement U.S. History class, starts up a netbook during a joint session with seniors in Ken Halla's AP U.S. Government class at Hayfield Secondary on May 23 in Alexandria, Virginia.
Nicole Fruge for Education Week
Curriculum Quality Content in Demand as Multimedia Use Expands
Digital curricula repositories are helping to fill the growing need for more and better multimedia content.
Ian Quillen, June 13, 2011
6 min read
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan visits with students during a visit to Dayton's Bluff Achievement Plus Elementary School on May 31 in Minneapolis.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan visits with students during a visit to Dayton's Bluff Achievement Plus Elementary School on May 31 in Minneapolis.
Jim Mone/AP
Federal As NCLB Renewal Stalls, Duncan Vows Flexibility
The U.S. Secretary of Education will offer states relief from some NCLB mandates if they hew to his reform priorities.
Michele McNeil, June 12, 2011
9 min read
College & Workforce Readiness 'Gainful Employment' Rules Leave Many Disappointed
Career-college programs can lose access to federal student aid if too many of their students fail to find "gainful employment."
Caralee J. Adams, June 10, 2011
6 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Opinion Using a New Model to Create Pathways to Higher Learning
An innovative education model involving public-private partnerships can reach students whose academic future is in question, write Stanley S. Litow and Robert B. Schwartz.
Stanley S. Litow & Robert B. Schwartz, June 9, 2011
5 min read
Charter school students, draped in oversize T-shirts that read "Future NAACP Members," are joined by parents and teachers at a protest rally May 26. The demonstrators want the NAACP to withdraw from a lawsuit against the expansion of charter schools across New York City.
Charter school students, draped in oversize T-shirts that read "Future NAACP Members," are joined by parents and teachers at a protest rally May 26. The demonstrators want the NAACP to withdraw from a lawsuit against the expansion of charter schools across New York City.
Nancy Borowick
Families & the Community Dispute Exposes Tensions Over Charters' Role in Cities
Civil rights groups, parents, teachers, and school leaders form opposing camps in placement of NYC charter schools.
Stephen Sawchuk, June 9, 2011
7 min read
Kevin Jennings, center, who is leaving his job as the U.S. Department of Education's assistant deputy secretary for safe and drug-free schools, joins participants at the first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth summit in Washington, D.C., on June 7.
Kevin Jennings, center, who is leaving his job as the U.S. Department of Education's assistant deputy secretary for safe and drug-free schools, joins participants at the first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth summit in Washington, D.C., on June 7.
Nicole Fruge/Education Week
School Climate & Safety Exiting Official Made Anti-Bullying a Top Priority
Kevin Jennings moves on after two years as head of the Education Department's office of safe and drug-free schools.
June 8, 2011
6 min read
School & District Management Judge Blocks Philadelphia Teacher Layoffs
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers argues that the district is violating the contract by exempting young teachers working in turnaround schools from layoffs.
Benjamin Herold, June 7, 2011
2 min read